Villa Team News - 29 January 1998

Birch Grove's repairs

A recent view of the boiler showing the safety valves fitted. [Click on the image for full-size picture.] [View of boiler on trolley]
[View of front tubeplate] The front tubeplate with all the tubes expanded. The smokebox will be fitted after the hydraulic test.
A small leak from one of the rivets fixing the firebox outer wrapper and throatplate to the barrel, showing that it really does have water inside for the first time since 1971. Leaks like this are to be expected after such major repairs and will be stopped by caulking techniques. [View of leaky rivet]
[View of firebox crown washout plug pad castings] The new castings for the firebox crown washout plug pads.
[View of machining the firebox crown washout plug pad castings] The firebox crown washout plug pad castings need to be machined to fit the curved face of the firebox. These pictures show the vertical borer being used to cut the curved face. [View of machining a firebox crown washout plug pad casting]
[View of bunker showing new paintwork] Two views showing the paintwork on the rear part of the engine. [View of cab side showing new paintwork]

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