Essex Steam Aveling Roller

Essex Steam Aveling & Porter

NEWSFLASH - The Aveling roller is now completely up and running but we sadly have decided to let it go. It has been sold to Mick from Naiad Plastics. We wish Mick and the roller (now aptly named Naiad) all the best for the future.

The Aveling & Porter 8 Ton was acquired locally in 2004. It has had a very active life, and was ready for some maintenance.

John G buys the Aveling roller

August 2004

Looking for a new challenge John G successfully negotiated for the Aveling & Porter 8 ton roller FX8388 formerly owned and operated by John Dines

Tow home

Aveling Roller safely arrived

Detailed inspection

November 2004

We're now preparing for the boiler inspector's visit. First remove the ashpan and firebars, and have a good clean out. Then a thorough wire brushing all round the inside of the firebox.

There has been some noticeable seepage round some tubes, so we'll pull them all for a full inspection.

Firebox tubeplate

Stays

Backhead

Injector

Remove old tubes

September 2005

Having made the decision to re-tube we need to clean up smoke box and firebox and remove the old tubes. The old tubes are removed with a tube puller and the holes cleaned up ready for the new tubes.

As boiler tubes need proper certification we got ours (and their paperwork) from Willingale

Tube removal

Throatplate

Fit new tubes

November 2005

New tubes are now being fitted. They are expanded into their tube plates for a steam-tight fit.

New tubes

Tubes

Smokebox view of expanding the tubes

Firebox end

Completed smokebox end tubes

Completed firebox end

Hydraulic test

April 2006

Boiler retubing now complete. See the retubing pictures below. We have removed all boiler fittings (gauges, injector take-offs, blowdown valves etc) and blanked everything off ready for hydraulic test.

Now the boiler has passed we can continue with clean-up, refit boiler bits and prepare for steam test. New gauge glasses and loads of gland packing ordered ready for re-assembly.

Blanking plate

Blanking plugs

Hydraulic test pump

Testing our pressure gauge

A few more new bits

May 2007

A new castle nut for the blowdown valve, a new gauge glass fitting and a test jig needed.

Castle nut for blowdown cock

Gauge glass fitting

Test jig for blowdown