. Report of the chief of the Division of Safety covering the investigation of an accident which occurred on the Baltimore . ection, is one of peculiar are examples in which it is essential to provide adequatestrength to resist loads which in a strict sense are this reason the failure of an axle of this kind is matter of deepconcern, unless some unusual and specific cause for its fracture canbe found. It is believed that an exceptional condition existed in the case ofthis axle which affected its durability and led to its premature fail- 12 INTERSTATE COMMERCE C
. Report of the chief of the Division of Safety covering the investigation of an accident which occurred on the Baltimore . ection, is one of peculiar are examples in which it is essential to provide adequatestrength to resist loads which in a strict sense are this reason the failure of an axle of this kind is matter of deepconcern, unless some unusual and specific cause for its fracture canbe found. It is believed that an exceptional condition existed in the case ofthis axle which affected its durability and led to its premature fail- 12 INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. ure, and which was found in a well-defined circumferential markscored upon the surface of the wheel fit, and which the plane ofrupture followed over a considerable portion of its course. Thisscored line appeared to have located the incipient place of appearance it resembled the effect of the cutting edge of somehard body rather than the mark of an ordinary lathe tool usedin the finishing cut on the axle. If not made by a lathe tool, itmust have been made by some hard body having substantially the. No. 7.—End view of fractured axle, showing character of surface of progressivefracture. Diameter of metal which remained intact up to the time of finalfracture, 3 inches. same diameter as the wheel fit, which feature directs attention tothe hub of the wheel as a probable object responsible for the cir-cumferential scoring. Upon dismantling the axle further evidence was disclosed whichdirected attention to this part of the wheel fit, namely, the serrationson the cylindrical surface, previously referred to, which were locatednear the place of rupture. Efforts were directed toward ascertainingwhy these serrations were present, which apparently attached to theperiod of machining the rough-turned forging or when pressing on ACCIDENT NEAR WOODLYN, PA. 13 the wheels. The rough-turned axles were finished at the BaldwinLocomotive Works in lathes which were located in th
Size: 1595px × 1567px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbaltimoreandohiorail
