09 Mar The Overhaul… Good news but we’re not there yet.
9 March 2014
We are pleased to share the news that work on the boiler aspect of ‘Lizzie’s’ overhaul is well on the way to completion.
With the installation of flue tubes and boiler small tubes now complete an important milestone has been reached.
Concurrent with this work our Contractor – Tyseley Locomotive Works – has been engaged in firebox repairs which has seen just over 100 foundation ring rivets replaced along with attention to firebox flange rivets and patch screws where a number of ‘wasted’ examples have been replaced.
Although a number of detail issues around the boiler and firebox remain to be completed we feel overall that good progress is being made.
We should also remind ourselves at this point that we are now in a position to reap the benefit of the extensive amount of mechanical work undertaken in 2012 which effectively brought forward some aspects of the main overhaul schedule, tasks which as a result are not amongst the issues which remain to be dealt with.
However, we must not become carried away as there are a variety of other issues which will need to be addressed, and as anyone familiar with steam locomotive operation knows, there are always funding implications to be considered. Nevertheless we anticipate that among the next steps will be the area of boiler casing plates some of which – together with crinoline supporting irons – are in need of replacement, and attention to the mandatory safety systems (i.e. TPWS and OTMR). Happily we can report that the Network Rail initiated installation of GSMR (in the tender) is complete.
As we have said previously we are always in need of volunteer input as well as financial support, and encourage anyone motivated by our efforts so far to come forward and contribute in either (or even both!!) areas and be a part of the achievement of seeing 6201 back in main line action. Please contact Society Membership Secretary Sue Allen via the membership information on this website.