Executive summary
On 13 March 1994, a tubular glass sight gauge in the cab of a restored steam locomotive broke, discharging steam and oily water from a lubricator. The fireman fell from the cab and received severe injuries. The locomotive was operated by the Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society at Pleasant Point. The safety issue identified in this investigation was the need to replace sight glass tubes on old steam locomotives with modern borosilicat glass, and placing a screen in front of the tubes to deflect any discharge away from persons in the cab.
Related Recommendations
Replace the tubular sight glasses in the Nathan Lubricator of locomotive D16 with borosilicate glass tubes that comply with or are similar to the specifications contained in NZS5301:1977, and have been heat treated to relieve stresses caused by cutting.
advise all operators of steam locomotives of the need to use borosilicate glass tubes in sight gauges, with all such gauges to have a safety screen in front of them.
Install a screen in front of the tubular sigh glasses on the Nathan Lubricator similar in design to the screen provided for the boiler water level sight gauges.