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 31 
 
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 INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION 
 
 REPORT COVERING INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT 
 
 TO CHIGAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC 
 
 RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE 2132, WHICH 
 
 OCCURRED NEAR HARRAH, OKLA., 
 
 JULY 3, 1923 
 
 BY 
 
 A. G. PACK 
 
 CHIEF INSPECTOR, BUREAU OF LOCOMOTIVE INSPECTION 
 
 Printed by Order of the Commission 
 August 15, 1923 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1923 
 
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION. 
 
 REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR, BUREAU OF LOCOMOTIVE IN- 
 SPECTION, COVERING INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENT TO CHICAGO, 
 ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE 2132, WHICH 
 OCCURRED NEAR HARRAH, OKLA., JULY 3, 1923. 
 
 Washington, August 14, 1923. 
 To the Interstate Commerce Commission: 
 
 Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway locomotive 2132 was 
 dispatched from Shawnee, Okla., at 6 a. m. on July 3, 1923, in freight 
 service, and when at a point about 2 miles west of Harrah, Okla., 
 or 20 miles from Shawnee, and while running at an estimated speed 
 of 20 miles per hour, a flue pocket blew out of the front flue sheet, 
 when the escaping steam and water from the boiler caused the flames 
 and fire-box gases to be blown back into the cab, resulting in the 
 serious injury of Engineer R. W. Lamon and Fireman G. Q. Jones. 
 
 This locomotive was turned out of the Shawnee shops of this car- 
 rier on July 1, or two days prior to the accident, after having re- 
 ceived class 3 repairs, and was at the time of the accident making its 
 first regular trip in freight service since receiving repairs. During 
 the repairs all flues were renewed and 40 flue pockets, which had 
 been previously applied, were renewed and 8 additional flue pockets 
 were applied, making a total of 48 flue pockets applied in the front 
 flue sheet for the purpose of closing holes from which flues had been 
 removed when changes in the fire-box flue sheet were made. 
 
 EXAMINATION OF FLUE POCKET. 
 
 Examination disclosed that neither the flue pocket which blew out, 
 as illustrated in Figure 1, nor any of the others had been prossered, 
 but were only held in place by friction. 
 
 The flue pockets were applied by Boilermaker Helper R. R. Luper 
 and were inspected by Boiler Inspector J. Clark, who signed and 
 swore to annual locomotive inspection and repair report, dated July 
 1, 1923, showing that all flues were in good condition, and the report 
 approved by General Foreman A. Hambleton, as officer in charge. 
 Inspections and repairs at Shawnee are under the general super- 
 vision and direction of Mr. L. D. Richards, master mechanic. 
 
 1 
 
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION REPORTS. 
 
 Our examination of locomotives Nos. 2120, 2135, 2139, and 2144 
 disclosed that in each of the front flue sheets there were 48 flue pock- 
 ets which had not been prossered, or means provided to secure them 
 
 in place, other than friction. The carrier's records show that all of 
 these locomotives received new flues and flue pockets during the 
 period January to April, 1923. 
 
ACCIDENT NEAR HARRAH, OKLA. 3 
 
 Figure 1 shows the flue pocket as applied and held only by fric- 
 tion, while Figure 2 shows the manner in which the flue pocket should 
 have been prossered or enlarged inside of flue sheet, which would 
 have prevented' it from blowing out. 
 
 The necessity for properly prossering or enlarging flue pockets 
 inside the sheet is so well recognized by mechanics that comment 
 hardly seems necessary. The workmen who did this work and the 
 supervising officials in charge who permitted it can not be too strongly 
 censured for such careless and indifferent methods, which show an 
 extreme disregard for safety on their part. 
 
 The Bureau of Locomotive Inspection has seriously objected since 
 its inauguration to flue pockets being applied in the fire-box flue sheet 
 because of unsafe conditions created. It has not, however, objected 
 to flue pockets applied in reasonable number in the front flue sheet 
 when properly belled and prossered, but we do not approve as being 
 proper and safe practice of applying the number of flue pockets 
 which were found in this instance, for the reason that it leaves a 
 large unsupported area and throws an undue strain on the remaining 
 adjacent flues. 
 
 Kespectfully, 
 
 A. G. Pack, Chief Inspector. 
 
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