Boiler inspector conviction

Anyone seen this:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10096

And this:

http://www.oldglory.co.uk/news/competent-person-failed-to-properly-inspect-loco-boiler

 

I would pay good money to see Ivor the Engine blow up... worst kids tv engine series ever!!!!

 

Anybody know which other boilers this guy has inspected??

 

Blimey! That's on a par with the fake pilots and surgeons who have been un-masked in recent times. Scary stuff indeed.

 

I don't think it is appropriate for this to be discussed on this forum. Only the boiler owners, railways and HMRI need be concerned.

 

That could be applied to virtually every thread on this forum, why do you think it inappropriate to discuss stuff like this?

 

I think it's entirely appropriate to discuss things like that! Is this forum not meant for discussions relating to the heritage community?

 

I can't see why this can't be discussed - it's in the public domain already. It is scary stuff; we are required to trust the judgement of Boiler Inspectors

 

aparantly it was the loco that is done up to look like Ivor the engine

 

Has twr12's comment been taken the wrong way? I think he was refering to the fact that "Does everyone need to know which boilers this guy has inspected" not the fact that the case in general is being discussed on the forum.

 

Before we start running in fear from particular locos, bear in mind that the news being released now is the culmination of his prosecution process. I would expect that as soon as HMRI decided there was a potential problem with this guy, they informed his client list of the potential risks and I would therefore expect any loco which was potentially (that needs clarifying!) at risk would have been reinspected some time back. In terms of clarifying, its worth pointing out that a boiler inspector doesn't do the work - he only spots things which are wrong - therefore most of the boilers he would inspect would in fact be fine and safe because of the quality of workmanship done.

That being the case there is little other than petty point scoring to be gained from trying to pinpoint potential locos - they will all have been checked, and most of them were safe anyway due to good work being done on them.

Beyond that I'm not sure how you prevent this kind of thing happening again other than having double inspections but that adds to cost and given that so far this has proved a one off case, its probably over the top.

 

More on this subject can be seen under the 'Discussions' heading at:- http://tractiontalkforum.com/

 

How many engines are done up as Ivor the engine? I would hope that serious remedial work has been carried out to it since the faults were found.....

 

Indeed, that was the way I read it. And I would go so far as to say all those whose boilers this guy has inspected are already well aware of the matter.

 

Indeed. I don't think there is any need whatsoever for a list of boilers that may or not be/have been under Mr. Reen's inspections to be posted on here.

 

So who inspects the inspectors? Maybe the road equivalent is the MOT test, where the MOT testers are inspected on a regular basis?

 

Most boiler inspectors (Competent Person's in modern speak) are employed by Insurance Cos or similar. There are a few independents but not many. A bit different from garages where there are large numbers and the occasional cowboy is not unknown.

 

Yes I know that - companies such as British Engine, Zurich, Lloyds etc. Presumably they have their own internal hierarchy which maintains standards. But of course these days most of their work is on non-loco boiler pressure systems, eg water tube power station boilers, so I wonder who maintains standards of competence on loco boilers?

 

Can't speak with any authority but I know that my Insurance Co only have a couple of inspectors who are authorised by them to inspect riveted boilers. There are plenty of loco type boilers around, even now. Over a thousand steam locos and I don't know how many traction engines. The rarities are such things as Lancashire boilers, with all their peculiarities. The majority of boiler inspectors work is on such things as tea-making equipment, air receivers, autoclaves, etc for most of the time and enjoy the chance of doing a proper piece of kit. It has been like that for a long time, though. I'm sure that the inspectors know their job and they also have plenty of modern equipment, such as thickness meters and fibre optic probes, to help them. Gone are the days of drilling a hole to see how thick the plate is!