I found this mention of a water-filled foot pan in The Leeds Times, 18th May 1863:
"At the Doncaster Police-court, on Thursday, Mr. Trotter, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, described as a retired captain in the merchant service, was summoned by Mr. Wetton, manufacturing engineer at Deptford and Glasgow, for annoying him on the Great Northern Railway on the 17th March, and for assaulting him. Mr. Wetton took the train at London for York on the day above-mentioned, and travelled alone in a first-class carriage as far as Doncaster, where the defendant and four other friends, who had been at the Spring Meeting, got in. Mr. Wetton declining to sanction their smoking in the carriage, gave annoyance to the defendant and his friends, and because he would not allow them to spread a rug over his knees to allow of their playing at cards, the defendant threatened to throw him out of the window. and put his fist in his face. Both at Knottingley and at York he complained of the gross conduct of the defendant and his friends, who, not content with thus annoying him, had forced the foot-pan, containing hot water, from under his feet, and reared it against Mr. Wetton's legs. On the matter being reported to the Great Northern Company these proceedings were taken under the fifth bye-law. The bench found the defendant guilty of both offences, and fined him in the full penalty of 40s. in each case, which, with £8 5s. costs, made a total of £12 5s., which was paid. Mr. Walker said the public were much indebted to Mr. Wetton for coming forward and complaining; were such conduct as that the defendant displayed tolerated it would be impossible to travel with the least comfort."
This from the Hull Daily Mail, 7th April 1891:
"George Richardson, carriage examiner, said that on Saturday night he was in Paragon Station, and he saw the Brough train backing-up. It had no light on its leading carriage. At the same time he paw Raines standing in the four-foot way of the main line. When he saw him the train was approaching, and was within two or three yards of where he was standing. It was going about ten miles an hour, and he shouted to Raines to attract his attention, but he did not seem to take any notice whatever. When he saw that the man could not escape, he turned away his head, and whistled to the driver of the train to stop. This was immediately done; but, when they got to the place where Raines was lying, he appeared to be quite dead. Assistance was obtained, and he was removed to the foot-pan heating house.—After hearing the evidence of the driver and fireman of the Brough train, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
