Overview
On June 17, 1831, the locomotive Best Friend became the first locomotive in the United States known to suffer a boiler explosion.
Contemporary accounts attributed the disaster to the fireman blocking or tying down the steam safety valve after growing tired of its constant whistling, while another version claimed he held the valve shut by placing a heavy piece of timber on it and sitting on it. Sources also suggest he may have been attempting to build extra pressure before tackling a steep grade, a hazardous but not uncommon practice before tamper-proof safety valves were introduced.
With the safety valve unable to relieve excess pressure, the boiler exploded violently, scattering metal fragments over a wide area. The fireman was killed in the blast, while engineer Nicholas Darrell escaped without injury.
Quick Facts
- Date
- June 17, 1831