MONTANA WISDOM ON BOILERS
(Page 2 of 2)
January/February 1984
Gerry Lestz
'When boilers are stored, they should be covered. Otherwise,
if the boilers are outside, weather will erode the hand hole
plates. If the hand hole plates are not in, mice and birds will get
inside and build nests, and that will be a problem when you fire
up'.
RELATED CONTENT
'We check the pipe lines and valves. We won't allow
galvanized pipe on a steam engine. We want black pipe'.
'For pressure, we mag engines up to 100 pounds. It should
not be over 150 for safety these days'.
'We inspect engines every year, before they are put out
before the public. Our last boiler explosion that killed a man was
in 1902a father and son around Townsend. A repair person was killed
on a stationary boiler in 1981, while changing over fuels diesel to
propane.'
Montana has a long history of use of steam traction engines and
inspections by the state. The oldest report goes back to 1891, and
can be read at the Montana Historical Society museum in Helena.
J. J. Layton, Inspector, reported in 1891 that 393 boilers had
been inspected; 5 condemned and 48 ordered repaired. Numerous parts
were condemned, and replacements ordered8 safety valves, 23 safety
gauges, 18 burned sheets and so on. No boiler explosions had
occurred in the year.
The 1893 boiler inspections report contained this comment:
'The use of steam as motive power for mechanical devices has
reached so high a degree of popularity that while it may, in time,
be diminished, it can never be entirely superseded by electricity.
And until the time shall finally come when the galvanic battery
occupies the place of the steam boiler, it is wisest of legislation
to inspect and license both the boiler and the engine, because this
means of power must be tolerated in populated districts, in mines,
mills, smelters, factories and all the large public buildings in
our State, where human life is constantly exposed to the disaster
of explosion.'
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