Boiler testing 21.10.2019.

During the last week a fire has been lit in the grate, gradually warming the boiler and bringing it into steam.  This has been carried out slowly each day allowing the boiler to cool slightly overnight and heat up again the next day.  This is to check for any leaks / problems that may arise, prior to a final hydraulic and steam test with the boiler inspector.

Tommy shovelling coal into the firebox whilst Nathan and Benny look on.

The JCB bucket acts as the coal bunker.

A scaffolding tower substitutes as the footplate.

Smoke pours out of the smoke box.  Note the Crinolines are now in place along the boiler.
 

The smoke box end is supported on a flat wagon.

Towards the end of the day, steam from the safety valves.

A close up of the pressure gauge, its showing 215 psi.

Update 14.09.2019

Most of the work that has taken place since the last update, has been on preparing the boiler ready for fitting into the frames.  All of the cotter pins which hold the ash pan to the firebox have been made and fitted.  Pictured below.

The Crinolines that support the boiler cladding have been rolled and await fitting.

The blast pipe base was trial fitted before the smoke box was removed from the frames where it had been sitting.

The cut out in the base of the smoke box had to be enlarged to allow it to sit properly.

Another view of both items.

The super heater header has been subjected to a large amount of machining of the element ports and stud fitting.

The smoke box was then mounted onto the boiler barrel

The view from the opposite side.

The boiler has landed.

Pictured earlier today (18.07.19) the refurbished boiler has arrived back at Aviemore.  Having been lifted from the delivery lorry, it had its ash pan fitted and was placed onto a wagon for ease of movement.

A side on view

  Then moved into the shed.

Previously

The ash pan was lowered into place between the frames to check the clearances. Picture taken from the cab floor.

Pictured from underneath, this is the view into the ash pan through the front damper door.

A view of the rear damper opening from underneath.

The new tender floor support brackets.

The tender floor from above showing handbrake and water valve covers.

Valve cladding fitted.

cylinder side view.

Under cab floor linkage being fitted

The ash pan has been removed, this view from the cab along the chassis

Close up view from the cab floor of the trailing axle boxes and lubrication pipe work.

Injector pipe work being formed under the left hand cab steps.

update May 31 2019

We are still awaiting the return of the boiler, however there has been some more tasks carried out whilst we wait.  The smoke box which was put in place with its door and chimney for the new cover picture, has had some finishing work carried out.
The smoke box door liner is pictured whilst being worked on.

The smoke box itself being aligned to have various holes cut out.

Steam pipe holes and new rivets, holes drilled for the door ring fixing rivets.

The door ring now riveted in place.

At the rear of the smoke box the spacer ring in place to have its rivet holes drilled.

At the rear of the tender the tanks support brackets are welded in place.

The tender tank water valves have been cleaned up and are ready to be refitted.

Underneath the tank the locating bosses for the water pipes that were found to be fitted incorrectly have been cut out.  The right hand water pipe can be seen in place to align the new bosses when they are fitted.

The left hand water pipe ready to be re-fitted.

The smoke box door and liner now fitted.

The smoke box door from the front.

Underneath the tender tank the water pipes have been fitted to the new bosses which in turn are part of the new pieces of plate that have been welded in place.

At the front of the tank attention has turned to fitting the water valve operating mechanism.

New steam heat pipe at the rear.

In the workshop the steam manifold is having new fittings attached.

The hand brake mechanism being fitted at the front of the tender.

Followed by the tender floor plate and hand brake cover.

At the front end the cylinder covers have been fitted.

update 21.02.2019

A new arrival today, the smoke box complete with front door ring.

Together with the smoke box door and boiler spacer ring.

With the excuse of "lets see if it fits in the saddle" the smoke box, its door and chimney were positioned so that the engine could be posed for pictures.

A three quarter view, just need the bit in the middle now!