Although it had only worked a short time at this place, it was very old, and the central tube was corroded until only 1/8 inch thick in many places, and many of the rivet heads were quite eaten away. It was altogether so worn out that it was quite unfit to work at any pressure. _No. 54. Cornwall. (Fig. 43.) December 6th. none injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 43._] One tube Cornish, 32ft. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 to 50 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from end to end, and the front portion was blown out with the front end, and the back end was left attached to the shell, and but little moved from its seat. The cause was doubtless the weakness of such a large tube. This is the third explosion at this engine. One of the previous explosions is described at No. 35. _No. 55. Stonehaven. December 9th. 2 injured._ Locomotive, but no particulars have been obtained. _No. 56. Cornwall. (Fig. 44.) December 10th. none injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 44._] One tube Cornish, 26ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, tube 3ft. 10in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed and ruptured in the central part from weakness. _No. 57. Cornwall. (Fig. 45.) December 11th. none injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 45._] One tube Cornish, 32ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. It was an old boiler, and some of the plates of the tube were thinned by corrosion, but it had only just been put to work at this place, and burst the first day of working. The tube collapsed beyond the bridge, and the back part with the back end plate was blown out to a great distance. The front end was also ruptured, and the whole boiler was sent forwards. The tube over the fire had not collapsed. The cause of explosion was the weakness of such a large tube without strengthening rings. Many similar boilers have exploded in the same way from the same cause, as described in Nos. 28, 30, 35, 40, 54, and 56. _No. 58. Cornwall. (Fig. 46.) December 14th. 2 killed._ [Illustration: _Fig. 46._] One tube Cornish, 26ft. 8in. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. 10in. at front end, and 3ft. beyond, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. The shell was rent into several pieces, which were scattered to wide distances. The tube was also thrown to a great distance, but was uninjured. The boiler was 36 years old. The shell was very badly corroded, and temporarily repaired with screw patches to stop leaking, so that the boiler was unfit to bear the usual pressure. See No. 52. _No. 59. Durham. (Fig. 47.) December 29th. 2 killed, 1 injured._ [Illustration: _Fig. 47._]