80097 June Update

Saturday, 2nd July, 2022

The Bury Standard 4 Group has been devastated to find out out that our loco, 80097, has failed with a split steam tube. This is the second tube to fail within three years following the full boiler rebuild which was carried out by a specialist company in 2018.

The boiler inspector has specified that all the small tubes must now be removed and replaced. They have now been removed ready for a fuller inspection of the inside of the boiler to be carried out and a ruling made on the large tubes.

This has meant that work involving removing the running board, steam pipe cladding, main smokebox steam pipes and demolishing the brick arch in the firebox has had to be carried out to be able to access the small tubes.

Our workshop team of Allan, Alan, Nigel, Chris, Carl, Adam, Ethan, Toby, Callum and Adil have descended on 80097 to do this work and our sincere thanks for their extended graft. Andy from the ELR and Nigel, Toby and Derek have removed the tubes. The next step will be specified by the boiler inspector.

Our first costings are that the small tubes will cost around £6500 plus labour for removing and replacement. On top of this 80097 will not be earning any steaming fees from the ELR - a double whammy.

This is a serious blow to our finances, especially with our project to restore Ivatt 46428 and our fund raising now becomes even more vital.

Photos are of the work done preparing to remove the boiler tubes.