Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

That'll be welcome news to the BBLS volunteer (and driver, apparently) whom I met at my vintage model railway club today.

 

What, with a bag like that? Your imagination is more vivid than mine John

Peter

 

Pleased to see 92 Squadron at the head of a "Santa" at the ELR on Railcam.

 

Yep. Couple of small jobs attended to yesterday and resumed duties today.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/15VacfCz1N/

Southern Locomotives Ltd Facebook page showing 34058's boiler being loaded up door onward transport to Tyseley for overhaul. Also an air pump from one of the Finnish locos being removed for fitting to 34010 to allow it to go mainline in the future.

 

I thought they were using an air pump (also Finnish) found in the container of parts for 35025?

 

The air pump from 35025's container is the one that is currently being overhauled for use on 34028.

 

Ah, of course. 34010 being the one planned to replace it in the distant future. My confusion.

 

Some pics from yesterdays Mad Hants photo charter on the MHR with 34072, which is a seriouly lovely piece of kit! And with thanks to SLL & Swanage for letting us play with it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54302230986/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54302231556/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54301359392/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54302485723/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54302662500/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/54302487193/in/dateposted-public/

 

Further to discussions on [whichever thread Tornado's firebox is being discussed on], do Bulleid pacfics have fully-welded fireboxes? If so, when was the last boiler made, and what is the biggest welding job done to date in preservation?

 

The biggest job so far is I would say the complete new inner firebox on 35005 Im not sure if the fireboxes are fully welded, but i do know the barrels are a mix of welded and rivitted, so things like the syphons , i'm not sure if the basses are rivitted, or welded,

 

Several Bulleid pacifics have had new inner and outer fireboxes in preservation. Although the platework is fully welded, eliminating riveted seams, not strictly all welded, as the stays are the more conventional screwed ones.
I'd say the biggest welding job to date would be Tornado's boiler.

 

The Merchant Navies have steel inner and outer fireboxes, but with a conventional foundation ring to which the inner and outer are riveted.

The Light Pacifics are a bit more sophisticated, with the foundation ring replaced by a U-shaped channel welded to both inner and outer, so essentially the whole is one contiguous piece.

I think the largest single job done on any Bulleid boiler is the set of six complete new fireboxes for light Pacifics constructed at South Devon Rsilwsy Engineering, and spread around the country to various groups.

Tom

 

That's probably the problem...

Thank you both.

 

The SLL website Latest News page has been updated today, with news of all the fleet. https://southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html

 

What an exciting future for 34028, especially so since she was, I believe, the first rebuilt Light Pacific to be withdrawn by BR.

 

Looking the web. 34028 was withdrawn in 1964. Also noticed this was the same year that 34016/27/58 were also withdrawn from service.

 

Mention has been made about new fireboxes. Boscastle (34039) has had a complete new inner firebox including syphons and most of the outer firebox is new. However it still needs work before stays, tubes and flues are to be fitted. If anyone is looking to help, either with the physical overhaul, or more generally with the Boscastle team, please let us know on here or via the Boscastle website. It is a great time to come on board as the locomotive is close to getting its boiler finished and then back into service.

 

Bulletin No 10 from British Transport Commision 1954 deals with efficiency of SR MN locomotives.
According to mr Giesl conclusion was that it would not pay off to take the syphons out but they should never haver been put in.
Was it considered to omit in the six new ones and why not?

 

It's worth remembering that Bulleid never portrayed the use of syphons on thermal efficiency grounds: he saw them as an aid to safety, in that even during a low water situation, the syphons would help maintain some flow of water across the firebox crown.

The Merchant Navy boilers consistently showed up as better than any other boiler of comparable size used by BR in repair costs per mile. Whatever else you say about Bulleid, he absolutely nailed boiler design in his locos.

Tom