Legends of Steam™ - LOCOMOTIVE 3801

Express Passenger Locomotive 3801
— entered service in 1943 - now undergoing a full mechanical overhaul

For the First Time in 57 Years,
a new 38 Class Boiler Takes Shape

20 April 2010

On 24 October 1952, boiler No. 3825A successfully completed its hydraulic test at the Boiler Shop at Chullora Workshops. That moment signalled the completion of the last 38 Class boiler to be manufactured by the NSW Government Railways.

Half a world away and more than 57 years later, a new 38 Class boiler takes shape inside Dampflokwerk Meiningen, Germany.

Above and below: 3801’s emerging new boiler on the factory floor at Dampflokwerk Meiningen, Germany. These images and others marked * by Achim Decker.

Just like 3801’s old smokebox tubeplate, this new tubeplate has been bored with 36 large holes for the superheater flues and 142 small holes for the firetubes. However, the flanging design is new and much improved.*

The new firebox tubeplate.

The new foundation ring will be welded to the bottom of the firebox, providing a lower join between the inner and outer firebox.*

The following three images, are of pressed-steel components before they were placed in position on the emerging boiler assembly. In this page's top two images of the boiler, these components may be seen forming part of the overall assembly.

The pressed-steel outer firebox backhead: the ‘back wall’ of the boiler.*

The throatplate, ready to be welded to the leading, lower edge of the firebox, creating the space for the combustion chamber.*

The Belpaire ring will be welded to the leading top edge of the firebox — creates the interface between the round boiler barrel and the squared Belpaire firebox.*

The backhead or ‘rear wall’ of the inner firebox — a view of its inside surface. The firehole door has not yet been formed.*

The all-welded boiler barrel and firebox at an earlier stage of construction, before the fitting of the throatplate.

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