I was reading long ago about boiler explosions and recall a brakeman's experience whereas he was in the doghouse on a tender, heard a really big 'boom' and got out and looked forward. All he saw was the running gear and nothing else. Only after he climbed down did he see what was left of the boiler, having been launched into the air and over a berm next to the train. He couldn't find any sign of the crew.
The head-end crew had a low water situation over the crown sheet and didn't react in time (or at all) and were pretty much vaporized for their error. He walked away without a scratch.
