February 2025

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Boiler lagging was still high on the agenda as we moved into the slightly warmer February. Having made good progress installing the lagging material round the shell, held in place by the crinoline straps, we move on to the somewhat trickier areas of the boiler top around the various pipes and valves that occupy the valve box forward of the funnel. This part of the exercise involves the removal of inspection plates on the top of the boiler casing and beneath the timber flooring on the wheelhouse. The engineer undertaking this task (Andy) then has to lie on his stomach and reach down to feed each uniquely cut piece of lagging under the pipes and round the valves. All very uncomfortable, but not sufficiently to put him off his lunch! Once this area is conquered there is the small matter of the front plate of the boiler which is, of course vertical, with numerous stay-head nuts to cut around. The means of holding each piece of lagging in place is yet to be decided. Also in the Boiler Room our rolling program of valve overhauls is in full swing, with each of the dominated valves removed and dismantled, cleaned and refurbished as required before the valve and seat are lapped in, gland repacked and returned to position with a new joint. Off-season allows us to give the several pressure and vacuum gauges attention. The faces had become somewhat stained and discoloured over time, and one of our supporters supplied by way of a very generous donation new faces as exact replicas of the original WVV Lidgerwood gauges. These will be fitted whilst the gauges are professionally re-calibrated. On deck the starboard after steering sheeve mounting had rusted beyond repair, so this was cut away and a new mounting expertly fabricated and welded into position before painting. As part of the National Historic Ships elite National Historic Fleet, we welcomed aboard one of their field officials Peter Green who carried out a review of the vessel as part of their Register Review. After a good look round and a chat over a cup of coffee and biscuits, he seemed very happy with things. We also had a visit from film and television production student James filming volunteers in the world of steam preservation. The results can be viewed on our Facebook page. Finally, our grateful thanks to Winter & Co Marine and National Historic Ships for a grant towards an ultrasonic survey of the hull which will be carried out during a dry docking to be undertaken shortly.

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