Answer: Absolutely. Boiler explosions are a huge hazard, whether stationary or on a train engine. These days boiler construction is much better understood, and highly regulated, so it’s a pretty rare occurrence, but a century ago, they were pretty common.
There was even a stunt staged in 1896 where two old steam locomotives (and trains) were crashed into each other. Despite the expectations that the boilers would not explode, they did, and killed a couple of people and injured many more.
Explanation: