5542 10 year boiler overhaul

The Fat lady has Sung and '42 is, after 853 steaming days and about 52,000miles since September 2002, awaiting the first day of the 10 year boiler overhaul at Buckfastleigh tomorrow. Arrival was planned for 19.00 this evening just 3 hours after working its final train at the WSR Autumn Gala which for 5542 was pleasingly uneventful (as you would expect). Everything is in place, so watch out for her back in action around Eastertime next year. Regular updates will be available on our website www.5542.co.uk

John

 

Come back soon! A lovely little prairie!

 

Surely it's just an overhaul, not a 10 year one...?

Overhauls don't often last 10 years and remember there is no such thing as a 10 year boiler ticket! :smile:

 

Was amazed to see '42 southbound M5 nr Exeter at 17.45ish today so soon after the WSR ASG- could not see whether or not fitters were at work dimantling it whilst in transit!

 

Kieran, I know you know what I mean

John

 

I assume that was what Mr Antell's low loader was heading to pick up then which I saw late on Saturday afternoon as we headed home to Poole after a few lovely days in Somerset. 5542 looked and sounded a treat at the Gala and hope her overhaul is uneventful with no nasty surprises! DH

 

First boiler overhaul update now available @ www.5542.co.uk

John

 

My, my... You lot ARE keen! It's just ended it's 10 year ticket and already you're rushing it off to be begin the overhaul. I like your style! Sooner rather than later I say, certainly for such a reliable engine like your's. I tip my hat to you sir, for commiting to getting stuck right in. I guess no group likes to see their engine inactive, certainly least of all your group from what evidence would suggest!

That's just hope theres no hidden nasties in waiting... From all that I've seen and heard in the past, it can happen, even to the best of us, but I really hope not. You've taken good care of it, so there should be no reason for there to be.

 

JMJR1000, We certainly are keen . We have spent 4 years in the planning of this work, and having originally spent 23 years buying and restoring her are determined that it doesn't end up on some 'back road' awaiting for some rich person to take pity on us. The loco has been run as a business operation from the day it passed its steam test in 2002 and unless something very big and unforeseen comes out of the 'woodwork' we are confident there will be a pound in the pot when it steams again. We have tried to budget for the boiler work on a worst case scenario. The work we are undertaking over the next few weeks is to ensure we have the best possible start to the whole process. We plan to have the boiler lifted within 3 weeks and the full work schedule drawn up soon after. Updates will be available on our website, possibly not on a daily basis but I hope to update at least once a week as the work progresses. All this is been possible due to our close liason with the SDR workshop staff and volunteers. Thanks for your interest, and keep watching.

John

 

I have to admire your tight manangement, full hands on approach in keeping your loco up to scratch. A lesson perhaps to some of the dreamers who post on here who would be much better involved getting hands on whatever their abilities/skills on the extensive existing stock of locos.

It is quite clear that the only active locos in the future will be the ones with very active support or rich backers operating at rates which host railways are able to sustain.

 

Latest news.....tanks and cab roof now removed. Cladding due for removal by the weekend. Boiler lift should happen within the next 7/10 days. So far so good!

see www.5542.co.uk for latest pics

Cheers

John

 

Day 17 yesterday, and the latest update and pics are now on our site. Work is progressing to plan so far.

www.5542.co.uk for the latest

John

 

Day 23 Today, Boiler out, tubes and flues and studs out and ready for boilershop, and lots more. Full update and pics at www5542.co.uk. No nasty surprises as yet and all progressing to plan.

Cheers

John

 

Latest update and pictures now on line at www.5542.co.uk. Day 33

Cheers

John

 

Thanks for the updates Premier Prairie - do hope it keeps going well and no nasty surprises ! look forward to seeing her back on WSR in 2012 DH

 

Latest update fro yesterday now on our site. Many thanks for all the interest and feedback received. Things progress at just about the required pace at present.

See www.5542.co.uk

Cheers

John

 

Well we're at day 55 (about a third of the way into the project) and we should be fitting tubes this side of Christmas. Latest update and a couple of pics now on the site, with hopefully some additional pictures in the next few days. The SDR boiler guys are really pulling out all the stops.

See www.5542.co.uk

 

Latest news now available. Work is still progressing to plan. New Tubes delivered and should be fitting either just before or just after Christmas. New smokebox progressing

Cheers

John

 

Latest New Year progress update is now available at 5542 The Planets favorite Prairie No nasty surprises as yet, and all going pretty much to plan.

Happy New Year

John