5918 in stationary steam

[John Ashworth]

As reported in other posts, 5918 was moved to stand next to the stationary boiler for a steam test, which was then delayed by a few days due to circumstances beyond our control. Finally, on 16th February 2012, the stationary boiler was fired up and 5918 had live steam put through her. The results are also reported elsewhere (see http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... =26&t=9204).

A passing railway enthusiast, Paul Saunders, showed great commitment in coming back day after day to see if we had steam yet, and he was finally rewarded - here are some of his photos.

[Brendon Anderson]

Hi John

I am insterested to hear how the process of transferring steam from the stationery boiler works. Having never worked an oil fired loco I am completely in the dark!

[John Ashworth]

It was new to me, too, as previously I had only worked coal-fired locos and the infamous Rovos Rail diesel burner.

An armoured hose with a screw fitting is connected between the stationary boiler (or another loco already in steam) and the cold loco, and steam is passed from the former to the latter. This steam is then used to warm the oil, to atomise the oil in the burners, and to operate the blower, until the loco is creating enough steam of its own to take over. Then the stationary boiler is disconnected. A wood fire is often lit in the firebox initially to help the process of heating up the water.

Compressed air can be used in place of stationary steam, but the disadvantage is that it is cold.

[Aidan McCarthy]

Hi John,

So the boiler is filled with water when this is done? Did they manage to determine if it was only superheater elements or tubes as well?

Cheers

Aidan

[John Ashworth]

Yes, the boiler was filled and there were no obvious water leaks.

My own suspicion right from the start was that it was superheater elements as the symptoms that were described to me, ie that steam only leaked when the regulator was open, pointed to that. However I wasn't on the footplate when 5918 failed and we were getting different diagnoses from different people, so it's good that we've now been able to inspect 5918 properly, both cold and in steam.