Tangmere running on bulleid day at swanage railway

I believe they are provisionally issued for 10 years, however every year they are throrughly examined and either given the greeen light or have work done on them.

 

Here we go again! There is no such thing as a 10 year 'ticket'. The examination frequency is laid down in the Written Scheme for that particular boiler and agreed with the Competent Person (the Boiler Inspector). I have one in front of me now and for every item it says frequency of examination - 14 months. That is effectively every year with a two month leeway. Under special requirements it also says that the lagging shall be removed at intervals not less frequently than once in every 10 years and at that time all tubes shall be removed and the boiler lifted from the frames. Health & Safety guidance note HSG29 effectively says the same. The law allows the Competent Person to extend this if he is satisfied that it is safe to do so. He can also ask for it to be done at any time if he considers it necessary. Ten years is a target people aim for in planning. It is often a missed target. As an example, 75029 on the NYMR is having a full boiler lift and re-tube this winter. It was last done in 2005 but it requires work doing to the foundation ring. I don't see 10 years there.

 

Anyone involved with Engineering at a Preserved Railway will/ should have access to British Rail: MT276. Which is the document that explains all the inspections and standards that Mainline certified steam locomotives have to go through and comply with.

Every 7 Years; major boiler exam. Which includes internal and external examination by Competent Person (Boiler Inspector. To examine the inside of boiler barrel, you have to remove the regulator and a lot of tubes. To examine the outside of the firebox is relatively easy on a Bulleid, and other wide firebox locos. Simply (ha ha) remove the cladding. And the grate.
Fireboxes that sit between frames; boiler has to come of loco for external examination.

 

What's the policy on giving extensions to both mainline and boiler tickets?

 

Extensions not given to Mainline boilers, unless work as General Boiler Exam is carried out.
However, the so-called "extension" to 10 years is the maximum permitted by Pressure Vessels Regulations. Which is what the boilers are inspected and maintained to; in order to be insured.

 

True, but as we are talking about Bulleids, you need a good length of running line to appreciate them. As excellent as the Swanage, Bluebell and Mid-Hants are in maintaining the spirit of mainland Southern steam, they would be rather crowded with 11 Bulleids in steam, and ten running at the same time, which was why I thought about the WSR. Apparently (I didn't go) it staged an excellent S&D themed event, and what's more, its my closest major railway in some respects (notwithstanding the Bristol Channel), so there was an element of self-interest in this suggestion. However, I'll go anywhere that promises to congregate several Bulleids together for any particular reason.

 

Such a shame the weather was poor, but to prove I don't only phot in the sun!

 

nice shots Matt, I quite like the bleakness in the scenes!

 

Well done Matt!
I'm proud of you for showing shots without the sun! There are a zillion potential great shots without the sun shining and more people should be more bold and try something different when the situation allows. Your shots of the Bulleids are most pleasing, but then again those locos look fantastic under any conditions!
Well done, see you somewhere soon.

Cheers,

Paul

 

For another day indeed...

There was now way I could resist the lineup no matter what the weather was! Some of the trains I didn't phot as the conditions where worse than those in the pics but it was good just to watch them. I would compare the conditions to those on Rannoch Moor during the Sat of the Scottish charters!

I actually like the Eddystone shot the best, I think it pics up the atmosphere and it's the tree on the left that makes the pic work.

What was really gauling was as Tangmere came under the bridge on the last shot the scene was actually fully lit, unfortuantely it didn't hold for 30 seconds longer.

As Martin said, well done to Swanage for keeping the show running.