North Norfolk Railway based Y14 No. 564 has been withdrawn from service early due to a failed boiler test, the M and GN Society has announced.
During a routine boiler test this month, the surveyor found a potential problem with a number of the firebox side stays that needed further examination.
The Society's Chief Mechanical Engineer has followed this up with a further examination and has found that the failures reside with the firebox stays and that an NDT test should be completed.
The NDT test was completed on the 21st May and has found that eight firebox stays are significantly shorter than the rest.
With the number of stays that are broken, the boiler has been considered a failure.
Given the amount of work involved to repair the boiler, and the fact that the boiler ticket was due to end in August 2024, it has been considered not viable for a repair and a full overhaul is now needed.
Plans are being developed to organise the engine's full overhaul as soon as possible.
This is another blow for the North Norfolk Railway, with 92203 Black Prince just recently being withdrawn from service early due to problems with the main internal steam pipe.
Boiler repair on our local narrow gauge railway took a year to complete ;-(
Agreed ! Don’t live too far away myself and have seen the Y14 on many occasions. Suits the countryside perfectly.
Such a pity, the Y14 is one of the (IMHO) prettiest loco’s in preservation, and I live less than a mile from Sheringham. Hopefully they’ll fund the overhaul on this as it’s such a unique loco – and in all fairness is more in keeping with Poppyland than a 9F beast, so this is the one I’d focus on
Well said, Matt.