Tornado

There has to be a steam test at twelve month intervals, but it's a routine inspection and doesn't involve dismantling the cladding or blanking off of various fitments. The one just passed was done before the cladding and fittings were attached. It's on a different level altogether.

 

7 years for a main line loco. Will there be other checks during this period because it is an all welded boiler?

 

BES Boiler Inspector Peter Cairns shook hands with Richard Pearson, Locomotive Manager, following the news:

 

What would you expect? That's standard.

 

There are no hard and fast rules laid down but there is strong guidance which most inspectors follow. A boiler lift is usually required as the guidance requires all surfaces to be examined and you can't do that with it between the frames unless it is a wide firebox. If it is running on the main line then MT276 dictates what is required to maintain that privilege.

 

Depending on whether there is any peaking of the longitudinal seam an additional U/S examination may be necessary but I would guess not as peaking is a well known problem and boiler manufacturers take care to avoid it these days.
http://safed.ie/download/A20039_SBG_2___Edition_3.pdf

 

The boiler certificate lasts for ten years, mainline certification lasts for seven years unless an intermediate overhaul is carried out, usually after five years. That normally involves a partial retube.

 

Strictly speaking you have to do a cold exam and steam test every 14 months (not 12) which gives a bit of flexibility when picking the date. (The odd member of the cheapstake fraternity has been known to max this out every time so as to only have 9 boiler inspections in a ten year ticket).

IIRC hydraulics tests are good for 7 years plus 3 annual extensions, however unless the boiler is a complete dog you'll pretty much always will be allowed ten years out of it. Extensions beyond that tend to be much more at the inspector's discretion - 6 or occasionally 12 month extensions are relatively common where all concerned are comfortable that a boiler is in reasonably good order, but it's rare to get more than a 12 month bonus extension (I. E. 11 years from hydraulic test).

It's possible to put some smaller industrials through a ten year inspection without a boiler lift - if the boiler is narrower than the frames and the cab/bunkers aren't too much in the way then it can be possible for an inspector to see everything required without lifing the boiler off. As soon as you get up to about 14“ locos it ceases to be an option as the outer firebox becomes to close to the frames to see anything.

 

Only asking....

 

Latest news from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:

"The team at Darlington Locomotive Works are busily trimming and affixing the new boiler lagging. The cladding will go on in Darlington before the boiler is moved to be reunited with the frames in Loughborough later this month".

 

Just appeared on my YouTube feed:

 

At least theres now light at the end of the tunnel, and tornado should be back in traffic certainly by the Autumn , and with blue peter on the home straight now, who knows 2024, could see a better future for the owning groups.

 

Interesting, but did nobody listen to that before uploading it? That would be a "fail" on any media production course.

 

Never say things like that. There have been many instances where the light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be the headlight of an approaching train.
The standard answer should be, it will be out when it’s ready

 

the light will most likily be from 2007 as it hauls its's loaded test run, north bound over the S&C passing 60163 as it heads a tour south bound.

 

In Darlington, the team have been hard at work since Tornado’s boiler passed it steam test. The boiler cladding is almost complete and ready for painting, ahead of its move to Loughborough where the whole locomotive will come back together:

 

I might have missed it, but why is the overhaul being split over multiple sites? That feels like it will add significant transport costs and also the logistics of QA at a remote location. If the under frame is at Loughborough, why not just return the boiler direct to there rather than via Darlington? (Or alternatively, why not do the reassembly at Loughborough?)

Tom

 

Think that is quite simple to answer:-

1. The boiler work is being done by a local working party with plenty of knowledge of doing it last time at Leeming Bar.
2. The refurbishment of parts, pipework testing etc.., is done at Darlington, using volunteer labour.
3. The contract element takes place at Loughborough, cutting down travelling to Darlington.

In my view the perfect acceptable way to do it........

 

Also afaik the loco still isn’t on its wheels? I think I heard end of July. The LMS premises at Loughborough arnt huge and already have other engines like 76077 inside. If the boiler had gone direct it would be likely be outside and with the British weather of late, work would have been very slow…

 

All tours now cancelled for 2023 inc any using subs.

It gives me no pleasure to say that some of us predicted this last autumn.

Refunds will be provided.


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