Here in Iowa over the Labor Day weekend, the popular Midwest Old Threshers reunion will be held in Mt. Pleasant.
For good reasons, we all know that the feds regulate timely inspections of steam engine boilers. I was wondering if there is any type of inspection process (federal or otherwise) for steam tractors. There seems to be a fair amount of them left and it dawned on me that you never hear (at least I don’t) about inspections on their boilers. If this is loosely regulated, is it simply because the volume of boiling water on a tractor is less of a concern than that of a steam engine?
My understanding is that boilers on steam tractors are regulated by the individual states. That’s not as strange as it may seem, because most steam boilers (stationary or mobile) are regulated by states, not the Feds. Rail locomotives are an exception, because they have been regulated by the Feds since early in the 20th century.
I have been told (although I do not know this to actually be a fact) that steam tractors interests in some states have gotten themselves exempted from state boiler laws. If that’s true, it seems to me to be very short sighted. A serious accident involving a poorly maintained tractor steam boiler (and there have been some) could have very unfotunate consequences for steam tractor operators in the state involved. The tourist rail industry actually supported the existing FRA steam rules, in part due considerations like this.
Based on the previous postings, a boiler explosion involving a steam tractor seems to be an accident just waiting to happen. The pressures may be lower and the steam may be saturated, but the laws of physics are the same for steam tractors as for steam locomotives.
What is exempt is model boilers. Like the 1/2 scale, 2", 3", and smaller scale models. But the full size tractors are still required to be inspected every 2 to 3 years.(at least in IL)
A few years ago, I asked a volunteer with the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, IA about boiler inspections of steam traction engines. The volunteer said the Old Threshers had a strict inspection requirement.
I recall a fatal traction engine boiler explosion at an antique farm machinery show in Ohio. It has been several years ago and details such as where and exactly when I do not recall.
Here in Virginia steam tractors are required to be state-inspected, at least the ones on public exhibition. Once a year Goochland County holds its “Field Day Of The Past” and a featured attraction are steam tractors and other antique steam equipment, including stationary steam engines. Every tractor I’ve seen has boiler “papers”, and they’re all beautifully restored and maintained.
As an aside, they have a HUGE stationary steam engine they run. Remember the engine room shots in those “Titanic” movies? This is as close as you’ll get!
If you ever have the opportunity to see a plowing demonstration with steam traction, don’t miss it. These demonstrations sometimes take place at smaller shows with a handy field. A plow with several bottoms tearing into pasture on a slight incline makes a steam tractor really bark.
The tractor explosion in Ohio killed five people, including the owner. The owner apparently had no idea of the potential danger involved in firing up this machine which had developed fatally thin spots in the boiler due to neglect and lack of inspection or hydrostatic testing over the years. He then somewhat cavalierly drove the device on to the field, where it subsequently exploded. Erroneous early reports told of people being injured by “hot grease”, which of course would not be possible due to the very small quantities of lubricant present in a device of this type.
Subsequently, Inspectors from the Ohio Boiler Division got involved and wrote up a mandatory inspection and testing program. Altho I am not familiar with the specifics, I would cite the State of Ohio as being negligent in the first place for not having the foresight to recognize the potential danger of these devices all along; mandatory inspection and hydrostatic testing procedures have been well worked out and reasonable to apply for well over a century - there was no reason why such testing requirements could not have been required decades ago as a precondition to PUBLIC display and firing-up of steam-powered equipment. [If some fool wants to blow himself up on his own farm, well, that’s HIS business.]
One final clarification: my criticism of the State of Ohio does NOT extend to the Boiler Inspectors themselves - I’ve dealt with them over the decades when doing boiler work in commercial installations; if anything, some of them could get aggravatingly zealous in the application of Codes, but the end result was to ensure the protection of the general public. My criticism is that SOMEONE out there should have said “Hey, ANY Steam Tractor, Steam Roller, etc.that gets fired up in a public venue should have a current inspection sticker as a precondition” - and yet, no one seemed to enact it into codes until this fatal incident.
It is unfortunate but quite true that most safety rules and regulations are “written in blood” as the result of accident(s). Boiler regulations, train service rules, food handling rules, etc. are based on avoiding the repeat of someones misfortune. Even the rulemakers have better hindsight than foresight.
In Ontario, traction engines like steam locomotives are tested annually with hydrostatic tests and demetering of the boiler to ensure adequate thickness. This is done to TSSA codes.
as to low pressure not being as dangerous, i recall a nasty accidentt with a 15 psi stationary boiler while i lived in NYC back in 1955=56. at that low pressure, injectors weren’t needed, as city water pressure was higher. however, after a boiler wash-out the water-feed float valve got jammed by scale. the resulting explosion sent the front part of the boiler thru a brick wall into an adjacent lunchroom, killing several people. -arturo
Apparently some steam locomotives in non-standard service also fall under the purvew of local boiler inspection codes. Back in 1960 or so, when things were rather informal at Knott’s Berry Farm, I got a close-up look into the cab of their ex-RGS loco (from the ground.) The one thing that has stuck in my mind was the framed boiler permit and inspection certificate displayed in a prominent frame on the cab front bulkhead. IIRC, it was issued by Los Angeles County.
That was back in April of 1961. I was dealing with a pregnant Japanese wife, newly arrived in the United States, so my attention may not have been 100% on the details of a certificate I was reading at eye-chart distance.
By the time my wife and I revisited Knott’s Berry Farm in 2005 we had celebrated our 45th anniversary and our son was 44. We couldn’t get close enough to the cab to look for certificates.
408.757a Antique steam boilers; compliance with rules; inspection; certificate of inspection; exception.
Sec. 7a.
(1) Antique steam boilers shall comply with the rules promulgated by the board and shall be inspected once every 3 years. An owner of an antique steam boiler may request an inspection more often than every 3 years. Antique steam boilers used for commercial purposes shall be inspected annually. A certificate of inspection shall be issued by the department of labor and economic growth upon compliance with the applicable rules.
(2) This act does not apply to miniature steam or marine engines used as a hobby.
The law goes on to say that miniature steam locos (under 24" gauge) must have annual inspections for public operation.
Just wanted to add that I’ve just been to two steam tractor shows in Canandaigua & Alexander NY and while I forget the interval they both mentioned that New York does have a strict inspection requirement for steam tractor (traction engine, officially) boilers. We have a local family with a good sized collection & in 2004 they built a whole new boiler for their one tractor.
Definitely agree that hearing a steamer plowing is a true delight (also giant old Oil Pulls, Averys, etc.), but with the right conditions one on a sawmill or even a baker fan can talk it up nice too. [{(-_-)}]
Stationary steam can be as fascinating as steam locomotives or steam tractors. I remember visiting the museum at Hesston IN and really enjoyed watching the sawmill operator trimming a log down to a 2X4.