Achilles Report No16: Annual Steam Test...

Hi all. Tonight at 7pm we rolled up at the site of the Coventry Model Engineering Society at Ryton Pools, where my locomotive "Achilles" was due an annual steam test. The ticket had expired the week before and so, with an approaching visit to Rugby MES on the cards, the loco needed looking at. Derek kindly offered to do the test at my request and whipped the pressure gauge off straight away for calibration. Having returned with the gauge, Derek told me to steam the loco up. The boiler was checked for leaks and the safety valves checked for correct blowing off pressure. The valves are also required to hold the pressure at within 10% of full working pressure with the blower fully open. This test was sucessful and therefore the two water feeds were the final test. The handpump was fine but to test the axle-pump I had to take the loco on two laps of the track. Sure enough, the axle-pump was more than adequate and "Achilles" retired from the track with a brand new steam certificate - "phew"! She was then blown-down and put back into the car for transport home. Cheers Derek, and cheers guys! Sam...