Other than the castings and some of the fittings, every component is cut, fabricated and machined in Charles’ workshop, including the boilers! Calling Charles a professional boiler maker would just be an insult. For one he doesn’t make a living from the boilers and locos he makes and they are done to such an exceptional standard, both to code and fabrication, that even the best professional would hang their head in shame. A master boiler maker is probably a more apt description. These boilers are of course rigorously tested, but what I find more important is they are monitored between steam-ups and properly looked after with the safety valves removed and a globe placed in the firebox to dry them out properly if they are to be left standing for some time (which is inevitable with so many locos).
One of Charles’ Dads locos (a 7¼ Schools class) is still in Charles’s care; he recently re-boiler’d the old girl. It has made a few appearances at the RSME, and is still a fine model after all these years.
If you like my video please subscribe.

свернуть