I feel that this email conversation has helped me immensely in coming to a reasonable understanding of the circumstances that led to this tragic accident. All the more tragic, I am learning, due to the fact that it does not seem to have been too unusual in that time. I do feel like I have most of the information I need, to write an article on my great uncle and this boiler explosion. I know where he is buried, and certainly will include a photo of his grave in the article.
I just learned that one of the early pieces of Federal legislation mandating boiler inspections was signed into law only about one month after this accident in 1911. Nothing to do with it, of course, just one of the little ironies of timing.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed their thoughts and time to this thread. Much appreciated.
Eric
On Sun, Nov 24, 2019 at 11:01 AM Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
November 24, 2019
Eric - I note that only two of the three images sent last night were transmitted. Here's the image that didn't go through. It shows the burst boiler laying on the ground some distance from the right-of-way.
Between the two newspaper articles and this Email thread, I think you have more than enough material to write an article about your great uncle for Annals Of Wyoming. I suggest you also share the article with the Burlington Route Historical Society for use in one of their publications.
I have a lot of interest in genealogy having traced my and my wife's families back hundreds of years. If you write the article, I suggest you include a photograph of your great uncle's grave. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 11/23/2019 6:35:38 PM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
Thanks again for your insight and kind reply. This would not have come up or attracted my attention, but for the fact that I've been going through old diaries of my maternal grandmother (Engineer Lee Zumbrunnen's little sister) and her husband, and found a vague reference to an older brother who had died in a "train accident in 1911". If I can piece together enough info, my intent is to write a short article, either for the family's interest, or possibly for Annals of Wyoming, their historical society quarterly. You are right, my intention is to pay honor to a great uncle who was gone long before I ever came onto the scene, and who left behind a young wife and a two-year old son (his namesake).
Cheers-
On Sat, Nov 23, 2019 at 5:21 PM Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
November 23, 2019
Eric - I'm certainly not a safety engineer, but I'd say the boiler explosion was probably like a lot of other bad accidents then and now, it resulted from a number of unfortunate circumstances that all came together at that instant in time to propel your great uncle and other members of the train crew into Eternity....
I'm attaching three images of CB&Q No. 5020 that suffered a boiler explosion on Provo Hill near Edgemont, SD, on January 14, 1913 so you can visualize what your great-uncle's 3152 might've looked like afterwards. The first image shows the burst boiler laying out in a field some distance from the tracks. The second image shows the running gear without its boiler. The third image shows the ruined boiler being loaded on to flat cars.
I'm speculating here, but from reading the newspaper articles, I think that due to scaling in the water glass that your great uncle and his fireman got a false reading indicating there was water over the crown sheet when in actually there was none. When either your great uncle or his firemen cut on the injector to add water to the boiler, the water was injected on red hot iron that had lost its tensile strength resulting in the instantaneous catastrophic boiler explosion. Others on this list may have different opinions...
Your great uncle was certainly a handsome young man. I'm sure his loss was a great burden to his family as well as to his friends on the railroad who surely had thought highly of him. You honor his memory. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Farihope, AL
In a message dated 11/23/2019 5:39:16 PM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
You raise an interesting point, certainly the water up that way, in general, is quite alkaline and scale-forming (I'm a recovering water engineer, and know enough to be dangerous about this). The news accounts indicate that leakage was noted, but was not considered very severe or important by the train crew. I don''t know where this train had taken on water previously, although I think Wyola MT, up the line, was a coaling station. I also wonder if the crew of this train felt a bit 'pushed' because they knew there was a special carrying CB & Q bigwigs less than an hour behind them.
thanks again
Eric
On Sat, Nov 23, 2019 at 4:24 PM Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
November 23, 2019
Eric - Thanks for sharing the portrait photograph of your great uncle J.L. Zum Brunner who died at the throttle when No. 3152's boiler exploded near Ranchester, WY, on January 7, 1911. I agree that the badge or watch fob (more likely a fob) shows his union membership, although I'm not positive it's for the BofLE. We have some railroad union experts on this List and may be they can positively ID the fob.
This photograph certainly "puts a face" on the disaster, in particular after the lurid description in the newspaper article describing how Mr. Zum Brunner violently perished. There's a saying in old time railroad circles "that low water will always get you" as it did with your great uncle.
Wyoming was "bad water" territory due to all the salts and other natural chemicals found in the well water. Engine crews always had to take extra care to insure that scale did not plug their water glasses or pit cocks on the back head since this would result in a false reading for the water level in the boiler. The results could be disastrous! Railroading was indeed a dangerous occupation - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 11/23/2019 2:20:48 PM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
All very interesting and helpful, thanks for the insights. I have attached a pic of my great uncle, probably not too long before the boiler explosion in 1911 that took his life at the age of 27 years 11 months. I think his badge or watch fob is for his membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Enginemen & Firemen.
On Sat, Nov 23, 2019 at 10:01 AM jpslhedgpeth via Groups.Io <jpslhedgpeth= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
GREAT GREAT PICTURE
When I see these I always try to figure out who is who...Here's my guess...The three guys on the left are the train crew..The tall guy in the middle is the conductor (note the badge on his hat) The other two (very dirty) guys on the right are the engineer and fireman. I think the really dirty guy in overalls is the fireman and .....as out of character it seems the guy in the "suit" is the engineer. Those guys, as I've noted before had a pretty "Exalted Opinion of Self) and considered themselves as "important officials of the road.
Pete
-----Original Message----- From: Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> To: CBQ < CBQ@groups.io> Sent: Fri, Nov 22, 2019 3:30 pm Subject: Re: [CBQ] boiler explosion record Jan 1911 WY?
November 22, 2019
Eric - Some of the Class D-4-A 2-8-0's were equipped with diamond stacks to reduce the amount of hot cinders raining down and causing line side fires. I've attached an undated image of sister 3116 taken at Edgewood, SD, that is so equipped.
From the train crew standing along side, you can see how massive these locomotives were for their era. 3116 was also constructed by Schenectady (ALCO) in 1903. She lasted a little longer in service not being retired and scrapped until October 1933 - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 11/22/2019 12:36:45 PM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
Thanks so much! interesting to see a loco so close to 3152. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near a boiler that size if it exploded.
On Fri, Nov 22, 2019 at 11:20 AM Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
November 22, 2019
Eric - Thanks. Interesting newspaper articles. Unfortunately, I do not have an image of 3152 to share with you. It's possible another member of this List might have an image. To give you some idea of what 3152 looked like, I'm attaching an image of CB&Q 3156 taken at Gilette, WY, in 1905.
Both 3152 and 3156 were Class D-4-A 2-8-0 type locomotives built by Schenectady (ALCO) in 1903. Your 3152 survived the boiler explosion and was rebuilt, most likely at the Denver Shops. It was retired in November 1930. For their era, the Class D-4-A's were massive freight haulers - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 11/22/2019 11:31:25 AM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
Please see attached. I believe this was ALCO 2-8-0 no. 3152.
Thanks!
On Fri, Nov 22, 2019 at 9:49 AM Louis Zadnichek via Groups.Io <LZadnichek= aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
November 22, 2019
Eric - Scan the newspaper article to us. It may give the road number of the locomotive that exploded. Thanks - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 11/22/2019 9:15:48 AM Central Standard Time, scrimshander1@gmail.com writes:
Hi folks: I am researching a locomotive boiler explosion on a Burlington route between Billings MT and Sheridan, WY that killed a great uncle of mine (the engineer) and two other men (January 6, 1911). I have the local newspaper accounts, but I'm wondering if anyone can point me to where I might find a record of any internal investigation on the cause, or any photos of this accident.
thanks for any help-
Eric
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