2153 Bolier Explosion Pictures

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

I interviewed F. D. "Bud" Ripley, who was the General Foreman, Radford Shop, 
when the 2153 blew up. He told me that the 2153 was brought to Radford with 
its driving wheels locked. He did not say if both sets of drivers or just 
one set were locked.

Another story he said was that the 2153 derailed twice when they began to 
drag it to Radford. At the second derailing, R. H. Smith, then N&W's 
President who was at the scene, made a statement to the effect that it takes 
six weeks to built a locomotive and a life time to make a man; if this .... 
.... engine derails one more time, cut it up and we'll build another before 
someone else gets hurt.

I believe Mr. Ripley stated the 2153 was dragged to Radford to clear the 
Bristol line and to be worked on to continue to Roanoke.

Don't have anything about the repair/replacement of the frames.

Bud Jeffries

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: 2153 Bolier Explosion Pictures



> It's hard to tell from these photos, but 2153's cast steel high-pressure 

> bed frame was broken - snapped off - right behind the HP cylinders (you 

> can look at various items - the angle of the left eccentric rod, the right 

> side crosshead and guides - and see that something isn't right).  This was 

> a very substantial casting, which gives some idea of the power of the 

> explosion even with only 140 or so pounds of steam.  Frank Collins told me 

> that the rail was broken under every one of 2153's drivers.

>

> I don't know whether they welded the HP frame back together or got a new 

> HP frame from the manufacturer for her.  Anybody know?

>

> I also don't know how they got her back to Roanoke.  To drag her back with 

> a broken frame wouldn't be very good; but there are photos of her in the 

> boiler shop with the boiler still on the frames.

>

> Ed King

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 11:28 AM

> Subject: Re: 2153 Bolier Explosion Pictures

>

>

>> Did the crew make it out ok?

>>

>>

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