New boilers.

trainmad · Post by **trainmad** » Sat Mar 08, 2003 8:12 pm

Do you think it's right giving an engine a new boiler? I think if you change the loco's boiler, you change the loco. A bit like Edward Thomas

baldwin · Post by **baldwin** » Sat Mar 08, 2003 9:02 pm

With a lick of paint, what difference does it make, except give an engine a new lease of life. Wheels get retyred, cylinders get rebored.

Mervyn

richsoft · Post by **richsoft** » Sat Mar 08, 2003 9:03 pm

If you didn't change the boiler of locos, they would not be able to operate.

You are not allowed to just 'patch up' a boiler if it is too old, you have to build a new one.

This I think would be a great shame, and eventually there would be no steam locos left working as all there boilers would expire!

Cheers,

Richard

trainmad · Post by **trainmad** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 10:55 am

But surly with todays techniques you would be able to patch up a boiler

wookey · Post by **wookey** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 12:45 pm

well, i suppose you have to remember what a boiler has to stand, i mean in most cases repairs are prob immpossible and even if they wern't, given the nature of the ways in which a boiler could fail you cant really chance any botched repairs,

when you think about it, if there's a large area of severe wastage inside the boiler barrel, with a kinda overall reduction in thickness of the boiler plates what can you really do anyway? lol, well short of patching the entire thing

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:05 pm

Bolier never last for ever, all most locos won't have there original bolier anyway. I know the ET can't be the one it had when it arrived.

This brings us to the NRM's great question:
What the hell should we be presevering?
The psyical material (in which they can't run) or the memeory of Steam trains at work.

Bruce

jdtech · Post by **jdtech** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:05 pm

I agree Wookey.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 7:06 pm

Bruce, ET has a 1964 hunslet boiler I believe, well it did have anyway!! It doesnt have a boiler at the moment.

I believe that we should be preserving the memory of the engines. Although i disgaree with some of the rebuilds where the engine is completley changed. All that is left of No.2 now for insatance, is one con rod, and a valve i think! In this respect, I am 110% behind the Maidny Hall/Lady of Legend project, & the Tornado A1 appeal which is preservation of the memory of steam

Chris

ManxPeacock · Post by **ManxPeacock** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 7:24 pm

Boilers don't last forever, nor does many of the other parts of a locomotive. Many of the older engines you see in service on the Talyllyn, Ffestiniog and the IoM Railway will not have many of the original components on them. They say that some of the older Manx locos from 1870s have had their boiler, sidetanks, cabs, bunkers, wheels, cylinders and even chassis replaced, and that all that remains of the original locomotive is the nameplates and these too could well be replicas.

Just because the boiler is condemned, doesn't mean the engine is. If this was the case we wouldn't be left with any great historic narrow gauge locomotives which make up a lot of the appeal of narrow gauge.

The boiler is heart of a locomotive and its normally covered with insulation and cosmetic covers and can't be seen.

David

dcduncan · Post by **dcduncan** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 11:08 pm

I have had this knife 20 years, its had 4 new blades and 2 new handles, still the same knife though.

After all the engines in thier worling life often were rebuilt, eg Quarry Hunslets there is no such thing as an original one. They were reboilered with whatever boiler would fit and had been reconditioned. Nobody argues that they are different engines. And No1 was completely rebuilt in the late 50's or early 60's (I can't remember exactly when) by Hunslet and though the amount of work done was criticised at the time and after, the engine would have been a static museum exibit had this not been done. The original firebox was only thou's off disastrous failure when it was last used to rescue Dolgoch. Nobody now thinks it should not be done.
David