5542 10 year boiler overhaul

I tried the link and the last update was 11th Dec 2010. Will you be updating once a month from now on , or as previously, once a week when you attracted up to 700 followers in a day?

 

I think this is the link 5542 The Planets favorite Prairie .

 

I know its in my Favourites! Happily update is now showing, all good news it seems.

 

What were "the modifications to axlebox lubrication made during restoration (which) have proven 100% sucessful"?

 

We replaced the fixed copper pipe with conical spring arrangement to the top of the axleboxes by producing new close fitting plates which allowed us to directly fix 2 flexible hoses to each box thereby removing much of the risk of dirt and water entering. This has worked very well, along with moving the oil boxes for the front and centre drivers to positions inside the frames thereby reducing the 'run length' of the pipe and also risk of dirt/water contamination and blockage. I'm not sure if other locos have since adopted this arrangement but 10 years ago it was certainly a new idea to us. Many thanks for your interest, and I am hoping to update our site at least every two weeks from now until completion. Keep watching

John

 

Thanks for that John.

 

Latest update now at 5542 The Planets favorite Prairie A minor delay but all still pretty much going to plan, and still a few pennies in the bank.

John

 

Website updated with latest news on the boiler overhaul and other work.
see 5542 The Planets favorite Prairie

Thanks again for all the interest.

John

 

Work progress apace. Now entering the 'final phase'. A few days over target but not too far to go now.

See 5542 The Planets favorite Prairie Boiler work updatepages

John

 

Latest update on our restyled website, hopefully a little easier to navigate and and easier to follow, especially on square screen moniters. Boiler hydraulic test hopefully later this week, plus news of this years' operating plans.

Keep watching 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie

John

 

Another update to 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie today with news and photos of work on the tanks and bunker.

 

This has been an impressively rapid overhaul!

When 5542 visits the G/WR later this year, will the auto-trailer be joining it?

 

Sadly not, our 'trailer is a few years away from completion so any G/WR Auto work will need a trailer(s) sourced from elsewhere.

Watch out for more 5542 news later today or tomorrow!!

John

 

As promised earlier, latest news is that 5542 passed its hydraulic boiler test today and will now be prepared for steam test in the next week or so. We're quite pleased with 161 days to get to this point. Other news is that valves and side rods have also been refitted today. A few pics on the 5542 website hopefully later this evening.

John

 

Photos now on the site

 

Photos now on the site

 

First fire in today and some steam produced. Hopefully some pictures available later on the site.

John

 

Pictures now on 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie

 

Boiler and frames reunited today. Pic should be on website later. edit Pic now added.

John

 

Photos and details of today's progress on refitting the boiler at Buckfastleigh now on 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie