What is a boiler washout?

What is a boiler washout?

All of the GWR’s working steam locomotives undergo a routine boiler washout after a prescribed number of days in steam. Water at high pressure (over 70 psi) is then methodically hosed through the washout plugs to thoroughly rinse out the inside of the boiler. …

How do you clean a steam locomotive?

The traditional method of cleaning a steam locomotive, or at least the running gear, was with a steam jet or with high pressure hot water mixed with kerosene, either of which would dissolve or melt grease and oil as well as carry off dirt.

What happens if a steam train runs out of water?

Before a steam engine runs out of water, the boiler will usually blow up. Once the crown sheet in the firebox does not have any water on top of it, the metal suffers intense fatigue, and the boiler blows up. Some more modern steam locomotives are designed so that there is a sort of controlled explosion.

Does smoke come out of a steam train?

The chimney (smokestack or stack in American and Canadian English) is the part of a steam locomotive through which smoke leaves the boiler. Steam locomotive exhaust systems typically vent cylinder exhaust through the chimney to enhance draught through the boiler.

How do you clean a locomotive?

For normal cleaning, soaking a paper towel in liquid cleaner works well. Place the towel on a track and drag cars back and forth, pressing down lightly. For locomotives, clean one truck at a time, keeping the other truck off the towel on the tracks for electrical pick-up.

Did steam locomotives ever explode?

The report investigates a Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion on the Gettysburg Railroad in Pennsylvania in 1995 in which a Steam locomotive with six passenger cars during slow climb up moderate grade, the boiler exploded, unfortunately seriously burning the engineer and two firemen.

Why do steam trains have diesels on the back?

The diesel on the back can give the train a ‘shove’ to get it up to speed more quickly and maintain speed on gradients which allow the train to fit into the demands of the modern network and generally keep out of the way of the rest of the traffic.

What happens when a boiler runs out of water?

Boiler Failure If a boiler has enough water, the steel will never reach temperatures high enough to weaken it. In a dry fire accident, there is no water to moderate the temperature. As a result, the boiler’s steel can overheat, warp and crack at the welds.

What happens to a steam locomotive after a washout?

After the washout, the boiler is steam-tested and carefully examined for signs of water or steam leaks before the locomotive is passed back into traffic. We thought you might be interested to see the process in the following photographs.

How do you stop a steam locomotive from scalding?

Scalding from contact with the steam will be almost instantaneous. In most cases it will be impossible to stop the escape of steam, so the only way to avoid extensive burns will be to flee from the footplate, which carries other risks if the locomotive is in motion. 7 Principal legislation

What happened to the GWR’s steam locomotives?

All of the GWR’s working steam locomotives undergo a routine boiler washout after a prescribed number of days in steam. SR Merchant Navy pacific no. 35005 Canadian Pacific, on loan from the Mid-Hants Railway for the 2006 season, is no exception and its boiler was washed out during October 2006.

What are the dangers of steam locomotives to people?

Risks to people 4 A defect in a locomotive boiler (or its fittings) that allows an escape of steam can give rise to severe scalding or even death of people on the footplate.