Re: Case Boiler Explosion

You are right on 2 counts, First, no, I'm not a Payton fan, Many of the reasons have been pretty well explained by others... and second, yes the hobby grapevine IS tremendous.
I still can't help but question the motives of whoever, shall we say "prematurely", released the report. And I rather doubt the Medina sherriff, and some of the other agencies involved are real happy about it either. Yes, this almost the norm these days, but IMHO it still isn't very ethical.
As for the question of "would I be 'upset' if the report is accurate?" Concerned would be a better word... Concerned that the rest of the steam community will get broad brush painted as "dangerous kooks" by someone with an axe to grind, or political hay to make. (No one that I know would consider firing a questionable boiler.) Concerned that there will be a lot of new, perhaps draconian legislation to prevent recurrance of what is actually a rather isolated incident. (As I said before, I, and most hobbyists, welcome an inspection program that is an "honest appraisal" of the boiler's condition. I simply don't care for legal hoops that do nothing much to accomplish that end, but were put there just to make some politico feel that he "accomplished" something.)
I am also a bit concerned that by leaking the report, someone may have compromised the official investigation, which could perhaps lead to a Clintonian legal circus.