PEARL Kit Stages 3 & 4
Stage 3 which comprises the boiler, grate, smokebox saddle etc. was shipped to Miami the same as the first two stages. I collected them In October 1996 and had no problems with Jamaican Customs this time as it obviously a hot water heater and they found that in their code book OK.
This stage includes the chimney, but I had ordered the optional brass capped chimney, and that was back ordered, and as I had plenty to do on the gauge 1 engines the boiler was put under the bench to wait until I got enough money together to buy stage 4. There is not a lot of work to do stage three, just mount the boiler to the frames basically, so I decided to wait.
I traveled to England in August 1997 and decided to pick up the last stage while I was there. It would also be an opportunity to visit Maxitrak. So I faxed my order ahead of time and sure enough it was all waiting for me at their office when I turned up. Only the optional injector kit was back ordered, but the brass capped chimney from stage 3 was there.
George, a very pleasant young lady who runs the office there, helped me pack everything into a box and then gave me a lift to the station to get the train back to where I was staying in London. There, I distributed the various bits and pieces about my luggage ready for my trip home. The fun started when I checked in at the American Airlines desk. They X-ray your checked baggage right at the counter. Well the girl gave me a funny look, and in the most polite British manner said, "Mr. Manison, there are some items in your bags that our security officer cannot identify on the X-ray. We are going to have to ask you to accompany him to that room over there and open your bags for inspection." Actually I'd guessed the bits would cause a stir and made sure I arrived early to check in. Anyway we opened that bags and once he realized what the bits were we got into quite a discussion on the lives steam hobby. So that was OK.
My flight back included an overnight layover in New York. Security in NY couldn't care less about what was in the bags, but they did charge me overweight, which did not happen in England. I guess that indicates the different priorities! In Jamaica I just walked through customs. No problem there. So now to unpack and describe what you get.
KEY DESCRIPTION 1 Boiler (complete) 2 Grate 3 Ashpan 4 Grate support bar 5 Grate support bracket 6 Smokebox door (complete and hinged) 7 Brass capped chimney 8 2 boiler mounting brackets 9 Saddle 10 Ash deflector 11 Firebox door and mounting brackets 12 Pack of nuts and bolts 13 SteamPipe
Stage four is the stage with all the "goodies" such as the boiler fittings, pumps, pressure and water gauges and all the cab parts. It consists of:
KEY DESCRIPTION 1 Cab roof panel 2 Tank casting 3 Insulating material 4 Tank lid 5 Tank filler lid 6 Bunkers 7 Bunker backs
KEY DESCRIPTION 8 Footpale castings (RH & LH) 9 Rear Footplate 10 Cab front panel and supports 11 Rear Cab Supports 12 Bolts and Nuts 13 Sandboxes (optional extras) 14 Brass dome (optional extra)
KEY DESCRIPTION 15 Hand brake stand 16 Firing shovel 17 Firing poker 18 Water valve extension rod 19 Front stays 20 Sanding gear rodding 21 More nuts and bolts 22 Cylinder drain lever 23 3 Boiler bands
KEY DESCRIPTION 24 Crosshead feed pump 25 Manual feed pump 26 Feed pump handle 27 Mechanical lubricator and accessories 28 2 Safety valves 29 Blower pipe 30 Manifold and Regulator (Throttle) 31 Copper Washers 32 Whistle 33 Water gauge and spare glass 34 Steam Pressure gauge 35 Large check valve 36 Whistle valve 37 Small check valve 38 Water valve 39 Blowdown valve 40 Blower valve
The final picture shows the pre-formed copper pipes that will be used to
fix up all the plumbing on the engine. Also you can see the name and
builders plates on the right. Not shown are the boiler certificate, that
ships with stage three and a Maxitrak badge, which is already adorning my
FLS cap! I also purchased an electric blower for raising steam from cold
and a liter of steam oil, as that is unobtainable here in Jamaica.
So with all the parts now on hand I have no excuses for not getting on with it! Look for stage 3 progress soon.
ON TO BUILDING STAGE 3
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