Tornado

That's what I thought reading it, and not even low miles from the last overhaul, but 30k from new....
Really hope they get things sorted as what they have done is a remarkable achievement and they deserve nothing but success.

 

What page? As I can't find it in my copy!

 

That was very much what I thought to. Perhaps that is the work that was hinted at earlier in the thread, I think someone said there was work to be done on the bottom end as well as the boiler.

 

I did hint at other problems in post 2143 but it didn't seem the right time to highlight them along with the firebox problems and I wasn't 100% sure of my facts! Scored cylinder bores down to lubrication problems, AFAIUI.

 

IIRC there was an issue in the early days with the oil atomiser steam valve on the side of the smokebox being left closed.

More recently a red warning light has been added to the electronic display panel in the cab roof, but any damage had already occurred of course.

 

S.A.C.Martin: page 12, col.3.

 

Thank you - quite a list, but no more than other mainline engines have had (sans the reboring of the pistons). Best to get it all done now so she comes back to the mainline in the best of health.

 

The black band of the lining has been applied to the left hand side of her tender, you'll be relieved to know that there is no photo as my camera couldn't get round the lines on the window of the paint shop.

 

Interesting update from the A1 Trust. The repairs are going to cost £50,000 and hope to have the loco back in traffic in May. Plenty more info here http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?op...work-an-update&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123. Also an update on the support coach.

 

The report makes good reading and shows one of the big advantages of a welded steel boiler. It can be much easier, quicker (and hence cheaper) to cut out good platework complete with stays and renew the lot rather than simply remove stays requiring replacement, fettle up the holes and refit. I hope that they make the May target.

 

+1 for your post Steve. It's good news in light of the situation as it stood a few weeks back. I know we're all looking forward to that Brunswick Green paint - how about this for a great shot?

This shot was found on the LNER Encyclopedia Forum. It's reproduced here for educational purposes only.

The reason for picking this shot is the form of the locomotive - aside from the rivets (and the overall height of the loco), this is what Tornado will look like in brunswick green - lower smokebox numberplate, full handrail (not split), early crest and rimmed chimney.
​

 

So basically as she is now, apart from chimney and paint?

 

I find this situation all quite amazing – a press release is sent out which indicates up to £50k’s worth of repairs are now required and all people can post about is what colour its painted in – makes me want to spit. . . . .

We keep hearing from the trust that appears to be statements that the repairs are due to the high mileage/number of steamings. Fine if this is the full picture but are they contemplating having to undertake a repair such as this every two years or so, or are there any modifications going to be done to the boiler to lengthen its life. Also are they going to change how they maintain the locomotive, and for example what improvements to the boiler management methods are planned i.e. how they warm it up/ cool it down or improve water treatment etc. etc etc. (practical ones not the daft unworkable separate boiler plant ones I’ve read on here)

Also please don’t continue the copper box vs steel debate its already been done to death on here already – and we all know (or we should if we can just look beyond these small islands) that steel boxes can have a life more than 300+ steamings before such major repairs are required.. . . .

So to focus all your minds on the above the following are a few pointers:

1 . Staying – what improvements are possible – are more flexibles required, should the design/ size be increased or the spacing changed?

2. Did I read that some of the inner firebox plates had quilted – why?

3. Are the machined corners of the foundation ring to be replaced with like for like or are they to be replaced with forged sections.

Over to you lot . . . . . .

 

Pretty much!

 

I can only ask - why?

They have given me a satisfactory answer as to where my covenant is going this month. Repairs required as necessary, with costs amounting to £50,000. They will be undertaken, and the boiler returned for a return to steam in May.

I am sure we will hear of these in due course. They have literally only just put that update on the website today. I have a feeling that the exact nature of the problem is not 100% known, but there are suspicions amongst the trust's engineers and at Meinengen, and that they will be working on a plan for all the above as the repairs are taken in hand. They may not know, frankly, what they will do in the circumstances outlined above, only that it will be done differently.

I can of course, only speculate on that. But I - personally - feel the press release is enough for me.

I don't believe anyone did, until you mentioned it.

Or - as I am sure most of us know as much as you - you could send a nicely worded email to a member of the trust itself (most of the emails are available on the trust's website, and I have found them wonderfully receptive to well phrased and polite emails) to perhaps ascertain the answers?

Failing that, wait for the full story once the boiler is back in the UK, and when Tornado is back in one piece again.

"Calmly await events", we may be told the full story in due course.

 

If they were to have a copper firebox, what color should they paint it?

Please don't spit - filthy habit!

 

Used to whitewash them in my young day.......

 

:yo:There, there, calm yourself, are you feeling a bit better now you've got that off your chest? Oh, and don't spit, it's a disgusting unhygenic habit.

Your 3 questions,( just for me,) why are you asking those 3 on an internet forum? the people who can answer your questions are the people who are paying the bills for the repairs, perhaps it MIGHT be a sensible idea to ask them. :madgrin:

 

Hmm,

Just had an interesting e-mail from a mate. And he is spot on.

£50K is a lot of money to spend on a 2 year old boiler.

The 'spin' on the A1 site suggests the repairs are consistent with the use the boiler is getting.

Given there is no suggestions that operating the boiler in a different manner would reduce the work required next time, as my mate pointed out that would be £50k minimum of 'work' every 2 years?.

£250k minimum in 10years?. The rest of the boiler will deteriorate, so each 'general' repair will likely be more extensive and more expensive?, OH DEAR.

I hope she earns her keep, or it looks like the prototype boiler could bankrupt the Trust. A great pity if this happens.

Then they wont be able to paint it the colour the 'paint frothers' want.....

 

I think you have to compare it with other class 8 engines, most of the others do very little mileage compared to Tornado and if you worked on £ per mile it would not look as bad in fact probably one of the best.