It isn't often that you see the inside of a steam locomotive boiler.
Usually, we see their innards only once a year as part of their annual inspection (by law) for the Federal Railroad Administration.
After removing the decorative sheet metal housing over the steam dome, we
undo about two dozen big nuts that hold the thick steel cover in place, and
keeps the steam inside the boiler. Once the cover has been lifted off by our
hoist, it is possible to wiggle down into the steam dome, past the throttle
valve and end up laying on your back or belly on top of the boiler tubes and
flues to begin inspecting the inside of the boiler.
We look for build ups of scale (residue from minerals in the water) and for
pitting, especially on the tubes and flues (from oxygen in the water).
Occasionally, corrosion from stress and/or impurities in the water might also be
found. Inside is where you can really tell whether or not our boiler water
treatment program is working or not (it is!).
The upper photo is No.3025, quite clean after 295 days in service since we
finished rebuilding it in 2010. The lower photo is No.40, showing a bit of scale
buildup (but little pitting) after 1338 days running over the last 14 years.
We are allowed (by law) to operate a steam locomotive only 1472 days within
a 15 year time period. Then we must remove the boiler tubes and flues so we can
clean and inspect the entire interior of the boiler. Once inspected, tube and
flues are installed and we start the cycle over again.
One of the reasons that railroads stopped using steam locomotives was that
they are very labor intensive machines. But we love them and care for them and
use them to teach a new generation not only about their beauty, but also about
the skills needed to keep them running.
J. David Conrad
