FOTR early December 2014: a leaky tube...

[John Ashworth]

Photos by Peter Odell.

includes the remaining coal in 2650 before recoaling Thursday 4th........ and the leaking tube which caused the excessive coal consumption.

[Simon Walker]

The water coming out of that tube appears very clear, What is used in the way of Boiler treatment?

[Gabor Kovacs]

The water coming out of that tube appears very clear, What is used in the way of Boiler treatment?

Hi Simon,

Water treatment is added to the water in the tender usually on a Thursday, prior to light-up! I'm not sure exactly what water treatment is added but it gets done by Spikkels.

In my opinion, if I may say, I think the life-cycle of the tubes have come to an end, as most of the tubes have been in the boiler for more than 10 years. Of late, we have been replacing them, small and a large tube, in batches of 3's and 4's, but the remaining tubes will be replaced shortly, as 2650's boiler certificate expires sometime early next year!

Regards Gabor

[Simon Walker]

Have a look at this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRs72Qqd-Dc

[Steve Appleton]

Simon an excellent video referral. I shall bring this to the attention of FOTR's technical people. VSLC'sapparent rigid attention to water treatment and boiler water testing is probably unique. I am not aware of any local operators who have adopted such a scientific approach.

Also of interest is the "Puffing Billy's" purchase of two ex-SAR NGG16 locos (nrs 127 and 129) which they are re-guaging to 2ft 6in and opne of which they are intending to re-boiler using the improvement lessons VSLC have learned from their other new all-steel, all-welded boiler projects.

[Simon Walker]

The treatment regime and Boiler's described is the Puffing Billy Railway's not the VSLG's.
The VSLG is a recent new build project more here http://www.vicsteam.com/

Most Operators in Aus use the same or very similar regime with excelent results, the water quality varying greatly in different parts of the country.

Puffing Billy also have a Workshop Blog here http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/about-pu ... p-updates/ Updates regarding the NGG16 are occasionally on here.