The Federal regulations that govern the operation of steam locomotives in the United States requires that periodic inspections be performed. These inspections are performed to ensure potential safety issues are revealed in a timely manner and any issues found are mitigated before the locomotive can be operated. One of the tests required is the hydrostatic test of the boiler at a pressure in excess of the maximum allowed working pressure of the locomotive. These images were made during a recent hydrostatic test of the VC-2.
Click on any image to enlarge.
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- IT IS VERY HOT UP HERE AS BRIAN PREPARES TO ENTER THE BOILER.
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- THIS IS A TIGHT SQUEEZE AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
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- THE THROTTLE BODY BEING LIFTED
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- COMMUNICATION IS BY HAND SIGNALS ONLY
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- THE THROTTLE BODY
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- CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS A GOOD IDEA UP HERE
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- PRESSURIZING THE WATER FILLED BOILER
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- THE STEAM GAUGE SHOWS THE PRESSURE
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- THIS MODIFIED PRESSURE WASHER IS THE SOURCE OF THE WATER PRESSURE
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- THE SIGHT GAUGE AND THE TRI-COCKS ARE USED TO MONITOR THE WATER LEVEL IN THE BOILER
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- THIS THE “HONORARY” STEAM LOCOMOTIVE USED TO MOVE THE VC-2
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- THIS CAR WAS RESTORED AFTER BEING DAMAGED DURING A WINDSTORM
PIXORAILS 