Boiler fund launch for LNWR ‘George V’
As it prepares to place the orders for its locomotive’s bogie wheels and coupling rods, the LNWR George V Steam Locomotive Trust is already turning its thoughts in earnest towards the biggest component of all the boiler. The annual dinner of the LNWR Society, to be held in Crewe on November 19, is to be the setting for the launch of a ‘Boiler Barrel Club’ for the Bowen-Cooke 4-4-0, No. 2013 Prince George. To raise the necessary £10,000, the trust is seeking ten donors pledging £1,000 each, which can be paid in instalments. “Steam Railway readers are invited to take part!” said trustee Paul Hibberd. Write to 62 High Street, Buntingford SG9 9AH or email GeorgeVtrust@gmail.com Following the generous donation for one of the coupling rods in July (SR457), a single order is expected to be placed for both rods in the near future to be cut from a single steel billet by water-jetting - once finite element analysis and stress calculations have been completed. Said Paul: “We have a particular firm in mind, but the precise cost is not known and won’t be until we have finished the drawings. It is not expected to exceed £10,000, so if anybody would like to help out that would be fantastic - we would be delighted to provide a footplate trip and a resplendent certificate! “We would also be glad to hear from anyone else with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) skills to join our team.” The group does, however, have the funds in place for all four of the locomotive’s bogie wheels, for which it is almost ready to place the order with Boro Foundry, which produced the pattern earlier this year. Again, the exact timescale of their production is dependent upon the completion of the finite element analysis. Paul elaborates: “It is not anticipated that there will be any safety issues, as the wheels have a good record and photographic evidence even shows them on early ‘Jubilees’, but the FEA will show what non-destructive tests need to be applied.”