Some much welcomed news about 70013

The 5305 locomotive association have posted on their Facebook page that superheating tubes have been recently been installed and that steam testing and gauging for Network rail are going to be taking place this week all fingers crossed. It shall be interesting to see what they get scheduled for.

 

Pinched from the GCR e-newsletter, "Shed news" The photo shows the pile of 40 superheater elements just returned in fully welded condition, and about to be refitted in 70013, Oliver Cromwell. This should not be a long job, then the loco is off to the main line for charter work.

 

Will it be doing a 50th anniversary 1T57 run on the big railway next year?

 

I read in one of the mags that it would be at a 50th anniversary event at the GC with 45305,since it's mainline boiler ticket runs out in March.

 

It seems a great shame if the certification runs out less than 6 months before the major anniversary of the occasion that led to its being saved. Perhaps the protracted boiler repairs may allow an extension?

 

Also somewhat puzzling just to fit new superheater elements, rather than do a complete refurbishment of the boiler when it has less than a year to go on its current certificate.

 

Not really, if the old ones are worn out and you want to carry on using the engine until the end of its certificate, then that's what you have to do. The new superheater elements will still have many years life left in them for re use in the next boiler ticket.
Can't think why you would withdraw a perfectly good loco early for a boiler overhaul, just for the sake of a new set of superheater elements.

 

Renew a set of worn out elements 3 or 4 days and £35,000. Full major boiler repair 2 years and £300,000 min. Simples!
Bob

 

The length of time out of traffic so far implies more than elements only though Bob? Apologies if I have missed other facts.

 

Not really been following the saga of 70013's absence but you can't exactly go down to Arkwrights corner shop and buy a set or even go to the stores at Crewe for some. The B1 group recently had to renew theirs and it was fortunate a set was available from 61306 otherwise the loco would have been out of traffic for several months.

 

Totally appreciate that Steve and I presume there has been unforseen other work to be done. It just seems a shame to have potentially got so close to the anniversary without being able to complete sufficient to extend or renew the certification. I had made a false assumption that the duration of work was indicative of this being the case.

 

See this thread http://www.national-preservation.co...ng-to-mainline-after-2016-autumn-gala.367741/

 

I was really hoping there would be more optimism in this development. Good things take time.

 

I was assuming that refurbishing the boiler for a new certificate would necessarily include new tubes, flues and superheater elements. If you can keep the superheater elements then I agree it makes sense to replace them now.

 

Thanks for the direction to that thread, certainly been protracted.

 

70013 advertised to work trains this weekend at the GCR http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/

 

70013 left the GCR via Low Loader earlier today, bound for Tyseley.

 

Due to run Tyseley to Old Oak Common via Didcot next week apparently.

 

Supposed to be Thursday, and is supposed to be picking up 6023 and a Class 14 on the way.

 

If that is the case, then she will be picking up, our King 6023, our class 14 9516, and the autotrailor 92. The steam railmotor 93, will be going by road