Showing 144 items
matching safety sign
-
Melbourne Tram Museum
Pamphlet, Yarra Trams, "Be Alert and don't Get Hurt", 2009
Pamphlet - three fold DL full colour printed on gloss paper, titled "Be Alert and don't Get Hurt" about safety around trams, trains and traffic, with safety slogans, a letter from a survivor, has various signs and cuttings on the inside. Part of Rail Safety Week 2009. has the various sponsor logos on the rear.trams, tramways, rail safety, safety, trams, railways, posters -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign, Yarra Trams, tramcar stop sign - door, mid to late 2000's
... Trams tramways Tramcars Signs Passengers Safety Sign ...Sign - galvanised steel sheet with a baked white enamel paint finish and overlaid with a reflective white and red "Stop" and two walking legs to warn motorists that a pedestrian or passenger was about to leave or board a tramcar. Fitted to the folding doors of Z, A and B class tramcars mid to late 2000's?. It replaced a larger green fold out sign with an image of pedestrians and the word "stop" on it. Sign has not been used. See Reg Item 4386 for another example.trams, tramways, tramcars, signs, passengers, safety -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Postcard, Biscay Greetings, Bourke St. Melbourne from Parliament house with MMTB Z8, mid 1970's
Colour postcard with of Bourke St. Melbourne from Parliament house with MMTB Z8 and about 6 W7's in photo, along with many motor vehicles. Also shown are the Safety Zones and stops. In image are buildings along either side of Bourke St., featuring the sign of the Salvation Army City Temple in the top left hand corner, Mittys, and a Kwikasair van by the outbound safety zone. Tram Z8 has destination of "CITY - SPENCER ST." and showing route 89. Mid 1970's. Card has a caption underneath the photo - "Melbourne's Trams in Bourke St, Victoria" Back has space for name and address, stamp and a message and details of the postcard. Produced by Biscay Greetings, possibly mid to late 1980's. Card No. 2AUS 58 .1 - as above but without the caption on the bottom of the photograph. Biscay postcard No. 98, with a caption on the rear that it was a "New Z class tram". .2 - another version with caption and different wording on rear - has number 2AUS58.trams, tramways, postcards, bourke st, route 89, z class, w7 class, tram 8 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Radio Transcript, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), Wireless talk - "inside information regarding tramcars", Jul. 1926
Radio transcript - 12 foolscap sheets, typed. Although not named, appears to have been prepared for or by Mr. Strickland describing "inside information regarding tramcars". Notes cable trams, conversion, sale of trailers and dummies or grip cars, the variety taken over from the trusts, design of new cars (180 in service at the time of the report), open cars vs closed cars, seating and standing capacity, speed, braking system, step heights, destination signs, lifeguards. Gives a description of Preston Workshops, finishing soon, description of the tramcar construction, roofing, painting, sourcing of materials, timbers, cost per tram of 3250 pounds, depots, breakdowns, overhauls, workshops, collision repairs in 1925, construction of 10 safety cars. Vicsig.net gives that X1 461 entered service in Sept. 1926. Pinned to the file by Robert on the rear of TMSV Raffle ticket is a note "Electrical Engineer 15/7/26 p35 "C. H. Wickham gave recent address broadcast on 3LO"In blue pencil in top left hand corner appears to be "Wickham"trams, tramways, tramcars, preston workshops, new trams, sale of trams, cable trams, destination roll, tram brakes, tramcar equipment, x1 class, w class, depots, radio stations -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Set of 7 Black & White Photograph/s, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), 1966
Series of 7 black and white photographs of the traffic congestion in the CBD during 1951. .1 - Flinders St from Flinders St Station office looking northwest with a W2 317 Richmond route 28 and many cars. Has "32" on rear in pencil. Has Snows and the SEC building in the view. .2 - Spencer St bridge, looking north with Fish Market/Cool Stores and the VR Head Office in the view. Has Taylor and ? General Carriers and Nestle's truck in the view. .3 - William St? with passengers waiting at a safety zone - has the Dennys Lascelles building in the background. .4 - Flinders St looking north east with Snows, the SEC, a Hotel and Hearnes sign showing. Has a W2 436? route 27 Hawthorn eastbound. Typed on rear "Enlargement of No. 76, Sheet No. 28 (report P25/1/8), "Spare" written in pencil and "For Testing Engrs 1/11/51" in ink. .5 - looking north with a horse drawn cart and a SW6 (East Kew) with dash canopy lighting. .6 - looking north - with Hearnes Provisions, Olympia Inn and Coffee Lounge and Young & Jacksons Hotel. Has a W2 partly in the photo about to enter the Safety Zone. ..7 - similar to .1 - with Snows, W2 route 48 North Balwyn and a Pattons Dry Cleaning van. See also Reg 4519 for another 7 photos of the same series.trams, tramways, traffic control, congestion, flinders st, spencer st, route 27, route 28, east kew, richmond, route 48, william st, safety zone, hawthorn, tram 317, tram 436 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Report, Yarra Trams, "Safety Alert 2013-001, Insulated Tram", 18/02/2013 12:00:00 AM
.1 - Report - A4 sheet colour copy titled "Safety Alert 2013-001, Insulated Tram", describing the investigation into an incident on 11/1/2013 at the Melbourne University terminus received an electric shock due to an insulated tram as a result of sand build up. Details procedures for such events, the incident, the investigation and recommendations. .2 - Report - A4 sheet, colour titled "Safety Alert Tram to Tram collision" reporting on collisions during 2018, 10 to mid May 2018, compared to 7 for 2017. Has a photo of tram 168 and 226 in collision. Signed by Terry Scott, Director of Lines, issued 18/5/2018.trams, tramways, yarra trams, incidents, melbourne university, sanding equipment, electricity, collision -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Postcard, Nu-color-Vue, Swanston St looking North just before the Flinders St, late 1980's
... a The Met tram stop sign on the safety zone. Possibly late 1980's... a The Met tram stop sign on the safety zone. Possibly late 1980's ...Postcard - full colour, Divided back type of Swanston St looking North just before the Flinders St intersection, with Young and Jackson Hotel and many neon signs in the background. Tram 756 with destination of Moreland and Route 15 is in the view. Note the wood planks in between the rails at the stop, possibly at the time that the bridge over the rail lines was being rebuilt. Appears to have a The Met tram stop sign on the safety zone. Possibly late 1980's. Nu-Color-Vue postcard with serrated edges, number ML 116 with logos and place for stamps and address.trams, tramways, swanston st, flinders st, moreland, route 15, tram 756 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, The Age, "Tears and fond farewell to the conductors who fare not so well", "Not everyone is happy as the last tram conductors are put out to pasture", "Dispute a threat to services", "Not everyone is happy as the last tram conductors are put out to pasture", 25/05/1998 12:00:00 AM
Two newspaper cuttings from The Age, Monday 25/5/1998 following the withdrawal of all conductors on Melbourne tram services. .1 - "Tears and fond farewell to the conductors who fare not so well "written by Paul Heinrichs, the story about the last Malvern conductor signing off , Bernard Lamberty with Z98 in the background. Photo taken in Swanston St by Luis Ascui. Also discusses the dispute over W class trams and the move to ticket machines. Continued on page 4 as "Tracks of tears as connies go" with a photo of Norm Maddock with part of the collection at Malvern. .2 - "Not everyone is happy as the last tram conductors are put out to pasture" and "Not everyone is happy as the last tram conductors are put out to pasture", written by Rachel Gibson about the industrial dispute over the removal of conductors and safety on W class trams. Quotes Lou Di Gregorio.trams, tramways, ticket machines, conductors, safety, malvern depot -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign, Yarra Trams, Stop sign fitted to tramcars, mid to late 2000's
... Trams tramways Tramcars Signs Passengers Safety Sign ...Sign - galvanised folded steel sheet with a baked white enamel paint finish and overlaid with a reflective white and red "Stop" and two walking legs to warn motorists that a pedestrian or passenger was about to leave or board a tramcar. See Reg Item 1439 for another example.trams, tramways, tramcars, signs, passengers, safety -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Instruction, Public Transport Corporation (PTC), "Code of Acceptable Behaviour", 8/01/1993 12:00:00 AM
Instruction - single A4 Photocopied sheet, titled "Code of Acceptable Behaviour", signed John McMillan CEO of PTC, reminding personal of their contractual obligations regarding public safety, equipment and disciplinary action. Dated 8/1/1993. Was faxed.trams, tramways, ptc, behaviour, staff, unions, personnel -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph, David Menzies, W2 220 North Fitzroy Depot, 1975
Black and white print of W2 220 parked on the depot access tracks at North Fitzroy depot. It has the destination of East Preston Bell St. The tram has adverts for Black and White scotch whiskey and road safety messages re stop and give way signs. In the background is the sub-station at this location. It was unusual to see a W2 class at this location. Has a print date of 8/1975 on the rear.Yields information about W2 220, the second W class tram built.Black and White photographs - printed on plain paper with photographers stamp and notes on rear.Has stamp of David Menzies on rear. and in ink details of photo.tramways, trams, mmtb, w2 class, tram 220, north fitzroy depot -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign, Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Co (MTOCo), "Never get on or off while the car is in motion / Call attention of Conductor or Gripman to stop the Car.", c1890
... trams signs trailers safety passengers Sign - metal strip ...Used on the inside of the doors of a Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Cable tram saloon trailer along with item 7438. See also item 2907 for another example. Recovered by the donor from a trailer that was in a yard in Dromana shortly before it disappeared. See image 2 of the locations of the signs. Demonstrates a MTOCo sign from a cable tram trailer and the style of signage.Sign - metal strip, with folded edges, 8 countersunk screw holes, painted cream back with black letters Shows position of the sign on a cable tram door."trams, tramways, conductors, cable trams, signs, trailers, safety, passengers -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Digital Image, W6 1000 on the opening day of the service in Bourke St, 26/06/1955 12:00:00 AM
Set of 4 digital images of W6 1000 on the opening day of the service in Bourke St via High St Northcote to East Preston on 26/6/1955. .1 - 1000 (East Preston route 89) at Spencer St, note the sign behind the tram and the newly painted safety zone. Has the Mail Exchange in the background. .2 - ditto at Spencer St with Carlyon's Hotel and the Spencer St Railway station in the background. .3 - tram arriving at the East Preston depot leads - has adverts for Milo, Kiwi boot polish and Pleshur's shoes. .4 - ditto with a Book Repairs Shop, R. P Evans, Goweville Hotel advertising Fosters Lager, and the Melody Picture theatre, In the background is Bell St with a set of clock traffic lights and two tower wagons and a Pura Milk truck just behind the tram.trams, tramways, w6 class, opening, route 89, bourke st, east preston, high st, northcote, tower trucks, traffic lights, bell st, tram 1000 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, John Stanley Caddell, "MMTB Supplementary Running Journal", c1927
Form - "MMTB Supplementary Running Journal" dated 24/2/1925 giving ticket numbers against specific ticket amounts signed by H Duchess No. 1178 of Prahran depot and Newspaper clippings glued to a sheet of drawing book cardboard sheet comprising: "The story of Coogee", "Veteran ship sunk outside heads", dated 29-7-28, former captains, "Safety of Both sides" featuring a Portsmouth UK double deck trams and a letter about Sunday morningtrams, tramways, cable trams, forms, tickets, prahran -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Postcard, Rose Stereograph Co, "Flinders St Melbourne", late 1930s
Rose Series postcard No. P 206, titled "Flinders St Melbourne" with W2 class tram 412 (Spencer St, route 40) westbound in Flinders St with Flinders Street Railway Station in the background. A group of ladies has alighted from the tram at the Safety Zone near Queen St. Note the "Do not park here" sign placed behind the pole on the right side of the photograph.Yields information about Flinders St late 1930sPostcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear. Two copies held.tramways, w2 class, flinders st, tram 412, safety zone, trams, route 40 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board - Rules, Regulations", 1924
Book - dark grey Rexene covers, with title - "Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board - Rules, Regulations". Two sections, stapled and bound within heavy card covers, 80 pages with a typed index pasted inside rear covers, printed by Sands & McDougall, Melbourne. Authorised by W. O. Strangward Secretary 1923 and printed 1924. On first page, has number "6246" stamped onto the page. Provides the Rules and Regulations of the Board concerning Accidents, fire, general instructions, signals, uniforms, staff working, special instructions to Motormen and Conductors, tickets, safety for both Cable and Electric tramways. By-Law No. 5 provided on pages 76 to 80. On page 80 has the Seal of the Board and those who signed the document - Alex Cameron Chairman, Thos. O'L Reynolds Member and W. O. Strangward Secretary. Inside rear cover is a 12 page typed index to the rules in broken into sections for each letter of the alphabet - pages for M to O missing. Extract re Staff and ticket rules added 19-12-16 - see image i7. 2nd copy added 18-01-2022 Images revised - scanned in two parts. Copy No. 18812nd copy has "Inspector J H Cowrie" written on the inside front cover, 1st page and inside rear cover. Stamped "Malvern" in two locationstrams, tramways, mmtb, melbourne, cable trams, rules, regulations, safeworking -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Poster, Yarra Trams, "Drivers Beware", c2012
... Sign Traffic Control Safety Rhinos Set of two full colour ...Set of two full colour poster printed on a vinyl plasticized based sheet - colours yellow and black. .1 - titled "Drivers Beware", staying clear of the yellow line and when turning on roads with trams. Features the rhino on a skateboard. .2 - titled "Beware" - look listen and be alert around trams - has the Yarra Trams logo and website name. Not dated, c2012.trams, tramways, yarra trams, melbourne, public transport, advisory sign, traffic control, safety, rhinos -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Notice, The Met, "Notice to Traffic Staff - New Type of Automatic Points", Nov. 1987
Photocopied Instruction or Notice titled "Notice to Traffic Staff - New Type of Automatic Points", 3 stapled A4 sheets detailing the operation of points fitted with an inductive loop control system at Spencer St in Bourke St (Up) and Clarendon St at Whiteman St (Down). Gives details of their operations, associated signals. Provides a diagram. Signed by Dennis Griffiths Regional Operations Manager, Northern 20/11/1987.trams, tramways, mmtb, points, operations, safety -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Geelong 15 Moorabool St, Ken McCarthy, 4-2-1948
The photo shows Geelong tram No.15 in Moorabool St, before turning into Ryrie St with the destination of Eastern Park. A lady passenger is boarding. The tram has a Pay as you enter sign. In the background is the Bank of NSW. Photo by Ken McCarthy 4-2-1948Yields information about the Geelong tram 15Black and white photograph with stamped details on rear.Typed on rear "No. 15 Birney Safety car, SEC Geelong 4 Feb 1948, copyright K McCarthy, Photo No. 77". Ken Magor stamp as well" tramways, trams, geelong, tram 15, moorabool st -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - MARKS COLLECTION: HERCULES AND ENERGETIC GOLDMINING CO. SPECIFICATIONS
Handwritten document (15 pages) with two page blue document appended at back. On front of handwritten document : specifications for machinery and ironwork engineer and ironfounder for building plant for the Hercules & Energetic Goldmining Comp., Sandhurst. The contractor is to supply and deliver on the claim of the above Company the following machinery &c - and to get proper receipts for same from the Contractor for the erection of plant. Areas in specifications include: repairs to engine and boiler set-up & c., safety valve, whistle, cylinder, stop valve, piston, eccentric, crank shaft, feed pump & eccentric, flywheel very extensive descriptions of all areas, some with diagrams. Appended to back of document Ironfounders general conditions of contract work required in the making and delivery on the claim machinery &c for a winding plant for the Hercules & |Energetic Co., Drawings prepared by Wm Middleton, Engineer, Sandhurst. Agreement entered into this twelfth day of October, 1878, by and between Messrs Mitchell & Osborne and Hercules and Energetic GMC. Signed by Mitchell & Osborne, per ? Dobson., Wm Middleton ?.bendigo, mining, hercules & energetic mine -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Colour illustration - W2 417 Collins St - 1971
Points of interest in the photograph are the lack of white lines along the tracks, safety zone equipment behind the tram, the "Hail Cars Here" tram stop sign on a steel pole by a traffic light and the style of traffic light. Two advertising panels on the front of the tram advertise "Jex Soap Pads" and the musical "Hair" at the Metro Theatre Bourke St. Two Fords are alongside the tramcar. The original source of photograph unknown. The Musical "Hair" was presented in Melbourne during 1971. Yields information about the location, the streetscape and the trams and vehicles in use at the time. Colour illustration of M&MTB tram W2 417 on a route 45, Deepdene service in Collins St. Melbourne at the intersection of Russell St. with the Scots Church in the background.tramways, trams, collins st, w2 class, tram 417, traffic lights, deepdene, route 45 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Report, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Tram changeovers for 12 months 1-7-63 to 30-6-64", 1964
Details the numbers of tram defects by type due to a variety of causes by depots. Allows for analysis of the reasons and possible solutions. Note the numbers for "soiled" trams - probably someone was sick on the tram (drunk), and collisions - not just minor scrapes. Gives the mileages per defect and overall miles per defect. Signed Ken Hall, Works Manager. Yields information about the background for change over of operational trams by depot.Foolscap duplicated sheet detailing "Tram changeovers for 12 months 1-7-63 to 30-6-64" - Form No. R229tramcars, tramways, mmtb, depots, safety, running sheds, defects, accidents, failures, mileages -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign - Door stop sign ex an Z3 tram, Yarra Trams
... passing a tram. Tramcars Z3 class signs passengers safety Sign ...Fitted to the folding doors of a Z3 class trams to warn motorists that a passenger was about to alight or board and that they must stop. Sign shaped to be above heads of people waiting on platform stops.Demonstrates methods of warning motorists that they must stop when passing a tram.Sign - galvanised steel sheet with a baked white enamel paint finish and overlaid with a reflective white and red "Stop" Two samples held - one with a more extensive red section. Has three stainless steel bolts with washers on the right hand side to fix the sign to an opening door.tramcars, z3 class, signs, passengers, safety -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Boiler explosion at Ringwood station 20th June 1894 for engine 297R. "Heard in Box Hill"
Black and white photographs - 2 copiesTyped below photograph, "Boiler explosion at Ringwood station 20/6/1894. Heard in Box Hill". Article from newspapers:- Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 21 Official enquiry. The Board of Enquiry appointed by the Railway Commissioners to enquire into the causes of the boiler explosion which shattered the locomotive at Ringwood on Saturday night, assembled at the Railway department on Wednesday to commence its deliberations, The board consisted of Mr R. Fulton, engineer, C. W. McLean; engineer to the Marine Board, and Mr Mephan Ferguson, iron-founder. There is some difficulty at the outset about the constitution of the board; It was suggested that the Apt of Parliament contemplated that boards of experts, after the manner of the present one, needed, to have their appointments confirmed by the Governor-in-Council. The point, however, was not considered sufficiently important to prevent the board from proceeding with evidence. Robert Greyford, stationmaster at Ringwood, was the first witness. He said he saw the explosion on Saturday night at about twenty minutes to 8. There was a rush to the engine to see what had happened, and the driver and fireman were both found on the platform of the engine. The driver seemed badly hurt, but the fireman, to all appearances, was not so badly injured. They were both attended to and sent up to Melbourne by the last suburban train. Witness had a look at the engine and found the dome and all the plates round the boiler blown clean, away. The springs were also blown clean away. The Chairman (Mr Fulton) : Did you measure the distance ? Witness: Yes; one of the plates was 209 yards away. A piece from the top of the boiler 15 pounds in weight he found driven into the hard beaten track 410 yards away. Several pieces of boiler plate were found scattered at various distances. The buildings roundabout were injured. The Chairman; Did you notice anything peculiar about either of the driver or the fireman ? — No ; nothing wrong, with either of them. If the engine was blowing off at all, it must have been very light. In your opinion, were they perfectly sober ? — Perfectly. In approaching the station, is there a down or an up grade? — A very slight down grade. How is the road from Healesville ? — Up and down all the way. It is down, grade for about 200 yards coming into Ringwood station. They shut off ; steam about a quarter of a mile away, and come in at a good pace. They generally put on 15 pounds of steam while they are in the station. Mr Ferguson : Had the driver the usual load on ? — Yes ; about the usual load. Witness added that he had known the driver personally for about 10 years, and he had always been a careful, steady, sober man. He did not know the fireman so well. John Palmer, porter at Ringwood station, also saw the explosion. He was attending to the train on its arrival. He was knocked down by the force of the explosion. When he got up he saw the engine driver being carried into the office covered in blood. He noticed nothing peculiar about the driver and fireman, nor about the engine. Mr McLean : How far were you from the engine when you were knocked down ? — From ten to fifteen yards. William Paul, the guard of the train to which the injured locomotive Was attached, said he was looking at the engine at the very moment the explosion occurred. It seemed to come from exactly under the dome. The force of it took him off his feet. He was about 15 yards from the tender. When he rose he tried to reach the engine, but could not do so on account of the steam and coal dust. He called out to know whether any of the passengers were injured, and got no response, so that he concluded they were all right. All the lamps but about half dozen were extinguished by the force of the explosion, although the glass was not broken. He could testify most distinctly that the driver and fireman were both sober. The driver was a man who never drank. The steam started to blow off about a minute and a half before the explosion took place. The last place at which the engine took water was Healesville. The Chairman : Do yon know anything of the quality of the water there ? Is it creek water ? — Yes ; it comes from the Graceburn River. You never heard of its quality ?— No. How long have you known this engine on the road— About 13 months. Hew long have you known the driver on this line ? — About six weeks. I have known the fireman several years. The driver was a strict teetotaller, and I never saw the fireman take anything to drink in his life. Mr T. H, Woodroffe, chief mechanical engineer of the Victorian Railways, produced a report he had written to the secretary, about this explosion. The document gave facts concerning the engine and the explosion. It stated that the rapture seemed to have occurred at the rim of the plates adjoining the fire box. The engine was built at the Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat, in 1883. It was repaired at various times, the last time being in July of last year when it was sent to the Port Melbourne shops, and was then tested to a cold water pressure of 195 and found all right. It was the custom to overhaul all locomotives about every five years. The Chairman : There were no very heavy repairs in July, 1893; were there? — Not to the boilers. The shop manager's report says that the plug and safety tap holes were repaired, five new copper studs put in firebox, ash-pan door repaired, tender cleaned and overhauled, and studs re-rivetted, and boiler tested to pressure of 195, cold water. Mr Woodroffe read the report of the repairs effected to the boiler in December, 1888. That would be the time the plate was put in the boiler. On that occasion three new plates were put in the bottom and the boiler tested up to 195. The Chairman: Do you keep a record of the water used ?— Yes, the water in this case, I think, came from the Maroondah scheme. Mr Woodroffe said boilers were examined front time to time in the running sheds. In his opinion every possible care had been taken to keep the engine in proper care. There might, however, be lessons learnt from this. The Chairman: No doubt. From his examination of the plates [the] witness did not think the state of them could have been detected from the outside. There were no signs of leakage or sweating or anything of that sort. The next witness- was Walter Stinton, workshop manager at Newport and he said that the injured engine had been repeatedly repaired under his charge. He gave a technical account of the repairs effected on various occasions. The testing of locomotives was under his special notice. They had a high pressure pipe running; round the works, and a pump set at 2001b. When the boiler was pumped full of water the pressure when applied up to 1951b. The board appointed by the department to inquire into the Ringwood locomotive boiler explosion sat again at Spencer street on 25th inst. Mr R. Fulton presided and the other members of the board were. Mr Mephan Ferguson and Mr C. W. McLean. Charles Grubb, foreman of the boiler-makers at the Newport workshops, said he had inspected the pieces of plate that had been blown out of the engine, and after examining them, pointed out to the Chief Mechanical Engineer the portion where the plate had started to burst. It was under the lap, on the right hand side of the boiler. The grooving might be accounted for by bad water. During the past twenty years he had examined all the boilers that came into the Williamstown workshops, and while some were hardly marked at all, others were very badly eaten away. The practice was to cut out the defective portions. In this case the boiler was repaired in a similar manner. The Chairman : Can you suggest any other way of repairing so as to prevent accident ? — No, unless by taking out a plate on one side from the joint, and carrying it further up so as to avoid the joints meeting, or by taking out the plate altogether. What would.be the cost .of putting in a new " plate I—Perhaps about double the price; but I wouldn't recommend that course. It would be putting a new plate against plates that have been in use ten years or so and that would not be advisable. I think the present system better. I consider the present system of repairing the best. This is the first we have had so bad like that, to my knowledge. You attributed this to bad water. Is there no other probable cause ? — Well; unless the iron be bad. This was Lowmoor iron. I think this accident was caused by the eating away of plates. This one was the worst I have seen, for the short time it had been running. We use three classes of iron — Lowmoor, Monkbridge and Bowling. By Mr Woodroffe (Chief Mechanical Engineer) ; There are engines still running that were repaired at the same time as this one, in 1888, and. in the same way. These are engines 339 and 333. They have been recently examined and are in splendid order. What in your experience, is the age of a boiler on the Victorian railways? — From 17 to 20 years our earlier boilers stood. The later boilers don't stand so well. How is that? — There is difference in construction, and the material is lighter. The old boilers had thicker plates. Have you been asked in any way to curtail boiler affairs? — No, sir; nor in any way. You have never hesitated to carry out any necessary repairs? — Never. Our orders have been to exercise every care in examining, repairing and renewing boilers. Witness said that his practice was when an engine came into the workshop to find out how long she had been running. If over five years, he informed the workshop manager, and they thought it necessary the tubes were taken nut. If everything was in good order witness reported to the manager. The cost of taking out the tubes and putting them in again was about L20. Mr Woodroffe : Have you ever hesitated to repair a boiler on the score of expense ? — No, never. Mr McLean : Hew do yon ascertain whether a boiler requires repairs?— I keep a record of every boiler examined. From every boiler that comes in I have the dome covers taken off, and when it is practical I get inside. l can almost tell from the top of a boiler what the bottom is like. If there is any doubt about it I have the tubes taken out. If I have suspicion of defective plate I cause to have bored a triangle in the plate at the point where there is the most wear. There is a travelling inspector who visits all the running sheds of the colony except Port Melbourne and tests the boilers. He reports to us and we note what he points out. Alfred Thompson, locomotive inspector of the eastern section, said he knew this engine, 297R. He read a list of her repairs. He heard of the accident on Saturday night and went up to Ringwood. The Chairman : Did you ever notice anything peculiar about the engine? — No, I considered her A1 and would not have hesitated to have put on 140lb pressure owing to the repairs she had undergone. Witness considered that the explosion was caused by the expansion and contraction of the plates ; and, no doubt, the plate had been eaten away through bad water. The other side of the boiler showed: signs of corrosion: By Mr Woodroffe ; Is every care taken with the boilers ? — Yes, every possible care is taken for the safety of boilers, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 7 EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE BOILER, NARROW ESACPE FROM FATALITIES. THE DAMAGED ENGINE. [See drawing of loco – saved in “Railways” folder] The explosion of a locomotive boiler at Ringwood on Saturday evening, formed the subject of much discussion in railway circles on Monday. The Minister arrived at the office at an unusually early hour and immediately entered into a consultation with the acting chairman, Mr Kibble, and Mr Commissioner Murray. As the result of the interview it was resolved to ask three gentlemen of acknowledged engineering experience to sib as a board with the . object of inquiring into the cause of the accident and furnishing a report. Mr Richardson and the Commissioners are tally seized of the importance of having a searching investigation into the accident, and, with Mr Murray, the former went to Ringwood to inspect the scene of the disaster. They will he accompanied by Mr Woodroffe. During the morning no official report had come to hand from the driver or fireman of the engine in reference to the accident, but that is thought to be due to the circumstance that they have not sufficiently recovered to be able to give a circumstantial account of what occurred. The engine was one of the old R's, and, Mr Kibble pronounced them to be about the best class of engines used. So far nothing can be said as to the probable cause of the accident, as the broken plating of the engine has not been submitted to the inspection of experts. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 7 STATEMENT BY THE FIREMAN. This morning Thomas Miles, fireman on the engine the boiler of which exploded on Saturday night, is suffering from an injury to the spine, as well as a very severe shaking to the system. He states that he was fireman on the engine attached to the train which left Healesville on Saturday evening, at ten minutes to 8. Everything went all right until Ringwood was reached, when, .just as the train was about to continue its journey, a load explosion took place and Miles remembers nothing more until he was picked np on the platform ; and found himself suffering from a pain in the back, and an injury to his arm. He cannot think of any reason which could have caused the explosion, as there was plenty of water in the boiler, and everything seemed working all right. Mr R. Fulton, consulting engineer, of Queen street; Mr McLean, a member of the Marine Board ; and Mr Mephan Ferguson, engineer, have consented to act as a board to inquire into the cause of the engine boiler explosion at Ringwood on Saturday evening. The board has been appointed under section 117 of Act 1135, which provides that the Governor-in-Council may direct the taking of a such a step. Mr1 Fulton will act as chairman of the board, which met for the first time at the railway offices, Spencer street, this forenoon. Before separating the members of the Board paid a visit to the Prince's Bridge locomotive sheds in company with Mr Woodroffe, the chief mechanical engineer, for the purpose of inspecting the shattered boiler. It has been stated that the explosion is known to have been caused by a flaw in a plate which was put on the boiler about four years ago, but enquiries have tailed to elicit anything in support of that view. The engineers connected with the department are not inclined to say anything on the subject. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 14 April 1894, page 20 The Ringwood Boiler Explosion, The Minister of Railways has received the supplementary report of the board appointed by him to investigate the circumstances connected with the explosion of a locomotive boiler at Ringwood. In their first report the board did not attach blame to anyone. Mr Richardson felt satisfied that the responsibility of having the engines properly inspected and overhauled periodically could be fixed if the inquiry were extended. He therefore referred the matter again to the Board, who took further evidence. In the report now furnished, the Board hold Loco. Inspector Thompson blameable, but point out as a mitigating circumstance that he had not received "written instructions" respecting inspections and overhauls. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 7 July 1894, page 32 The Ringwood Boiler Explosion. The Minister of Railways takes exception to the tone of a paragraph appearing in a morning contemporary respecting the Ringwood boiler explosion. It makes it appear that Mr Richardson has referred the report of the board which considered the facts connected with the explosion to the Crown solicitor simply because he differed from the finding of the board. The Minister explains that when he received the report he found that the responsibility for having boilers properly inspected and overhauled had not been clearly fixed. He personally obtained farther evidence on that point, and arrived at a conclusion, from which the commissioners differed. As he did not like to take upon himself the responsibility of deciding upon the effect of the evidence, he submitted the matter to the Crown Solicitor, but that officer did not furnish him with the information sought. He has, therefore, referred the question to the Attorney-General, together with the draft of a regulation respecting boiler inspections and overhauls in the future. Mr Richardson says that his whole aim is to have the responsibility positively fixed. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 28 April 1894, page 23 The Minister of Railways has completed his consideration of the supplementary report received by him from the Ringwood Boiler Explosion Board. The report, it will be remembered, held Loco-Inspector Thompson blameable for the non-inspection of the boiler, but considered there was extenuating circumstances. There was a certain amount of doubt as to the absolute instructions given for overhauling engines periodically. Mr. Richardson is sending the report on to the Commissioners with instructions that the responsibility respecting inspection of boilers shall be made clear for the future.