Steam & Excursion > Who can explain this?

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Co. Timetable Special Instruction G11 ?

"Lighting enginemen's torches by holding them in the fire box is hazardous and must not be permitted."

What does that mean, and why?

-LD



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/20 18:13 by LarryDoyle.

Mechanical inspectors .like air brake inspectors used open-flame 'torches' ---
 inverted cones with a 'spout' holding a bare wick.

The torch, with a long, smoky flame was waved near every threaded joint, pipe Union, etc.
The fiickering light helped. but, the surest leak was found by the flame being agitated
by the wispy air streams of the leaks.
if as an inspector LarryDoyle, would have used one, in that classic movie..

The inspectors' torches were filled with kerosene would have been highly risky to 
try to 'light' from a firebox... Obvioulsy this safety rule was entered in ink ,
In response to a probable ( actual) serious burn injury.  
Most safety rules "were written in blood", of bad experiences.

Now, safer soap-bubble-squirters reveal tiny , pressurized-air leaks.
Back in the old days, handy battery operated, flash lights were scarce,
and the RRs  had supplied the 'approved ' open flame torches'

Thats my best guess.

W.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/20 16:10 by wcamp1472.

Right!

The cone shaped lamp, below, with the wick at the top is a carmans torch, as Wes described.

The round one with the long handle is an engineers torch, handy for nighttime inspections underneath and between the frames.  The flame is about 6 inches tall and provides illumination as well as detection of piping leakage.

The reason for the rule quoted above is that minimum firebox temperature for sustaining even glowing coals is 900 degrees, and for a fire with even a hint of sustaining licks of flame is 1750 degrees.  The ignition temperature of kerosene is 428 degrees, so holding the lamp, even with its long handle, risks vaporizing the fuel and causing an exlosive flashback through the firedoor.

-LD

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Reference a torch used in a firebox:   My late railroader friend, Clarence Montgomery, lost a great-grandfather on his mother's side of the family at the Pennsy's Panhandle Shops in Logansport, Indiana in 1911. Emanuel Vance was inside the firebox of a locomotive with a torch when it exploded and caught his oil impregnated clothing on fire. Emanuel was dragged out of the firebox and lived for an agonizing five hours. My research also revealed that Mr. Vance had previously worked in the Wabash Shops at Peru, Indiana when the Indianapolis-Michigan City line was leased to the Wabash The news back then said the torch was fueled with "signal oil".

Victor A. Baird

http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/20 20:14 by wabash2800.

Signal Oil Co. was a brand name for kerosene, later called Allied-Signal
Co. later purchased by Honeywell.

-LD



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/20 23:12 by LarryDoyle.

LarryDoyle Wrote:

> Signal Oil Co. was a brand name for kerosene,

...and gasoline.  They advertised "go farther gasoline" when they sponsored "The Whistler" on radio back in the 1940's and 50's.

I have such an Eagle brand torch, embossed with ERIE RR on the cap.  For Sale - any takers?