August 2025 Update

By Pete Maddicks & Tony Howard

First, can I apologise for the lateness of this month’s update, this was due to a problem with my iPhone skills!

As you may have seen in the stop press of last month’s update, the boiler has passed the hydraulic test. We then assisted Phil D, the boilersmith, to get it ready for the steam test. The first job was to boil it up, with no pressure to stress relieve all of the components. Once this was complete the pressure was slowly raised until on the 13th the safety valve lifted at 200 psi for the first time since 1965. Well, the good news continues, for on Friday the 29th the boiler successfully passed its out-of-the-frame steam test. 

Saturday 2nd August
I was not available this Saturday so I will let Peter M give this report.
Dave Mc, Kevin S, Alex E, Steve M and Pete M on site today.
Alex started the day in the firebox, cleaning up the threads on the steel stays ready for the nuts to be fitted. Kevin tapped the last hole in the top of the cylinder, casting for the blast pipe. Steve polished the copper cap for the chimney.
Then we all got involved in fitting the copper cap onto the chimney casting, this job took the rest of the afternoon as the cap was slightly oval, but with a little bit of gentle persuasion we got it on.

Monday 4th August
Bob L, Bryn T, Charles L, Dave L,  Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
An excellent day today, the Boiler inspector had a cancelled appointment, so he came and passed our hydraulic test on the boiler. We could now fit the stay nuts on the stays on either side, and front and back on the inside of the firebox. By the end of the day all nuts were fitted on the Driver's side, and a start was made wire brushing the Fireman's side stays.
Another job was to move Taw Valley's superheater elements off the wagon that will hold our boiler for the steam test. Brian from the 82045 group assisted us by driving the fork lift truck. Work continued on the vacuum pump lubrication pipework and on the wooden cab floor.

Wednesday 6th August.
Bob L, Dave Mc, Josh H, Peter D, Peter M, Tony H.
All stay nuts fitted, also the fire hole doors. All firebars for the grate were removed from the bunker and placed on pallets. Boiler due to be lifted onto a wagon tomorrow and shunted into the yard. Fire grate due to be assembled as well.

Thursday 7th August.
Dave Mc, Josh H, Pete M. On site today. This was another extra day.
Dave turned up early to help get the boiler onto the wagon and around to the front yard. Once the wagon was made secure we started fitting the grate. Phil D, the boilersmith, connected up the water supply and the boiler started to fill. Unfortunately the water supply was very slow and by 1700hrs the water had not reached the bottom of the gauge frame, therefore it was decided to call it a day and continue to fill the boiler on Saturday.

Saturday 9th August
On site today, Dave Mc, Kevin S, Simon B, Alex H, Steve M, Ollie H, Peter M, the DSM, and the shed staff.
We were all involved in the lighting up of the boiler for the first time since 1965, but Pete M, had the honour of lighting the fire at 11.00hrs, this was under the supervision of Dave Mc as he is of footplate grade. To keep the fire going Simon B, Kevin S, Pete M were cutting up old pallets, putting them in the bucket of the JCB and Ollie H drove it over to the wagon. Alex H was working on the chimney. We also consumed lots of tea!

Monday 11th August
On site today, Peter D, Phil H, Charles L, Dave L, Steve T, Josh H, Jacob L and Pete M.
Phil, Charles and Jacob, were working on fitting the studs that attach the blast pipe to the top of the cylinder casting in the smokebox. They also trial fitted the protective steel plate that goes around the blast pipe base. Josh and Jacob were moving wood over to the boiler wagon, Dave and Steve were working on the cab floor, today they were making the steel steps for each side of the cab. Peter D was working on the lubrication pipe for the vacuum pump rod. Phil D (boilersmith) and Pete M were looking after the boiler and slowly worked up the pressure to 110psi. At that pressure there were 5 leaking stays, which were caught straight away. There were 6 leaking tubes in the firebox, therefore we let the fire go out, Phil D will repair them in the morning then the fire can be relit. Pete M then helped to fit 813’s spectacle plate.

Wednesday 13th August
Jacob on site today helping Phil with keeping the wood coming to keep the fire hot and today for the first time since 1965 the safety valve lifted at 200psi, with just a few slightly leaking stays.

Thursday 14th August
Jacob on site again today, helping Phil and the pressure was held at 200psi for 3 hrs with no problems.

Friday 15th August
Jacob, Dave Mc, Pete M, helping Phil D and John B (boiler shop volunteer) keeping the pressure at 200psi for 3 hours today.

Saturday 16th August
Jacob L, Dave Mc, Kevin S, Simon B, Pete M and Phil D.
Keeping the pressure at 200psi again. First thing Phil stopped a couple of very small leaks, Jacob, Kevin and Dave, looking after the fire. Simon (on the chainsaw) and Pete cutting up old pallets to feed the fire.

Monday 18th August.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
Phil and Tony replaced one of the studs that hold the Blast Pipe that was out of position. Dave L and Steve worked on the sections of checker plate fit onto the top of the steps into the cab. Peter D has nearly finished the lubricating pipework for the vacuum pump. The cab roof was taken off, and placed on a wagon.

Saturday 23rd August.
Dave Mc, Peter M, Simon B, Tony H.
Dave gave the sides of the firebox another coat of paint.
Simon was cutting up pallets ready to fire up the boiler when the boiler inspector comes to steam test it.
Tony was drilling the holes in the two sections of checker plate that sits on the cab floor just inside the doors. Once drilled he filed them square so coach bolts can be fitted.

Monday 25th August.
Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave Mc, Charles, and Tony looked at the drop grate operating mechanism to see how we can utilise the parts we have already got. At the moment the drop grate itself is wedged in the closed position so warming fires can be lit. The next fire to be lit will be for the boiler inspector for the out of frames steam test.
The wedges were taken out to allow the drop grate to open and measurements were taken for the operating levers.
Dave L and Steve fitted the checker plates that had been drilled on Saturday. More checker plates were cut for the cab floor where the Damper door operating levers sit.

Friday 29th August
Dave Mc, Jacob L, on site today along side Phil D and the boiler inspector.
Dave and Jacob feeding the fire and slowly building up the pressure to the 200psi. The inspector had a good look at the outside of the firebox and barrel. He then had a look inside the firebox and smokebox. At the end of the inspection, he said that he was satisfied with the boiler and that we could proceed to the next stage, which is to put on the lagging and cladding before putting the boiler back in to the frames.  

Saturday 30th August
Jacob L, Simon B, Peter M, Steve M Tony H.
Jacob and Simon cleaned out the firebox following the successful steam test yesterday. The boiler barrel was too hot for painting which was a job we had planned to do.
We found the water pump which we planned to use on Monday was not working, so Peter M tried to repair it. It was found the pressure switch had failed. We may not be able to wash out the boiler on Monday. Simon and Tony straightened the three pieces of checker plate that fit on the cab floor.