Steam Navvy Asbestos Strip
23rd November 2010
For some time there have been concerns regarding the boiler lagging on the Steam Navvy. As a result, and with financial assistance from the Friends, the whole navvy has been decontaminated. This now means we can consider providing access to the interior, previously isolated.
Below: An overall view showing the rather handy staircase to the Navvy door – something we would like to copy on a permanent basis.
Below: The firebox tubeplate. A future step will be to remove the tubes and vent the boiler in order to gain an idea of its condition.
Below: This is the view looking forwards from the firebox end of the boiler, the controls being seen to the left and the closed shutters also visible. To the right is the drum for raising and lowering the bucket arm. The thrust for digging is provided by an engine mounted on the jib.
Below: A view of the boiler. The doorway to the left is where access is gained at the top of the temporary staircase. As can be seen, it is a locomotive type boiler rather than vertical boiler often associated with such equipment.
Below: Part of the engine which rotates the superstructure on the base. Track steering appears to be accomplished using levers on the track unit itself.
Our next step will be to tidy, clean and prepare the interior for public viewing – no timescale has been set for this the work completed is a step towards this, and ultimately an feasibility assessment regarding a return to steam…
I’ve always been a fan of this machine and have insisted on seeing it during every visit to Beamish since I was old enough to say the word.
Its great to see that the internal fixtures of the machine are still in place and I really hope one day I can have a poke around inside myself. Is it just possible that this huge beast could be shifting some earth once again? Now that would be an event, as from what I’ve found out so far – its the last remaining of its type.
Best of luck with the project!
Best regards
Gavin
Good to see that conservation is being carried out. The saga of the navvy’s salvation from the scrap man at Hessle Quarry and its final journey under steam through the Beamish estate, including rescue after stranding through a collapsed culvert by the army deserves to be told . Photographs were taken, have they survived?