Boiler lift - 14/11/03

Following the boiler lift, pictured above, the boiler was moved into the heavy repair shop to be prepared for its official hydraulic test which was carried out on 30 January and which it passed with flying colours.

Whilst the boiler has been out of the frames, the sheeting contractors have been on site and completed the manufacture of the barrel section of the boiler cladding.

The next stage was the static steam test, which was carried out on Friday 27 February. In preparation for this, 73129 was lit up for the first time in over 36 years at a special ceremony at Swanwick Junction on Sunday 22 February. The fire was lit by Trust loco volunteer Ken Doleman who has not only worked tirelessly on the restoration of 73129, he also worked on the construction of all the BR Standard Caprotti 5's at Derby Loco Works in 1956/57. Inspite of the bitterly cold wind and occasional flurries of snow, it is estimated that around 100 people, including several press photographers, witnessed this historic occasion.

The Lighting Up Ceremony

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From the moment the fire was lit, 73129 had round the clock attention, both to keep the fire burning, and to deter any thefts or vandalism. To provide warm accommodation for the "night shift" LMS brakevan no. 1399 was coupled to the boiler wagon. It was during one of the night shifts, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, that Graham Ward took this lunar shot ...



During the morning of Friday 27 February, the fire was built up, and with the assistance of a temporary compressed air blower in the smokebox, the boiler pressure began to rise. By early afternoon, with over 200 psi showing on the gauge, everything was ready for inspection to begin. At 3.50pm, Boiler Inspector John Glaze announced that everything was satisfactory, and so another milestone in the 73129 story was reached ...

The Static Steam Test

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After the steam test, 73129's boiler was rolled back into the Heavy Repair Shop at Swanwick where these next photographs were taken ...

Dateline 31 March 2004

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Dateline 16 April 2004

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Dateline 10 May 2004

The superheater, pictured centre and right above, was satisfactorily tested hydraulically on Friday 7th May.

The following Monday morning saw feverish activity as the boiler wagon, frames, tender and 75 ton Rail Crane were shunted into position ready to lift 73129's boiler back into the frames.   Then, after an early lunch break, the important work began ...


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