Bluebell Motive Power

Yes. The new inner firebox cost 10 times that amount and as I recall already has the stay holes pilot-drilled - on the assumption it has thermic syphons!

Tom

 

If the thermic syphons are not fitted, and the stay pattern in that area changes, then you are into replacing some of the outer box as well. Better to keep the syphons, and keep the benefit of a supported brick arch, as well, IMHO.
Pat

 

Yes, and that presupposes you can find both someone willing to do the design AND someone else willing to be the independent third party, and you would need the insurers to carry out their own assessment (at your cost).

 

What else will hold the roof up?

 

Blackmore Whale? Ok, Who's going to say "Thur she blows" When the valves lift when she 's steam tested,
"

 

The boiler will be going into leaky finders alongside that from 76077, which is due to arrive in the next fortnight. Luckily for us 77 doesn’t need a new box! Looking forward to going down to see Rory and co over the next 12 months

 

The picture does indeed make me feel old taken beside the further island platform at Horstead Keynes.

Very Spacious: nothing but some grass on it. Nor anything behind! No sight of any rails let alone anything on them.

Just Blackmore Vale looking marvellously spruce and a fitting train behind with the other island platform and the building on it to the other side.

Memorable, a most particularly good simplicity.

 

For those interested, the 2024 figures:

Home fleet / long-term residents

Loco - Days - Mileage
80151 - 129 - 5,980
73082 - 113 - 5,298
65 - 102 - 3,400
6989 - 49 - 3,342
34059 - 55 - 3,095
72 - 45 - 1,630
32424 - 33 - 1,406
The totals for 65 and 72 include days / mileage run while away at other railways for gala appearances.

Gala visitors
60007 - 6 - 394
7812 - 7 - 410
7714 - 3 - 154
1369 - 3 - 134

Total steam - 545 - 25,263

Diesel
Home fleet
D4106 - 44 - 415

Visitors
D9951, D6851, 33111, D8188, 4VEP 3417 - 13 - 853 (Collective mileage at the diesel gala)
73128, 73119, 66792 - 3 - 66 (Incoming charter)

Total diesel - 60 - 1,334

Tom

 

Not quite true. SNCF found it advantageous to remove syphons from 141Rs but found the reverse with 141Ps. Most (if not all) surviving 141Rs still have their syphons.

 

One MN boiler was constructed without thermic syphons, last carried on 35017 Belgian Marine. I have spoken to a couple of ex Nine Elms firemen about it and they didn’t notice any difference in performance although one said it was a bit slower in steam raising.