23rd March 2010

A big day for Coffee Pot, and for David, Vince and me too – Coffee Pot’s first full steam test following completion of its restoration. Prudence has led to this taking place at Vince’s workshop – enabling a number of small details to be attended to as a result of today’s tests.

Below: Outside the workshop, in steam and in one piece for the first time in 20 years, and the first time in this guise since the 1870s!

Below: Frankie Allen (Vince’s father) dismantling the expansion links on the port side of the engine (a nautical term seems appropriate given its launch type engine!). Note the pump – merrily pumping water into the boiler. The clack valve will require some attention as it was blowing back slightly, otherwise the pump works brilliantly and is enormously adjustable.

Below: Fire in its belly…

Below: On the port side of the engine, Vince discovered some rough running was due to there being a major discrepancy in length of the reverser weighshaft lifting links (which on this engine work in the horizontal axis!) compared to the other side of the engine. These were quickly removed and Vince assembled this jig to enable the links to be lengthened. This involved cutting the link and preparing it for welding, then mounting it on the jig to be tack welded.

Below: Tack welding the link.

Below: The result – a true and extended link, ready to be welded up completely…

Below: … then ground flush…

Below: … creating an invisible joint.

Below: The pump! Built by Hickey and Son, it is a clone of the legendary (as it was both reliable and ubiquitous) Worthington Simpson pumps, of which thousands were built and worked in the harshest environments.

Below: Putting the pump in context, with requisite water supply and delivery pipes as well as steam supply and exhaust.

Below: A film of the first movements of the engine unit (remember how the engine can be disengaged – this is discussed on Coffee Pot’s old blog still available via the Beamish website…