I want to kick off this update by thanking our Urie Loco Society volunteers for an excellent 2024 in the face of adverse circumstances. Of note over the Christmas period was the success of the Watercress Line’s Steam Illuminations event, starring 506. From all accounts, this particularly labour intensive period was a success for the railway. The committee appreciates the long hours many of our members put in to support this, often on unglamorous jobs such as manning generator cars.
Boiler No. 799
When boiler 799 was stripped for assessment, it was well known that there was cracking around some of the inner firebox stay holes. The hope was that this could be dealt with by a combination of copper welding and opening out the holes to the next size. The difference in cost between dealing with a small number of holes and replacing the lower sides will be obvious. It is around eight or nine times cheaper.
However, as repairs have progressed, it has become apparent that there is more cracking and more stay holes that needed opening out than we could have known from the original assessment. Non-destructive testing can only take you so far, and it certainly is not all seeing. The considerable number of holes within the lower sides of the inner firebox indicates that we are going to keep finding more cracking in this area that needs addressing. In addition, opening out the holes means oversizing the stays and reducing the life of the new steel outer firebox sides.
During our AGM in November, we discussed our preference to replace the lower firebox copper sides with ULS members, and the committee have unanimously agreed to proceed. This will mean spending around £60,000 where we had hoped to spend £8,000. It also means accepting that the money spent so far on copper welding is lost, because that work will be cut out of the firebox. However, it means that the inner firebox should gain another 20 years of useful life. We see it as the only sensible way to deal with the problem and it will help us achieve the long-term aim of seeing both engines running together, as trouble-free as possible.
Tender No. 3223
Over the autumn and early part of the winter we have made considerable progress on the internal framework for 499’s new tender tank. Where possible we will be overengineering some of the framework compared with the original drawings to increase the strength and life of the tank. Fortunately, the framing construction allows us to bolt most of it together. Although the extensive drilling required is a time-consuming process, it is a cheap and straightforward project, without extensive welding.
The large water volume of these LSWR bogie tenders necessitates an intricate and robust internal skeleton. This is made up of a series of rectangular transverse frame sections bolted through the floor. These are held together by longitudinal steel strips which we are currently preparing to install. The sides of the tank will then be flush riveted to the rectangular sections.
Within this framework we have also installed holds that will support the slope of the shovel plate. This slope serves the purpose of funneling coal down toward the front of the coal space. Along with what has been fabricated so far, we have the majority of the steel required to finish the tender now on site at Ropley. This includes the rolled curves that make up the four corners of the tank. We are therefore expecting steady progress throughout the year.
