Engineering notes

By Tony Massau

The front tubeplate has been fitted and riveted into the boiler barrel. A visit from the boiler inspector is imminent following which, assuming he is satisfied with progress this far, the fitting of tubes will commence. With this in mind, the ends of the small tubes are already near the boiler and are having the ends polished in preparation for fitting. Whilst the smokebox is new and clean internally we are fitting the support brackets for the Master Mechanics spark arrester system. This arrangement is not currently in use on the Severn Valley Railway which has its own version of the 'waste paper basket' type of spark arrester system. The drawback of the Master Mechanics system is that some of the screens have to be removed in order to clean the boiler tubes. However one never knows if future legislation of fire risk may become more stringent so it is worth fitting the brackets now rather than at some indeterminate time in the future when the smokebox is dirty and unpleasant to work in.

The cylinder end covers are removed in preparation for using the optical alignment equipment for the setting up of the slide bars.

Some preliminary machining of the bearings for the coupling rods has taken place.

Some further progress has been made with vacuum pipework along the left hand side of the loco.

It is proposed to fit a ground-level filler attachment to the water tanks for use with fire brigade type hoses. It is not expected that traditional steam railway water columns will be consigned to the history books any time soon, but none the less, climbing onto the top of a railway tank engine or a tender constitutes working at height which carries a risk, so having an alternative for some appropriate occasions is worthwhile.

Chairman’s Chat – December 2024

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