45428 Eric Treacy

I am very pleased to be able to pass on the news from Grosmont MPD Shedmaster Clive Goult that 45428's boiler has today passed it's out of frames steam test in presence of the Insurance Inspector.

I don't think the achievement here can be overstated. I am no engineer but amount of new renewal involved in this overhaul seesm to have surpassed any previous boiler overhaul, especially on a Black Five. The comparative ease with which the hydraulic and steam tests have passd is a great tribute to the team at Grosmont MPD.

The plan now is to return the boiler to the frames in mid-January and start running in during March

A very big well done to Clive, Adam Dalglish and all who have worked on 45428.

Steven

 

Roll on March!
Thanks for the news, Steven.

 

That is good news, when I walked round the works later last year and saw the frames were complete waiting for the boiler she looked like she had come straight out of Crewe, dont think you could get much closer to a brand new loco, well done to all involved.

 

Another reason to go to the Spring Gala in May . Hopefully 44767 will be there too . Is their a theme for the Gala ?

 

Wouldn't be surprised if it were an LMS incursion gala. Anyway, excellent news, and will hopefully have a ride behind her sometime this year (and Repton). Lets hope that after a break, work can start in earnest on 34101!

 

Boiler was lifted back into the frames on Monday, 1st February - a couple of weeks later than plan largely due to weather concenrs - some of which didn't actually materialise but there was up to 6" of snow lying in Grosmont on the day of the lift!

In what is believed to be a "first", the lift was undertaken with the Volker Rail Kirow crane rather than an NYMR steam crane.

Adding the various fitting commenced the following day, with great fun already being had matching Imperial and Metric and overhauled fittings to an extentively rebuilt boiler!

Steven

 

Just found a photo - an unusual sight! http://adriandennis136.photos.me.uk/p63155475.html


(Found on Adrian's N.Y.M.R photos fotopic collection btw)

 

Metric? - this loco sounds a nightmare!

 

Don't worry! I think that this has been taken out of context The sorting out the imperial and metric bits was down to the fact that the new gauge glasses provided wouldn't fit in the frames. After investigation, it was found that a load of 16mm glasses had been provided instead of 5/8" glasses. There's only 5 thousands of an inch difference between the metric and imperial ones, but it was sufficient to prevent them being used.