> Did 2816 have to cross over CN track to
> visit the restored ex CN 2-8-0? I believe
> that was Kettle Valley.

It was the Kamloops Heritage Railway with ex-CN #2141. I fired it for a while just last night for their Santa runs.

The 1995 A.S.M.E. Boiler Code, Section 1, PG-60 states that try cocks, (i.e. "gauge cocks") are "NOT REQUIRED" That is a long way from being "banned" for "many decades"



nwstaybolt@reachone.com

> The 1995 A.S.M.E. Boiler Code, Section 1,
> PG-60 states that try cocks, (i.e.
> "gauge cocks") are "NOT
> REQUIRED" That is a long way from being
> "banned" for "many
> decades"

But the point still stands that these things have not been used by commercial boiler builders for decades, mostly because astute purchasers and operators don't want anything to do with them, for the reasons previously noted.

And it's still fact that FRA, per Part 230, does not consider them a useful, reliable device for indicating the water level in the boiler. An owner/operator may keep them on the locomotive if already equipped, or add them if so desired, but they are not a substitute for 2 working water glasses.

IOW, you can have 10 sets of try cocks and 1 watr glass, and your locomotive will not comply.

you must maintain them in safe reliable order.

Who needs to waste time and money maintaining something which needs frequent lapping and repacking that doesn't provide any benefit?

I don't use fuse plugs either - they have a tendency to blow when there is plenty of water in the boiler and a full train is waiting to be hauled. If your water glasses and feed systems are in good order and well maintained, and you have a good, qualified crew, they are superfluous.

A tourist railroad in Australia had a disaster resulting from a fuse plug loosening and blowing out, scalding a rider in the cab. The subsequent liability and damages were not inconsequential.....

When are safety devices not safety devices?

dave



irondave@bellsouth.net

> I don't use fuse plugs either - they have a
> tendency to blow when there is plenty of
> water in the boiler and a full train is
> waiting to be hauled. If your water glasses
> and feed systems are in good order and well
> maintained, and you have a good, qualified
> crew, they are superfluous.

> A tourist railroad in Australia had a
> disaster resulting from a fuse plug
> loosening and blowing out, scalding a rider
> in the cab. The subsequent liability and
> damages were not inconsequential.....

> When are safety devices not safety devices?

> dave

If your fusible plugs blows when there are water over them they must be of bad constuction so they stores to much heat from the fireside ( to big inside the firebox ) or someone have used something else but pure led-metal ( Pb ). We have very good experiences whith fusible plugs as they at one occasion suddenly worked like they should and saved both men and boiler from further dammage. This happening came from a combination of the procedures of testing the two gauge glasses and using to small steel balls in the armatures.

Ragnar

Kris,

Hmmm... with the D&H staying in the CPR fold for now, I know a place in the hills of PA that would make an excellent home for this locomotive during the off-season...

What do you think, Steamtowners, it's a great time to offer shelter and a well-equipped home base for #2816.

Rob

> Rob,

> Winter restoration from its 2003 cross
> canada trip is underway in the B.C. rail
> steamshops. To respond to Eric from a
> previous response, 2816 is not based out of
> Calgary anymore. Their building has been
> sold and their turntable has been torn out.
> They are looking for a second waterglass
> however it looks as though this outfit is
> loosing not only a place to work but funding
> to back such a substantial budget. Are you
> sure C.N. will let such a public relations
> flagship traverse their track???

> OK, what's the consensus on the spelling of
> these suckers.

I think they are try-cocks, no matter how many there are. It's an archaic usage, but the term is built around "trying" or checking the level of water in the boiler. "Gauge cocks", of course is also correct - gauging is the same as trying the water level.
J

jeff_acock@hotmail.com