3801 Overhaul

Latest update: https://www.transportheritagensw.com.au/news/3801-update-april-2019
Lots of work undertaken on the boiler it seems.

 

Thanks for that, pretty impressive.

 

Another update here...

https://www.thnsw.com.au/post/3801-...f26g5c-cFVzDK2fDLJclwEBwb7F2Xh5i--uqiKmyh9cBc

The boiler is back in the locomotive's frames.

 

Great job.
Note that they heat the water to around 60 C for the hydraulic test. This is to make the steel much less brittle and still cool enough to avoid scalding if something bursts. This is the correct way of doing it to avoid damaging the boiler during the test.
Read and learn.

 

I note that they refer to "beading" the stays. Is this Australian speak for rivetting over/knocking up or just a mistake?
Ray.

 

Don't know about Australia ,but beading over was the term used for as you describe for knocking over stays, and the tube ends in the firebox of Ironstone quarry loco,s in Northants.

 

I've only ever heard the term "beading" applied to tube ends. Be interesting to know if anyone else has heard it applied to stays.
Ray.

 

Copper stays are all beaded over to form a head.

 

So too are steel stays.

 

I'm well aware that all rigid side stays, unless they are nutted on the fir side, will have a head formed on them - been there, done that. My question was about the terminology as I have only heard the term "beading" applied to tube ends in the U.K. (similarly in contemporary engineering journals) so is this just an Australian term for rivetting/knocking over?
Ray.

 

Good news. Her grate is back in and they are preparing for the steam test!

 

Picture: https://www.thnsw.com.au/post/3801-s-firebox-grate-complete

 

I believe the fire has been lit for the steam test.

 

Steam test went okay, safety valves set etc.

 

Video: https://www.thnsw.com.au/post/locomotive-3801-steam-test

 

The boiler ticket has now been issued.

https://www.thnsw.com.au/3801-project

 

A Special Train Notice has been issued for the mainline testing of 3801, in the early hours of Tuesday, 9 December (Oz time), between East Hills and Glenfield. The consist is to be five vehicles including a diesel on the tail. Maximum speed is to be 40 kph on the down and 80 kph on the up. A Track Possession is to be granted between East Hills and Glenfield for the period of the testing.

 

Due to the bushfires ringing Sydney, there are total fire bans in place. This means that 3801 will not be trialed until the fire danger settles down, perhaps as far away as January next year.

At present Sydney is blanketed with smoke from the fires. This picture was taken from my house, looking east towards another suburb - Parramatta. The taller buildings dimly visible past the palm trees are only 2.5 km ( 1½ miles) away. There have been worse days, with visibility down to 600 metres (3/8 mile).

So don't hold your breath in eager anticipation of trial reports.

 

Thanks for the update Spinner. Looks like you have a long hot summer ahead of you out there.

Peter

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1222724624597963&id=126857120851391

It moves!