P & O Line

There is good news regarding 35006 - the boiler has passed its insurance hydraulic exam and is about to be steam tested. I was interested to note, however, that when the boiler was first filled with water there were some weeps from old stays - aren't the stays welded in these boilers?

 

I think that there is a general impression amongst many that the Bulleid boilers were 'all welded'. Whilst most of the platework joints of the firebox, which are traditionally lapped and riveted, were eliminated by welding, the stays remained screwed. The lap joints on the barrel also remained riveted. On the MN's the foundation ring was traditional and also riveted but this was dispensed with on the light pacifics, which had a 'U' shaped foundation, welded to the firebox and casing plates.

 

Scroll down to the recent photo of Sidmouth's boiler, currently at Bridgnorth:

http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/News.html

Lots of rivets.

 

35006 v 2807

Well, Round One to 35006 which has beaten 2807 to a steam test, albeit outside the frames. However, many congratulations to the 35006 Team and we hope to be able to do the same next year once 2807's driving wheels have returned from the SDR complete with a new set of really chunky tyres! I look forward with some cheerful alacrity to seeing both locos in service on the GWR sometime in 2010.

 

This loco is proving educational as far as I'm concerned - I have always been under the impression that boilers are hydraulically tested to 1.5x working pressure, but this boiler was apparently tested to 320psi, which is only 1.3x w.p. - can anyone enlighten me?

 

there probably will be some weeping initially until the plate begins to expand on a more permanent basis and the hole around the stay starts to close up. i heard of locos coming straight out of works in the 50/60's with weeping tube ends but they closed up once limesacle started to build up on the inside of the boiler and the steel started to expand over a period of time.

 

Good to see 35006 progressing well!... along with 2807!

How fitting both turned up around the same time at Todd. ...and will enter traffic in the same season some 28/29 years later!!!

A well matched race if ever I seen one haha

 

It was a requirement of the Factories Act that boilers in factories were hydraulically tested to 1.5 times the SWP. The main line railways, which were essentially outside the Factories Act, didn't adhere to this requirement and had their own standards, which were less onerous. This has been perpetuated in the modern guidance issued by the ORR (http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/RSP6-locoblrs.pdf) Appendix 7 of that document gives recommended hydraulic test pressures for various working pressures and these are generally 1.3 x WP. However, the private locomotive builders usually supplied locos for use in factories, which required the 1.5 x WP hydraulic test and this was their standard. In my experience, the Boiler Inspector looks at the original hydraulic test pressure stamped on it and applies that. Thus, the non-main line locos continue to be hydraulically tested to 1.5 x WP.
In BR days, this created an anomaly at railway workshops as these were legally factories and thus any boiler operated therein had to be hydraulically tested to 1.5 x WP. Thus a loco employed solely in the works came under the Factories Act but one just visiting, didn't, even when they were the same type. I suspect that a blind eye was turned to this but stationary boilers within the works were definitely tested to 1.5 x WP.
Of course, the requirements of the Factories Act have been superseded by the Pressure Systems Safety Regs and this does not lay down any specific requirements for test pressures.

 

Well done

Great news P&O. It will be one hell of a party once P&O and 2807 are in steam at the GWSR

 

But will there be enough work for them all? The GWSR already list 5 engines in service, unless loan periods are up on some of them.

 

I think the homefleet will read something like this -

3440 City of Truro
7903 Foremarke Hall
92203 Black Prince
2807 28xx
35006 P&O
The 8f (cant remember its number!)

I think any other loco's there are on loan, obviously these wont need bringing in in the future when the new big boys are steaming!

The line is close to running three sets on busy days (Laverton extention, Goth loop open) so this would mean 3 in steam at peak times, ie the loco's could work a two week rotation which I imagine would be ideal?..

Thats a rather impressive homefleet list isnt it!!!!! A lot of lines would be very envious of what we have on the cotswolds these days Our diesel list is excellent too!!!!!!



*just remebered Rav. Hall which is being completed at WSR, this may also be classed as a gwsr based loco, not sure what the current situation with that one is?
In the restoration wings we also have Oswden Hall, 76077 and the NRM's 4f, crikey, we'll need a SVR style engine house in about 10 years time!!!!! lol all good stuff

 

The 8F is LMS 8274 (it never carried a BR number as it was never in BR ownership) seen below on 21 Nov 09. It is rapidly approaching completion. The GWSR owns very few locomotives of course, most of those listed are on loan either from the NRM (3440 and the 4F), or are owned by groups or individuals (92203, 2807, 35006 etc). Another locomotive due back at Toddington in the not too distant future is 42xx 2-8-0T 4270 which is being restored off-site. As for 76077, well I'm not sure when we'll see that running but I would like to! A very impressive steam (and diesel) stock list but the GWSR is an impressive railway and will be even more so when it reaches Broadway (and then Honeybourne).

 

Proberley not,it just the Swindon & Cricklade is a bit short at the moment for a engine the size of a Hall and it better for 7903 to stay at the GWSR for the meantime...

 

Actually, I think you'll find that the GWR has quite an "interest" in 4270 as well. But yes, you are right, the only loco that the GWR actually owns is the 0-6-0ST Hunslet "King George". I knew that the GWR owned one steam loco but had forgotten which one so I thought someone would be able to confirm this sooner or later.

 

On the subject of 7903, let's put it this way, would you want to run a "Hall" on an ex-GWR main line or on a siding?

Sorry, that was a cheap shot and I do apologise. However, the S&C has progressed at such a slow rate that Swindon has built out to meet it rather than the other way round! And yes, before you ask, I think the M&SWJR was a good railway that the GWR was determined to "squash" especially as it ran though the GWR HQ! from Andover to Andoversford!

 

I knew the GWSR doesnt own any of the big loco's, but just listed what I would regard as GWSR 'based' loco's! haha 2807 and P&O we can call gwsr old skool loco's!!! (did 76077 and Oswden Hall arrive in the early days also?, In think they might have?)

I think the fact NRM bases and trusts the GWSR with City of Truro and now the 4f project, speaks volumes for the line and its loco department.

As I have said before, I'm a diesel head, and steam dont really float my boat, but the steam department on the GWSR really impress's me, its about to read a very impressive line up, a premier league line up! I almost feel obliged to see 2807 and P&O in steam! lol