Work has progressed on the rebuilding of the N7 9621 boiler in 2023, hopefully seeing a full return to steam in 2024.

Heritage Boiler Steam Services based in Liverpool have been working on a new firebox, fitting of transverse stays, sling stay bracketry and most recently; outer door plating for the outer wrapper.

During this process, engineers will be working on the doubling plates for the inner copper door. This process was waiting on the return of the copper tubing from being machined, as the thickness requirement is different for both the tube nest and the remainder of the plating (1″ for the tube nest and 9/16″ for the rest of the plating).

Engineers hope to move forward with getting the newly constructed outer firebox paired with the boiler barrel, to line up correctly with the holes that were added during the forming process which will then act as the new copper inner firebox.

The frames for the firebox (located at Chappel) are progressing nicely despite also assisting with other projects. Refitting of the brake rigging has also progressed nicely, with JB engineering soon to undertake the removal of the pistons which will allow for the matching of the valve bores.

The team in Liverpool is now looking to deliver the new completed N7 boiler by late 2023 or early 2024 if finances are good enough. If this is a project that interests you, you can make a donation to the team to hopefully speed along the completion. This donation can be made at earm.co.uk