Steam Shed Sunday at Shackerstone...

Hi all. Another visit to Shackerstone today for our weekly Sunday working. Todays update centres around "Dunlop No7". Myself & Jason were actually working on the paint job for GWR 3803 but naturally, as I've said, there isn't much to say until its finished and we can show it. Until then, other updates come first. "Dunlop No7"s boiler is todays subject. Having been fitted with a new steel inner firebox by contractors at the Great Central, the boiler is now being stayed. Over 300 stays hold the firebox for the W7 Peckett safely in position and each has had to be individually made and fitted. For those not in the know, stays are threaded at either end and screw through the outer firebox into the inner firebox. The non-threaded section of the stay then occupies what is known as the water-space. The stays act as added strength for the firebox which is under a lot of pressure from both sides. In the firebox, immense heat is suffered from the roaring fire. On the outside of the inner box, perhaps 140 pounds of steam and boiling water will be attempting to crush the box at every inch of its material. Therefore, the stays are used to hold the box inside the boiler and to stop it 'bowing': known in the steam world as quilting. The current stays are being fitted at the sides and backhead as the crown-stays (firebox crown/roof) are in and the foundation ring is fitted. The foundation ring is the term used for the section which holds the inner and outer together at the foot of the box & boiler, allowing the ashpan to be fitted and air to come in. Naturally boilers are open at the bottom for this purpose. Below, we see an example of a stay...

Here we see a shot of the backhead with the firehole ring prominent. A couple of stays can be seen fitted in some of the lower rows. The four plates are currently covering the orifices where the water gauge glasses are fitted, with the regulator linkage sitting central at the top...

Meanwhile, further up the shed was Class 02 D2867 "Diane". "Diane" was having the final touches made to her paintwork before completion of her winter overhaul. The engine will soon be returned to service, shunting in the shed yards. 3803 is coming along nicely and will be in service in fully finished BR plain black over our gala weekend of March 28th/29th: hope to see you there. Next Sunday?...its back to Shackerstone! All the best guys, Sam...