A2 60532 Blue Peter

Whales unite, whales we’ll fight, we like eating plankton… I won’t quote the rest of the Pete and Dud sketch

 

There isn't any project to build a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Whale loco, is there?

 

From LSL facebook page today.

Here's a short video of our Boilersmiths fitting the front tube plate of 60532 'Blue Peter', this is the front of the boiler where smoke from the firebox enters into the smoke box.
They are using an old axle that has been modified into a pendulum hammer, this gives the extra 'umph' required to help get the tube plate into place.
The lads either side are heating the barrel to allow it to expand making the tube plate easier to fit.

(1) Watch | Facebook

 

and definitely not the Derek and Clive
.. all they ever do is swim about, suckin f'n plankton down, and making other whales. etc

 

Is it just me, or does it look to anyone else as though that boiler diameter is a bit small for an A2?

 

Yes, it does seem a rather small diameter for such a large loco... I'd have expected it to be around the 6Ft. mark. Unless it is being fitted by giants....

Richard.

 

The thought of 60532 inching closer to finishing gets my pulse going, missed her on the mainline.

 

I don't know about being a bit small for the loco but it certainly seems to be a bit small for that tubeplate. I only hope that they got the rotational alignment right.

 

I think this explains what you are perceiving:



Tom

 

It can't be that small, it looks to me as though it carries 48 flue tubes. A Merchant boiler carries 40.
Pat

 

I only count 43 flue holes on that tube plate, but your point is taken - it is as big a boiler as you get in the UK.

Peter

 

Interesting point that, well spotted...scribed lines?

 

Video has appeared on FB of the last firebox stay (2146th) being fitted.

https://fb.watch/jq-pEn0eFd/

 

Another step closer to it returning. I can’t be alone in being excited to see it again and would love to see it at Aberdeen.

 

You're not alone in that Sam.
Blue Peter only went once to Aberdeen (in preservation) on 21st August 94, and what a marvellous day it was.
A 30th anniversary repeat maybe ?????????, we can dream !

 

We can dream! Blue Peter’s chances of reaching Aberdeen would have been made easier by Jeremy Hosking being successful in buying the old works at Springburn as a base for LSL in Scotland. There was talk of this before Covid but alas it has gone quiet and frankly it looks likely that the Springburn site will be lost forever which would be very sad and disappointing.

 

I believe JH's valuation of the site was less than the owner's unfortunately. Would have been very interesting had he been successful.

 

Unfortunately I read tonight it had been sold to someone in July 2021. There was a talk that it might be someone who planned to store old motor cars there but I can’t confirm that. Either way non-Railway use of Springburn is deeply disappointing.

 

Another step forward as the loco is re-wheeled

(2) Facebook

 

Excellent. Far too few LNER locomotives on the network at the moment.