46447 Overhaul

Parts continue to be manufactured/repaired for missing/corroded parts. One item nearing completion is the handle for the screw reverser. An original has been borrowed and a fabricated copy is nearly finished. Original and copy shown in photo.

 

It is possible that work will start very soon on re-tubing the boiler. ESR volunteers will install the small tubes and a contractor will attend to the flues, 12 in number. The original BR superheater elements were cleaned and refurbished very early on and all successfully passed their test.

 

Work has started today (15/3/14) preparing the threaded holes in the firebox tube plate for the flue tubes. The coupling rods have been trial fitted following re-metaling of the bearings. New big end bearings are being machined for the connecting rods. As stated above in previous posts a photographic record can be found at:

http://www.eastsomersetrailway.com/gallery.php?gid=318

 

Preparation of fire box flue holes just about complete. Small boiler tubes have arrived on site and will be installed shortly. Feed water delivery pipework is progressing well. Motion is now fitted. Many other small items continue to be refurbished/manufactured.

http://www.eastsomersetrailway.com/gallery.php?gid=318

 

Wow! Great progress! How many days a week are you working on the loco? It's come a long way in such a short space of time.

 

especially when you think the original plan was that 46447 would be a source of spare parts for the 2 tank locos, win win all round i would say, and of course , its given the E1 the chance of a working future again.

 

In general we work on the loco two days at the weekend and on Wednesdays.

 

Great to see it progressing s well, must be a contender for later this year

 

While we set to work tidying up the workshop, 46447 was taken out into the May sunshine. As a start to checking the tightness of the boiler, we filled to the row of small tubes below the flue holes. Couple of beads appeared that were soon sealed. It is hoped that the flues will be fitted later this week.

 

Why don't you ask the IOWSR if you can finish their other two Ivatts for them?..

 

All small tubes and flues have now been fully fitted and proved by in-house hydraulic trial. New smokebox has been removed from saddle and has been located on front of boiler. All fixing holes have been drilled with every other one bolted ready for riveting this coming weekend. Hydraulic and out of frames steam test for boiler inspector expected before end of June. All boiler cladding (other than front section) has been trial fitted and removed.

 

Steam test before end of June flipping heck, your certainly going some, so there is a very good chance then that 2 out of the three former Ivatt trust engines could be back in working order by the end of 2014, that alone is worthy of note.

 

We are planning and hoping that 46447 will be 'finished' this year.

 

The condition of this ex scrap yard loco & the work rate to put it back in service are both fantastic!

Projects like this nicely undermine the erroneous contention by some that remaining so called "Barry Wrecks" are beyond it & will cost more than new builds to put back into service.

In reality many of the as yet unrestored locos, whilst they may be cosmetically unattractive, still have considerable wear left in their major components - in some cases perhaps more so than locos currently in service.

 

I would guess that 46447 has the advantage of having been stored under cover for most/all the time that it was in ex-Barry condition prior to restoration starting?

 

46447 was rescued from Woodham's in 1972 being the 20th loco to come out. It was far from being a "Barry Wreck" and some references to it having serious boiler problems have been proven to be wrong. It was taken to Quainton and for much of its time there was in a secure shed. We must also thank the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for all their assistance without which this project could not have proceeded.

 

Excellent progress, well done to the team.

Martin said " there is a very good chance then that 2 out of the three former Ivatt trust engines could be back in working order by the end of 2014, that alone is worthy of note."

Don't forget that there is a fourth former Ivatt trust loco - Hunslet 3850 Juno http://www.the-siding.co.uk/steam/pages/juno.htm beautifully restored and on static display at NRM Shildon.

 

Doesn't surprise me in the least! Some people just say things regardless of what actually is the case. I know of a steam engine whose boiler was stated to be poor but turned out to be excellent. However you also get the wild optimists as well!

P.H.

 

Remember that many of the surveys of these engines were done in the appalling conditions of Barry yard, and could be only superficial at best: getting into the boiler was hardly feasible. But we did the best we could, and those who did the surveys probably got it right more often than wrong.

 

This was a steam fire engine and the word "fire" got left out of my previous posting for which apologies!

P.H.