Locomotive Update November 2008
As at Sunday 2nd November the locomotive is in the throws of being prepared for her annual cold boiler exam on Wednesday 12th November. At that time the Directors have requested the Severn Valley Railway boilersmith to do an independent examination of the boiler to clearly give us an overall status of the boiler. This will help in our projections of service for the next five years. It is frightening that we have now completed 5 years of the boiler ticket!!!!!
Generally speaking the locomotive has run very well this season with only one major repair, a broken driving wheel spring. Her overall reliability has been very good, especially at the start of the season when there were a number of failures with other engines which made her much in demand.
Up to the end of September 2008 she has steamed 334 times since returning to traffic following restoration and has covered circa 17101 miles.
Our thoughts are now turning to winter maintenance which will include the usual cleaning and painting of the locomotive. At this stage I am uncertain as to what work will be done in this short period as we have to be up and running again in March 2009.In 2009 she may well be joined by another modified hall Raveningham Hall which is currently under overhaul at the Flour Mills.
The very latest update is the boiler has passed it’s annual boiler cold examination on Wednesday by the Allianz boiler inspector and we are now going to refit all the washout plugs and mudhole doors before filling her with water in preparation for the steam test. We shall do one ourselves before calling him back to witness a second test.With that being completed she will be ready for another 14 months.
At the same time we requested the boilersmith from the Severn Valley to come and do an independent inspection and report to give us a professional opinion on the state of the boiler. In particular on the condition of the firebox and front tube plate. His overall assessment was the boiler was in good condition and with a bit of good luck should successfully do the full ten years that is if the tubes themselves last. As the railway are treating the water storage and supplies for the boilers to reduce the solids etc we are hoping this will all help us to get to ten years. In fact when the boiler is refilled with water she will be filled with pure water treated with tannin from Cheltenham water tower. This facility is fitted with a Reverse Osmosis plant which generates the near pure water. The SVR uses only RO water in all their boilers following boiler problems years ago. They believe it has greatly extended their boiler cleanliness and life.
There is a slim chance, no promises, that we may at least be able to do the Steam Test the day of the AGM so you can see her in Steam. A lot will depend on the progress to re-assemble her this coming weekend.
John Cruxon
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LOCOMOTIVE UPDATE
FEBRUARY 2008
(See May Update below)
The tender spring hanger bolts residing in John’s garage before being fitted at Toddington