. The Locomotive . e it was a comparatively new machine — having beenin operation less than a year — the break came when least expectedand the case is a good illustration of the hazard that exists in operat-ing any and every engine, whether it be new or old. The initial failure occurred at the cross-head, which broke intoseveral pieces. When this happened the piston and rod were free ofrestraint and when the valve, which was still in operation, admittedsteam to the crank end of the cylinder, the piston was driven withterrific force against the cylinder head. The blow ruptured almostevery cylin
. The Locomotive . e it was a comparatively new machine — having beenin operation less than a year — the break came when least expectedand the case is a good illustration of the hazard that exists in operat-ing any and every engine, whether it be new or old. The initial failure occurred at the cross-head, which broke intoseveral pieces. When this happened the piston and rod were free ofrestraint and when the valve, which was still in operation, admittedsteam to the crank end of the cylinder, the piston was driven withterrific force against the cylinder head. The blow ruptured almostevery cylinder-head stud and drove off the head itself, which landed, as shown in the illustration, on thefloor nearby. Thepiston did not leavethe cylinder butwas damaged tosuch an extent thata new one had tobe installed. A n attendant,who was standingnearby, shut off thesteam from theengine as soon as itwas possible forhim to do so butnot before furtherdamage had beenThe Cylinder Head End of the Wreck. done. The connect-. 196 THE LOCOMOTIVE, [July, ing-rod, driven by the crank and being somewhat free at the cross-head end^ whipped about until it broke the crank-pin brasses and thenfell into the crank pit. In this position it did not leave sufficient roomfor the crank-pin to pass by, with the result that the crank-shaft was lifted bodily from theinboard bearing whenthe crank-pin struckthe parts came torest at this point asillustrated can be clearly seenhow the bearing-capwas lifted from itsplace, the cap boltshaving been elongatedto permit this move-ment. To repair the en-gine, a new cross-head, cylinder-head,piston and crank-pinwere required and themill was of course, without the services of the engine while thesenew parts were being obtained and installed. The assistance of ourinspector at the mill and of our branch office nearest the engine manu-facturer, however, served to expedite the repairs and, furthermore, theowners, being covered by both a Dire
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