Our Regularly Tested Boilers Don't Fail...

[stantheman]

Hi Shawki, my main concern is that with just a basic report about something potentially as serious as this may be, people are going to 'run around like headless chickens' confusing what may be a very simply explained issue. A more detailed report would I am sure curtail any fears amongst those of us that prefer to wait before jumping.
Stan

[Boadicea]

GET REAL CHAPS - nobody has the right to demand a detailed report. Just who do you think you are? Why not do this....

tonytrans said:

As you (SteveW)are close to this issue, perhaps you could make a judgement yourself as to what happened and report back. If the owner is embarrassed then perhaps if you get the facts and discuss with Alan (with his record of model boiler failures). I am confident Alan could then decide whether we need to be alerted or told not to worry. We do not ALL need to rake this over and if anonymity will help the owner open up then this would be a good thing.

Kind regards, Tony.

This happening is probably easy to explain and does not require the chicken with heads chopped off approach, like a load of old women wailing at a Greek funeral.

We all know that if the boiler had been properly certified and looked after and given the respect it deserved, there would have been no problem.

All you are currently doing is discouraging anyone from posting this kind of incident in the future, which would be detrimental.

Regards, Bo.

[spurley]

Hi all

There does seem to be some mxed emotions surrounding this issue. In general there appears, to me, more interest from the point of finding out the direct cause and ensuring that it is can be avoided in future. That's how things are made safer and thus more available for all.

No-one here has the right to 'demand' detailed reports or the like I agree, but it just seems an odd thing to post an interesting subject, particularly as no-one appears to have been hurt (or worse), and then to avoid answering the more intelligent and sensible queries when they are politely and courteously asked.

Cheers

Brian

[John Lee]

boadicea said:

GET REAL CHAPS - nobody has the right to demand a detailed report. Just who do you think you are?

This happening is probably easy to explain and does not require the chicken with heads chopped off approach, like a load of old women wailing at a Greek funeral.

We all know that if the boiler had been properly certified and looked after and given the respect it deserved, there would have been no problem.

All you are currently doing is discouraging anyone from posting this kind of incident in the future, which would be detrimental.

Regards, Bo.

Quite right Bo, in the final analysis a boiler has leaked a bit, or quite a lot and nobody was hurt.

Like Alan above I have never seen or heard of a model boiler exploding destructively in my lifetime.

So lets just see what is posted. If it was mine, my first reaction after such an incident, after checking nobody was scalded, would be b****r I need a new boiler, nothing more. And of course what was wrong with the old one.

As an aside, with regard to the firebox crown uncovering mentioned above, why do model loco boilers not seem to specify fusible plugs? It seems sensible to me and I always fit one.

Regards,

John

[havoc]

However, the quality of construction is way below what I would accept nowadays, with, as was usual at that time, soft solder caulked seems. It was as good as my abilities then, and obviously sufficient for the task as it worked OK, but I still feel it should be replaced.

There is nothing wrong with this practise. The solder in this case is not there to provide structural integrity.

[alanstepney]

I would like to suggest that Steve W contacts the owner of this boiler.
If said boiler is going to be condemned, then perhaps the owner may be willing to make it available to some experienced person who can check, cut up where required, and do a detailed analysis to discover what went wrong.

There are many people capable of doing this, and it might even be that the owner himself could undertake the task.

That should ascertain whether it was a basic design fault (rare, but not unknown) some error in construction, or some other factor.

I would far rather see some definate FACTS to base comment upon, than speculation or rumour.
The latter can be particularly damaging, as, is the way with rumour, things get exagerated.
Before you know where you are, a simple failure, turns into a massive explosion, and suddenly the insurance companies etc start getting all excited !

In the unlikely event that the design is faulty, or dubious, then it can be modified, perhaps saving other similar boilers from what might perhaps be a more serious failure.
On the other hand, if the basic cause was something in the construction, then we, and other model engineers can take care to ensure that it doesnt happen to us.

Of course, if the old boiler is to be repaired, then a far more limited investigation is all that would be possible.

I must add that I see this purely as a technical examination to ascertain the cause, not to apportion blame or hold a witch hunt.


To repeat myself, lets see if we can get some facts, and go from there.

[alanstepney]

Bo, I agree that nobody has the right to demand..etc.

However, it is possible that there might be some circumstance that would affect others, for example, if the design was faulty. In such a case, getting the facts might prevent other similar occurances.

We have done well for many years to retain our self regulation. Indeed, not long ago the various Associations worked hard to get us exemption from some of the new PED et al regs.
We will only manage to keep that status if we ourselves ensure that we, as a group, take as much or more care than would happen if we had outside regulators and inspectors.

In this particular case, I have a feeling that, if it is investigated, it will turn out to be something minor. However, better to be seen to be checking, then for it to become known that nobody takes such things seriously.

[Tel]

I agree AJ, the facts should be added to our pool of knowledge. While 'demand' is probably too strong a word, I believe that responsible boiler ownership includes some responsibility in this regard.

I, too, was an AMBSC inspector for a number of years, and here a report would be both automatic and thorough

[SteveW]

Guys,

The latest so far...

The owner has since contacted his boiler inspector and now he and and another boiler inspector will attend the scene tomorrow, suitably equipped to have and initial stab at what when wrong.

At this point it may well be a good idea to suggest everyone sit back from their keyboards and let the guys go have a look. If I could also request the grown-ups to lock this thread until I know more it'll further stem the speculation (and no cheating and starting up a parallel thread).

When I know more and it will need to be significantly more I will share all relevant detail while also being circumspect where necessary to protect the innocent.

Has anyone got any problems with this? Answers on a postcard ONLY please.

[alanstepney]

I concur, and accordingly will lock this thread.

Steve, if and when you get further information, please send me (or TEL or Andy) a PM and I/we will then unlock it, rather that have duplicated threads.