Saturday 6 September 2014 - Project Update

Well it's been some weeks since the last update, so this is well overdue.

Removal of the Smokebox Concrete - 2 August 2014
A section of the concrete in the smoke box was required to be removed so the section in which hidden could be inspected by the boiler inspector. The concrete is fitted to the floor of the smoke box so it is easier to clean the ash from the floor as the concrete covers the boiler to underframe mounting bolts and the lower section of the exhaust manifold. On an S class the concrete at its deepest section is approximately 6 inches thick, so to remove it a concrete saw was required to cut grooves into the concrete and then broken up with a jack hammer. This was hard, heavy and loud work which unfortunately restricted other activities on the locomotive for the day.


The Removed Concrete

Removal of the Grate - 9 August 2014
The fire grate was required to be removed so the area of the boiler in which it covered could be inspected. Nothing seems to be light work on a locomotive of this size and this was no exception. The dump grate was removed the following Saturday. Well done team.


The Removed Grate

 

Where The Grate Used to Sit - Inside The Firebox

Boiler Wash Out - 6 September 2014
The long a tedious job of trying to clean the scale from the bottom of the boiler barrel has commenced. The scale, mainly tannin fell from the small tubes when they were removed and found a new unwanted home at the bottom of the barrel. We originally came up with several ideas to remove the scale but opted to use a high pressure hose and wash it towards the firebox and down the throat plate cavity and remove it through the foundation ring washout plug holes. On an S class the cavity of the throat plate is long and angular and it was found the scale would form a dam and would bank up which would require constant blasting to free up. It is though approximately half of the scale has been removed and the remaining should be removed next weekend.

So the list now looks like this.

• Removal of the firebox door. Completed
• Finish removal of the welds on the firebox tube plate. Completed
• Removal of the safety valves, crown mounting and clack valves so the mountings can be inspected. Completed.
• Continue clearing the stay tell tale holes. Completed, well done Chad, Jaydan and Josh.
• Removal of a section of the concrete in the smoke box so the front tube plate can be inspected. Completed
• Removal of the grate so the foundation ring rivets can be inspected. Completed
• Boiler washout to remove the scale left in the barrel as a result of the removal of the small tubes. In Progress.
• Remove the scum cock so the boiler can be inspected.