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A recent boiler inspection, of Boiler No. 192, fitted to E371 has provided knowledge of what will need to be done to the boiler to get it back in operation.

 

The inspection has confirmed that boiler will:

  • require a new barrel including smokebox tubeplate

  • need a complete retube

  • require replacment of all crown stays.

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However, the firebox is in very good condition and all wall stays are in good and sound condition and the holes cut in the external firebox wrapping are readily repairable (weld in patches).

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The Backhead is the back end of the boiler where a lot of the fittings associated with operation of the boiler are mounted.  The general condition of this plate appears to be satisfactory. 

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The firebox tubeplate in this boiler appears to be in good condition.

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There is no visible cracking in the tubeplate flanges, but there is evidence of the flanges lifting away from the wrapper plate. This should be able to be repaired by re-caulking the seam.

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The inner firebox wrapper plate (measuring ½-in (12.7 mm) thick), comprising the firebox sides and crown plate, appears to be in good condition. There is no visible cracking in the flanges, but there is evidence of the flanges lifting away from the wrapper plate. This should be able to be repaired by careful re-caulking the seam.

 

The brick arch support studs are of steel construction and appear to be sound.

 

The firebox backplate is in good condition. There is no cracking in the flanges or around the firehole ring, but there is evidence of the flanges lifting away from the wrapper plate. This should be able to be repaired by careful re-caulking the seam.

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The longitudinal/diagonal stays appear to be satisfactory for further use as are the wall stays. The complete set of crown and sling stays will need to be replaced in their entirety (stays, nuts and washers). This is due to corrosion on the front two rows of sling stays (that run between the firebox crown and the ‘expansion stay’) being ‘necked’.  The remaining crown stays have either been completely removed inside the boiler, leaving only the stubs screwed through outer and inner crown sheets, or still remining in-situ in the extreme side row on the Fireman’s side. 

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Image from the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV)

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The Boiler

Is E71's Boiler Original?

No, in fact it's probably the youngest part of the locomotive. This boiler, according to the VR Boiler Cards, was built new in 1953 being registered on 29th July 1953. 


The following points provides a list of differences between the original drawings and what is to be currently observed on Boiler No. 192: 

  1. Boiler barrels – originally had an equal width double butt strap seam construction; now have a wider inner butt strap with an outer row of double pitched rivets (stronger). 

  2. Dome – there are quite a few changes on the construction of the dome: 

    1. Dome barrel – original boiler may have had a riveted seam, but the current barrel has a welded longitudinal seam (boiler card notes longitudinal seam welded). 

    2. Dome cover flange – appears to be of forged construction on original; the current boiler has an angle ring with an internal reverse flange. 

  3. Dome cover – this appears to be the original cast iron cover.  It is of interest that the bolt pattern has 13 holes/studs with the odd stud being on the LH (Driver’s) side 

  4. Expansion Stay – that shown on drawing E35 appears to be a casting, whereas what is in the boiler is a 3-piece riveted fabrication with different size openings to accommodate additional diagonal stays.

  5. Diagonal stays – there are more diagonal stays in the new boiler compared to old one: 

    1. a. Old drawing shows two diagonals reaching smokebox tubeplate, whereas the current boiler appears to have four (with the outer two being of different sizes). 

    2. b. The new boiler appears to have four diagonal stays passing through the Expansion Stay which explains the reason for the different shaped openings in the Expansion Stay bracket. 

  6. Tubes – the original boiler had 194 tubes x 1¾-in OD (342.8 sq. in. gas flow area), whereas the new boiler has 148 tubes x 2-in OD (351.1 sq. in. gas flow area).  In comparing the gas flow area, we find the ratio to be 342.8 : 351.1 = 1:1.0243 (i.e. 2.43% larger than original). 

  7. Firebox stays – the layout of the wall and crown stays on the current boiler appear to be the same as what is on the original drawings.

  8. The original drawings for this boiler show the location and details for a belly plate that was originally fitted to the boiler. However, since the boiler was renewed in 1953, this feature does not appear to have been included and is not present.

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