Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

GWR Large Prairie 4150

385 bytes added, 11:46, 20 January 2018
Boiler update
Restoration at Parkend proved impossible, and in 1977 the Fund’s shareholders voted to move 4150 to the SVR, with the locomotive arriving at [[Bewdley]] on 19 January 1978. Restoration commenced following arrival in [[Bewdley Down Yard|Bewdley Yard]], but by the mid-80s fund raising and restoration progress had slowed considerably. In 2007 the Fund formed a new committee, and with renewed enthusiasm began a concerted effort to complete the restoration which had by then been in progress for more than 30 years. By 2014 a new bunker had been completed except for riveting and welding, and construction of new tanks was in progress.
By November 2016 the Fund received confirmation that 4150 had a slot in the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop in the last quarter of 2017.<ref>4150 Fund Newsletter 2017, January 2017</ref> The following month riveting of the side tanks and bunker was complete, leaving the baffles and other hidden parts to be welded in place after the major assemblies had been lifted on to the frames, to minimise the risk of distortion. It was then intended that the locomotive would be moved to [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] for continuation of the overhaul in early 2017.<ref>[http://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-news-160916-2-55577 SVR Live - 4150 - Prairie Tank, Ex GWR]</ref><ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_sept16.html The 4150 Fund - September 2016 Restoration Update]</ref> In late March 2017, however, the locomotive left the 'tent' so that the boiler could be lifted onto [[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon|wagon 40554]] for preparation work to begin. At the same time the newly fabricated tanks and bunker, plus the cab roof, were lifted onto the frames. 4150 was then moved back into the tent for work to continue. The entire operation took three days and entailed a major re-arrangement of the rolling stock in Bewdley yard.
===The boiler===A record net total of almost £16,000 from the annual [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] raffle proceeds were allocated to 4150 in 2008, which was ring-fenced for spending on the boiler.<ref>[www.4150.org.uk/4150_new-beginning.html 4150 Fund website] (Retrieved 20 January 2018)</ref>  By November 2016 the Fund received confirmation that 4150 had a slot in the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop in the last quarter of 2017.<ref>4150 Fund Newsletter 2017, January 2017</ref> The Fund intended the boiler due it to go to Bridgnorth in November 2017 for overhauland in March 2017 it was lifted onto [[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon|wagon 40554]] for preparation work to begin.<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special%20Events/SVR%20Peep%20Behind%20the%20Scenes%202017.pdf Peep Behind The Scenes leaflet July 2017]</ref> It is now expected Workload at in the boilershop meant that instead it was decided that boilershop staff will in 2018 would provide assistance to the owning group to accelerate the boiler overhaul at Bewdley.<ref>SVR News 200, Winter 2017</ref>  {{As of|2018|01}} the boiler passed an ultrasonic test on the thickness of the plates and passed a non-destructive test for cracks. Work has commenced on drilling out firebox steel stays and grinding off rivet heads holding the foundation ring.<ref>Howard A, 4150 Fund Facebook, 20 January 2018</ref>
=== Gallery ===
Trustworthy, administrator
6,720
edits

Navigation menu