Israel Newton to build Corris boiler

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/5009410.Boiler_firm_builds_up_head_of_steam/

Patrick

 

There are some pics this week on the Corris site of a rather large collection box...

http://www.corris.co.uk/2010photograph_archive.htm

If anyone is interested there's a New Volunteers weekend at the railway next weekend... and if I am correct in my assumption I think D1039 may be joining me in lighting no7 on Sunday!

 

I'm told that the saddletank on Edward Sholto (Quarry Hunslet) was probably in worse condition than this - it was repaired (a very significant repair), but is original non-the-less. What a shame this couldn't have the same treatment?!

The repair was done by a car body repair speciallist (not a traditional railway engineer) & did a very good job!

Cheers,
Gareth

 

Unfortunately it has already had its life extended by being lined at the TR. I was told this weekend that it was tank used on no 3 in 1948 when the line closed and probably dates back to the 20s.

 

This saddle-tank was probably fitted new to No.3 in the early 1920s. In its Talyllyn years they cut out the rotten lower panels and replaced them with removable hatches, and lined the tank with fibreglass to extend its life. When they decided that further repairs were not practically possible they used a flame cutter or similar to remove the handrails, leaving four jagged holes in the tank sides. They also removed the filler cap and other fittings to use on the new tank.

It has corrosion breaking through at both ends, and about mid-way up the sides. To re-use it would involve removing the fibreglass, cutting out a significant amount of sheet metal and welding in new sections so that the joins would not be visible. It would also involve fabricating new fittings to replace those removed by the TR. By the time all that work had been done we would still have a tank with 90-odd years of internal corrosion on what original metalwork remained which would probably not take too long to spring a leak.

Corris No.10 is not a rebuild, nor is it a strict replica - as with No.7, it is a modern loco based on the original design. Saddling it with a rotten old tank would serve little purpose. Edward Sholto is a historic loco and re-using original parts for it, where possible, makes sense. All three of the saddle tank locos on the Talyllyn have been fitted with new tanks in the preservation era, possibly twice in the case of No.4. If it was possible to restore this tank, it should be carried by No.3, not No.10. Somehow I doubt whether the TR would be interested.....

Instead, it will be cosmetically restored and plinthed at Maespoeth, with a collecting bucket fitted inside to help raise funds for its successor.

Richard