I remember reading of another incident with dropped plugs on a line in
the USA, run by a small team of volunteers on a shoestring like many
UK preserved lines. The sight gauges were furred up due to inadequate
procedures at overhaul IIRC, but as usual there was a catalogue of missed
opportunities to catch it. A good investigative report was printed
(don't remember if it was by the NTSC though ;-))


Most North American steam engine did NOT have fusible plugs, instead they
relied, if that's the right word, on low water alarms and crew vigilance. I
think the story you are referring to was the collapse of the crown sheet on
the Gettysburg Railroad engine number 1278, an ex Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 on
June 16th, 1995 while working a six-car train at about 15 mph near Gardners
Pennsylvania. The locomotive was not fitted with fusible plugs, a not
uncommon practice in North America.

http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/loco1278.html



--
Cheers
Roger Traviss


Photos of the late GER: -
http://www.highspeedplus.com/~rogertra/

For more photos not in the above album and kitbashes etc..:-
http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l9...Great_Eastern/