November-December 2013
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IMCDOL
N.C. Department of Labor
Cherie Berry, Commissioner
www.nclabor.com
1-800-625-2267
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Rivets and Steam: Bureau Inspects Antique Steam Engines
By Don Kinney
Deputy Inspector, Boiler Safety Bureau
A steam tractor plowing a field. A portable steam
engine with a large belt driving a blade at an old saw
mill. A coal-fired steam locomotive rattling down a set
of tracks and blowing its big whistle. Steam shovels and
cranes working and digging up the ground. Memories
of a steam-powered era gone by.
Today, in North Carolina, there are some 45 antique
steam engines in operation. They are owned mostly by
private citizens who operate these working pieces of
history to the delight of both the owners and the crowds
of people who come to see them. The NCDOL Boiler
Safety Bureau conducts annual inspections of these
antique steam exhibition boilers to help ensure their
safe operation.
The importance of such inspections became sadly
clear on July 29, 200 1 . At the Medina County Fair in
Ohio, a steam tractor was being driven near a crowd of
spectators. Dangerously aged and corroded metal,
along with faulty safety equipment and operator error,
led to the explosion of the boiler, killing five people and
injuring 47. At the time, the state of Ohio did not require
inspections of historical boilers. John Payton, director of
the Certified Boiler Engineers for the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania conducted an investigation. He concluded
that “had the boiler been presented for inspection in
Pennsylvania, the boiler would have been placed out of service and not allowed to operate.”
Beginning this year, the Boiler Safety Bureau, in cooperation with the owners, has implemented the National Board Inspection Code for Steam
Locomotives and Historical Boilers. Conforming to this code requires an intense — and often exhaustive — initial inspection of each historical
boiler that is to be operated within the state. These initial iaspcctions include visual external and internal inspections, operational tests, a pressure test,
and several thousand individual ultrasonic thickness tests, depending on the size of the boiler.
This initial inspection is extremely time consuming. Since the cost of such an inspection would simply be too much for most owners to bear,
the Boiler Safety Bureau decided to do these inspection, at no additional cost. This is just one example of how the bureau works with owners
around the state to ensure the safe operation of boilers and pressure-retaining equipment.
Adopting the rules and guidelines set forth in the National Boiler Inspection Code is a big step forward. It helps to ensure consistency and
provides detailed procedures designed specifically for historical boilers for the inspectors to follow during their inspections. It also assists the
owners in knowing what is expected for their boilers to successfully pass inspection and ultimately receive an operating certificate. Equally as
important, the code lays out rules and guidelines for the owners to perform repairs safely — certainly not an easy task given the unique challenges
faced with repairing antique riveted steam boilers built 100 or more years ago.
We at the NCDOL Boiler Safety Bureau recognize the importance of keeping these marvels of turn of the century technology around for all
to enjoy. Together with the boiler owners, their passion and tireless devotion, and the adoption of the National Board Inspection Code guidelines,
we will work to keep these boilers blowing smoke and steam for generations to come.
Boiler Safety Bureau inspectors stand in front of one of the antique boilers. From left to
right: Ray Payne, John Kirkland, Don Kinney, Derek Bailey, Dean Strickland, Greg Davis
and Danny Harrell.
