Mutual Improvement Classes. Memory quotes.

Passage of steam was one thing - there's rule 55 & 179, both of which concern 'protection of trains on running lines' and were, of course much more important than 'what was steam'. I never did have to carry out protection - but I did make many a journey to the signal box as per rule 55 - and had the bobby place a collar the lever for the protection of our train. Smoke - all the unburned gases of, sulphur, oxygen, nitrogen, etc. The constituents of coal - NOCASH, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, ash, sulphur and hydrogen. The year codes for detonators - was another acronym, I know it began with orange, red, yellow, blue but after that ?

Do fireboys on the preserved lines have to carryout rules 55 and 179 and are they tested on them?

atb

dave 'd'

No they don't unfortunately - But there are rules which are different to others on preserved lines such as the MHR, where you are not allowed on the footplate now as a 3rd man until you have learnt the road and passed you're cleaners exam!! Funny that, considering the only way to surely learn the road properly is from the cab? Or am I missing something?!?!

But yes we do have to know wabout Dets and how far to place them apart and from the milepost where you would walk to and which Signal box to call...

Following this thread, I have decided to create a new section as from here we can discuss all kinds of things whether it be Injectors, Blast Pipes etc...

Any problems, then please let me know.

Many Thanks

Admin

The only one I have any quarrel with is the 'baffle plate' - seem to recall taking them out on MN, WC/BoB - easier to fire to the back corners without one. New b/plates were always a pain on most engines - a well burnt into one was always prefered.

atb

dave 'd'

35013 Blue Funnel wrote:The only one I have any quarrel with is the 'baffle plate' - seem to recall taking them out on MN, WC/BoB - easier to fire to the back corners without one. New b/plates were always a pain on most engines - a well burnt into one was always prefered.

atb

dave 'd'

Yes agreed, I always took the Baffle Plate out. I seem to remember Bert Hooker wanted it in?

Why would you want to take the Baffle plate out? It's an important part of a steam loco?

As 35013 Blue Funnel has stated, easier to fire to, round the back corners

Large amounts of secondary air entering the firebox is harmful to the boiler and can result in leaking tubes and stays. This is partly prevented by the use of the DEFLECTOR PLATE or BAFFLE PLATE. This is a metal scoop formed to the profile of the firehole and extends for about 20ins into the firebox. It is inclined downwards on the same plane as the brick arch and should point under it. A deflector plate that points over the brick arch is totally useless and must not be used. Its principle purpose is to deflect the cold incoming air under the brick arch which is white hot and preheat the air whilst allowing the air to mix with the gasses on the firebed and so assisting proper combustion. As stated above it goes a long way to preventing cold air impinging on the boiler plates causing steep temperature changes and causing leakage. Finally in the serious event of low water level and a fusible plug melting the deflector plate will prevent serious eruption of steam back through the firehole door. A correct fitting deflector plate must always be in place when the boiler is in steam.