10-year Boiler "Tickets"

In Summer 1997, a steam engine (name witheld) started test runs after a 10-year overhaul. I assume that the boiler ticket started several months before the tests? The aformentioned engine remained in service until December '07.

How can the boiler ticket continue beyond ten years? Surely it would have expired in Summer '07, or before? :-k

 

If after the exam at the end of the 10 years the insurance boiler examiner wishes to he can extend the boiler ticket past its 10 years.

 

Maybe they done an earlier test and passed it?

 

34072 '257 Squadron' and 35027 'Port Line' both had stints which stretched beyond the '10 years' - the former lasted for the best part of 12 or 13 IIRC(?). I remember it being noted on here previously how the '10 year' ticket is a bit of a mis-nomer as locos are subject to annual boiler exams anyway so there's no guarantee that once in traffic a loco will last 10 years. In much the same way it's not a set rule that the loco won't last any longer than ten years, but I think I'm right in saying that hoping an inspector will accept an extension beyond the ten year period is unlikely.

There are certain railways that seem to do better at getting locos through a 'full ticket' than others though, at least without the need for major work during the ten-year period.

 

41312 has had a boiler extension.

 

Many thanks for clearing that subject up!

 

A general boiler exam includes examination of the inside of the boiler barrel, which can only be done with tubes removed; examination of the outsode of firebox, incuding foundation ring, which can only be done with boiler removed from frames.

257 Squadron had a complete re-tube after about 7 years running. The boiler barrel was examined by a Boiler Inspector during the re-tube. And hydraulic exam.
Bulleid locos have a wide firebox that sits on top of the frames, rather than between frames. So, to examin the firebox outer only the cladding need be removed. Those 3 factors enabled the ticket to be extended, becuase the required examinations could be made.
The loco was withdrawn becuase of the general conditon of the boiler, rather than any specific date.

 

Examinations are carried out at 14 month intervels as i am lead to belive

 

45110 was another that ran with an extended ticket, was 48773 another?

Patrick

 

Look upon these exams as being 12 monthly. The 14 months is to give you a bit of leeway and is a throwback to the requirements of the Factories Act. In the fast disappearing industrial world with annual shut-downs, a 12 month mandatory period would effectively mean shutting the boiler (and probably the factory) down slightly earlier each year as you can't do a boiler exam in one day, or even a couple of days. I know that some people take advantage of the 14 months because, over a period, you will save on the cost and effort of a boiler exam.

 

Robinsons 04 63601 at GCR is currently into a 2 year extension.

Key factor unlike when worked on the big railways is they often take a few years out due to other reasons, in this time it is common for intermediate work to be done which may result in an extension or even a new ticket depending on the work done.

 

No. It had been confidently predicted that 8773 would be withdrawn at least three years before the ten year date. In practice, she defied everyone and was in use right to the end.

 

Very true! I thought I had finished her a while before the end came! Weather she would have made it to the end if she hadn't been marooned at Bridgnorth, and if she had, would she have been given an extention untill the line reopened, had she not have been stranded at Bridgnorth when the flood hit is a different mater!

 

Boilers stored outside eg most loco boilers are subject to a 7 year thorough exam this can be extended each year up to 10 years by the "competent person" the scope of all examinations required. Their duration is defined in the written scheme which will give duration between inspections and how the boiler is examined and then the competent person will issue a certificate of inspection with the next examination date on this can be shorter than the written scheme if he has reason as well as any reduction in working pressure if required as well. The reduction of working pressure can be down to 0 if warranted. All those decisions fall to the competent person the responsible person has to insure that they are adhered to. Any extensions of a boiler have to be warranted and agreed with the HSE and other regulatory bodies. The boilers have to be operated and examined to fall within Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 the approved code of practice can be downloaded free from the HSE website.
Keith

 

Russell on the WHR got 15 1/2 years via a succession of extentions between about 1987 and 2003. Part of the reason for this is that the boiler was brand new, and the loco only ever worked pretty gently.

I'm not sure, but that may be a record for a preserved loco.