Pete Mason prepares to light the first fire since 1964 (Peter Phillips)  


Firing the boiler for the steam test (Nigel Hills)  


Safety valve lifts (Pete Mason)  

Hot on the heels of our last report is the news of the boiler's first steaming since 1964!  Here's how we built up to that momentous event.

We needed a successful hydraulic test of the boiler before it could be steamed, so over three days in mid September the filled boiler was connected to a compressor and pressure was gradually raised, with attention given to any leaks as they occurred.  Eventually the pressure was raised to 330lbs p.s.i., slightly higher than the Insurers' requirement.   Although there were a number of leaks, Chatham Steam stated that they were starting from a very good position with no "fountains" and only a few "squirters"!  (I hope you can cope with the high-tech. jargon!)  They considered that most leaks could be sorted out with just a few minutes' work.

On 1^st October the Insurance Surveyor, Chatham Steam and our representatives came together for the formal hydraulic test.  Once again the filled boiler was pressurised to 320lbs p.s.i. as required, and with only a few tiny weeps from the fire box corners the Insurance man declared himself satisfied with the test.  The first hurdle had been overcome.  The boiler was then drained down to deal with persistent leaks from the Belly Plate and two Thermic Siphon washout plugs.

The out-of-frames steam test in front of the Insurance Surveyor was fixed for Wednesday 18^th November, so we arranged to be on site at Detling on the Monday before.  The first job was to assemble the fire grate inside the fire-box. The grate had been assembled in the open at Toddington, but this was the first time we'd attempted to fit it within the confines of the fire-box.  We had some difficulty getting it all to fit properly, and some fettling of the larger fire bars will be necessary before the loco can enter service, but the fit was considered good enough for the static testing at this stage.  The fire hole doors were brought out of storage and fitted up.

Water pressure at the Detling site is poor, and a hose had been filling the boiler all day. By late afternoon a check on the water level (using the 'high-tech' method of poking a finger in a washout plug hole!) revealed that the water level covered the fire box crown, and this was considered deep enough to light a warming fire; the great moment had arrived!  At 4.30p.m. on Monday 16^th November 2009, the first fire since August 1964 was lit in the boiler of 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S.N.Co.  The fire was fed with wood, banked up and left overnight.

On Tuesday morning the fire was out but the boiler was still warm to the touch.  After sorting out more water supply problems, the fire was re-lit and fed slowly and steadily with wood plus occasional bags of steam coal.  By lunchtime, one of the two safety valves had started to 'feather' with only 170lbs p.s.i. on the pressure gauge.  The safety valves are brand new and we've had no chance to test or set their working pressures, so a special spanner was used to adjust the valve to a higher setting.  Firing continued until the valve eventually lifted at 185lbs p.s.i. with a huge roar and jet of steam.  This had two effects, one being our wild exhilaration at this historic moment, and the other the emptying of surrounding industrial units as people rushed out to see what all the noise and fuss was about! 

On the Wednesday, the day of the insurance company visit, one safety valve was removed and the boiler, still very warm from the day before, was re-lit and brought up readily to pressure.  At 200lbs p.s.i., the valve started to 'feather', so the adjusting spanner was used to tighten it down as far as possible.  The valve finally opened at 225lbs p.s.i., 10% below where it should work (250lbs), but sufficient to satisfy the boiler inspector that the valve was working satisfactorily.

The purpose of the test was to see how the boiler performed when hot and under pressure.  The inspector was particularly interested to see if there were any defects in the boiler's platework, paying particular attention to the joints between the boiler plates.  We haven't worked on any of these areas, so it was nice to see that the original North British joints were still steam-tight nearly 70 years after they had been made.  We continued firing gently to cycle the safety valve a few more times and found that it worked consistently and smoothly.  The boiler inspector pronounced himself satisfied with everything he had seen.  On reflection, the boiler has performed better than we could have hoped.  We had no trouble raising steam with very little fire and the boiler 'drew' beautifully, proving what a superb steam raiser she is.

Now we have to ensure that the momentum is maintained, and the final work on the boiler is completed as soon as possible so we can get our precious asset back to Toddington.  Then we will be engaged in fitting up all the many components that have been restored already, and a complete locomotive will gradually emerge.

There is one stumbling block in this plan, however, and that inevitably is money or the lack of it!  The boiler work and its return will seriously drain the coffers, and the skilled work needed to complete the engine will cost money we don't yet have. The rate of progress will be dictated entirely by the availability of funds.  

So if you feel like helping us to achieve our final goal by purchasing some shares in our project from as little as £10 a month, please get in touch and we'll be happy to give you details of the share scheme.

If you would like more details, please write to:

35006 Locomotive Society
243 Botley Road,
Burridge,
Hampshire
SO31 1BJ