Wab794 Restoration Progress - 2008 Brick Arch & Boiler Repairs

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This year, Wab 794 is being hired by Tranz Scenic to haul the Overlander Services between Feilding and Taihape. This year will be the fourth year that the Wab has been put into service since its first run in August 2005.

WAB 794 has recommenced its Overlander duties once again and has been going very well, until its run on the 4th June, when it suffered a brick arch hernia going through Hunterville, which resulted in a major lack of energy. But thanks to cousin DC, it was able, with a lot of assistance, to reach Taihape only a few minutes late.

At Taihape the crew did a marvelous bit of emergency surgery, removing the offending debris from the stomach (removing the bricks from the fire), and it was able to resume its return journey with out much trouble, but of course its mainly downhill.

It is now undergoing brick arch replacement, plus a clean up of its varicose veins and arteries (boiler work), after which it will be inspected by the R.ME.OF. (Railway Medical Officer) and hopefully given a clean bill of health, so it too can make a big impression at the Labour Weekend Celebrations.

Taking the Wab’s place at the head of the Overlander for the 28th of June run to Taihape is Ian Welch’s oil burning J 1211.

	The brick arch has fallen down.
	Craig opening the blown down to empty the boiler.
	Craig opening the smoke box door to remove ash and plugs in the front tube plate.
	Rochelle removing the ash.
	Emptying the ash pan.
	Washing the boiler out.
	Removing more plugs.
	Removing more plugs in the cab.
	Boys from East Steel working on the inner fire box raper.
	Grinding the stays to be re-welded.
	Inside boiler showing stays that have been ground and are ready for welding.
	Ivan from East Steel.

Thanks to Rupert for the above article.
Photos kindly supplied by Craig and Rochelle Moore.

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