Author Topic: Waverley re-boilering 2020  (Read 5725 times)

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Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #15 on: Apr 06, 2020, 10:11 AM »
This is a little bit back to front but here is the latest update from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society which covers the works carried out during the vessel's recent drydocking which happened prior to the new boilers being installed last week.

Some good photos in this one!

Waverley Drydock Update

Gav

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #16 on: Aug 04, 2020, 01:51 PM »
Hi Folks,

Its been quite a few months since there was an update on progress posted here.
Obviously the lock down restrictions have played a part in delaying progress on Waverley's re-boilering.

The previous updates covered the replacement of the generators and boilers - mid June is was time for those iconic funnels to be reinstated.

As is always the case when something significant happens to Waverley there was someone on hand to capture the event or in this case events!

James Watt Dock resident Colin Leck took these shots from his balcony on 17th & 19th June respectively.

As an aside - when Waverley was built she had a double ended Scotch boiler - which meant that there were furnaces at both ends which needed exhausts (or flues) at both ends also. That is why she had two funnels as built. When she was reboilered in 1981 the new Babcock unit was only single ended therefore only exhausted up one funnel (fwd) the same applies when she was reboilered with two units in 2000 and now in 2020. In both cases the boilers exhausted via the fwd funnel.
Her aft funnel contains the exhausts from her diesel driven generator sets. When she was refurbished in 2000 two new generators were fitted - these were replaced during this recent refit and a third was added for redundancy. In addition to this the new generator system allows generators to start and stop when demand dictates (called paralleling) which requires a controller to ensure that the generator frequencies are matched before the additional unit is introduced to the supply otherwise all sort of issues will arise with the electrical equipment on board!
Finally - as stated above the rearmost part of the aft funnel fiddly casing contains the bunkering station which allows her to take on fuel. The rest of the space is used for storage. The fwd fiddly casing is all used for storage - both are accessed via a hatch on top of the casing.

Photos:
17th June 2020.
(1) Shows Aft funnel lying on the quayside - tarpaulin removed ready for lifting. Fwd funnel can be seen just behind her port lifeboat - still under wraps.
(2) Aft funnel slung from crane and lifted from the quayside - - note that the fiddly casing (the brown structure at the base of the funnel) is still attached. This ensures that when the funnel is reattached to the deck it retains the correct rake. This casing also contains the bunkering station which is accessed via two small doors on the rearmost face.
(3) Aft funnel being lowered into position where after careful measurement it was promptly welded to the new steel deck - installed above the boilers.

19th June 2020
(5) Waverley's fwd funnel and fiddly casing is lifted from the quayside.
(6) About to be lowered into position on board.
(7) Almost there - again after careful positioning the funnel and casing assembly were welded in place on the deck.
(8 ) Now that looks more like "Oor Lass" now!!  :)

(All photos are copyright Colin Leck Photography)
Gav
« Last Edit: Aug 04, 2020, 02:34 PM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #17 on: Aug 04, 2020, 01:58 PM »
Whilst down in Dales yard Friday past fitting a solar panel, controller and float switch to The Second Snark's bilge pump set up there was much activity on board Waverley.

At one point we heard that old familiar sound of paddles beating the waters of the James Watt Dock. We went on deck to see wash exiting from her paddleboxes as she undertook alongside engine trials.
She was alive once again!!

This video was taken on board during this milestone occasion: She Lives!!!

The Waverley Excursions post on Facebook says there is still significant work to be completed before the ship will undertake sea trials however this video captures the moment that Waverley's wheels turned under steam for the first time since October 2018!!

Clydebuilt and proud

Gav
« Last Edit: Aug 04, 2020, 02:33 PM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Online Thomas Hypher

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Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #18 on: Aug 04, 2020, 02:46 PM »
Great to see Waverley under her own power again, the video from within her paddle box is wonderful!
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #19 on: Aug 04, 2020, 03:31 PM »
Great to see Waverley under her own power again, the video from within her paddle box is wonderful!

When I was a volunteer on her we used to do the "light" runs (ie minimum crew) from her base in Glasgow to Drydock at Greenock pre-season and they would run her down river with the paddle box doors open. These doors are obviously dogged closed during normal running but at the relatively slow speeds required in the upper river they would open them.

Watching these big wheels rotating slowly was amazing plus it gave you a chance to watch the feathering gear at work - making sure that the leading edge of each float entered the water at the correct angle. A brilliant piece of Victorian thinking at work! (Mind you the whole ship is just that!!)

Here is a video of a model version of a wheel similar to Waverley's which demonstrates the feathering gear really well. Basically 1 float is fixed to provide a datum for the other 7 which pivot via rods connected to an eccentric hub (nicknamed the start centre due to the fact all of the rods connect to it) positioned just in front of the wheel's hub. The distance between to two hubs determines the angle of entry of the float.

Feathering Paddle Wheel



Anyway - I digress!!
I've attached a copy of Waverley's wheel drawing in case it is of interest!

« Last Edit: Aug 05, 2020, 06:26 PM by Rob Lightbody »

Online Thomas Hypher

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Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #20 on: Aug 04, 2020, 03:41 PM »
When I was a volunteer on her we used to do the "light" runs (ie minimum crew) from her base in Glasgow to Drydock at Greenock pre-season and they would run her down river with the paddle box doors open. These doors are obviously dogged closed during normal running but at the relatively slow speeds required in the upper river they would open them.

Watching these big wheels rotating slowly was amazing plus it gave you a chance to watch the feathering gear at work - making sure that the leading edge of each float entered the water at the correct angle. A brilliant piece of Victorian thinking at work! (Mind you the whole ship is just that!!)

Here is a video of a model version of a wheel similar to Waverley's which demonstrates the feathering gear really well. Basically 1 float is fixed to provide a datum for the other 7 which pivot via rods connected to an eccentric hub (nicknamed the start centre due to the fact all of the rods connect to it) positioned just in front of the wheel's hub. The distance between to two hubs determines the angle of entry of the float.

Feathering Paddle Wheel

Anyway - I digress!!
I've attached a copy of Waverley's wheel drawing in case it is of interest!

Wonderful! The technical side is great to hear/read about and see!
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

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Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #21 on: Aug 05, 2020, 01:47 AM »
Many thanks, Gav, for the great and very encouraging update ! The photos are spectacular ! And the two videos are great ! I love the sound in Waverley's video, and the model does indeed show how the feathering gear works !  :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #22 on: Aug 05, 2020, 08:30 AM »
Wonderful! The technical side is great to hear/read about and see!

Thanks Thomas and June,

So next time you hear Waverley paddling past you will know why one of the eight paddle beats sounds different! This is No 1 float which doesnt feather as it provides the datum angle for the other 7.

G
« Last Edit: Aug 06, 2020, 01:03 PM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #23 on: Aug 05, 2020, 09:48 AM »
Thanks for the update, Gav.  Colin Leck's photos of the funnels being lifted onto Waverley are excellent pictures.  Good to learn a little about the technical side of the paddles. 

I was proud to be involved with planning QE2's 50 year conference in September 2017 in Clydebank

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #24 on: Aug 11, 2020, 01:12 PM »
On Friday 7th August Waverley left Dales Marine's wet dock in the James Watt Dock, Greenock and was towed the short distance to Custom House Quay where she is currently berthed waiting to undertake sea trials.

Although her boilers are in steam she is not yet permitted to sail under her own power until Flag (MCA) and Class (Lloyds) have passed her as fit to re-enter service.

From what I have experienced with The Second Snark to date the MCA usually defer any hull and machinery works to Class which means it will be predominantly Lloyds which will pass her as fit to sail however MCA will require to re-issue her passenger certificate based on the output from Lloyds which will ultimately allow her to re-enter service.

There is a faint hope that she may undertake some Clyde sailings in September / October but this is still subject to review based on successful completion of sea trials and of course being able to comply with the current COVID-19 guidelines.

But regardless - she is back with us again!!

Gav

Some photos below (credits against each one)

(1) Waverley leaving her home for the previous six months (Paul Semple)
(2) Turning her in the main channel at Garvel Bend - Clyde Marine tugs Biter on the bow and Battler on the stern  (Colin Leck)
(3) Facing the right way now! (Colin Leck)
(4) En route to Custom House Quay (Colin Leck)
(5) Sunrise shot at Custom House Quay 8th August (Rita McKenna)


Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #25 on: Aug 11, 2020, 02:26 PM »
I have been given permission from Waverley Excursions MD Paul Semple (those who were on the tour we were given of Waverley in May 2019 will remember Paul I am sure) to post these photos taken inside Waverley's Boiler Room.

All photos are copyright Waverley Excursions and cannot be reproduced without their permission.

As I hope you agree the standard of workmanship on this refit is very high and sets the paddler up for another 20+yrs in steam!!

Thank you to Paul for his kind permission to post.

(1) Burner end of both boilers taken from Starboard side. The firing system is by Cochran - the previous systems were by Hamworthy however I am reliably informed that Cochran bought Hamworthy a number of years ago so these are actually modern versions of what was installed in 2000 (behind the blue circular covers on each boiler)
(2) View of boilers from the port side - note the white spindles coming from above at an angle? These are extension spindles which allow certain valves to be closed from above in an emergency (ie to prevent requiring access to the lower deck to do it)
(3) View down side of Starboard boiler - two of the three new generators installed during this refit are in view (yellow equipment) and I think what looks like the oily water separator down at the end (blue equipment) - Apart from the generator closest to shot the area down the side of this boiler in the old installation was taken up by the sewage handing plant which has now been moved to the port side to even up the weight distribution due to the additional generator. The thing I notice the most from my time on the ship is how bright the lighting is now. It was a tad dark in there before!!
(4) A view of one of the new main generators located on the starboard side.
(5) A view of the port side main generator.
(6) A view from the aft end of the upper level of the boiler room - I recall we were taken through there during our tour. Looks a bit different now!!

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Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #26 on: Aug 11, 2020, 08:01 PM »
Thanks, Gav, for the update and the photos ! She looks marvelous ! I do hope she can get in some excursions before Winter !  :)
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #27 on: Aug 14, 2020, 10:53 AM »
Waverley undertook her first sea trials yesterday (13.08.2020) - the first time in 22 months she has sailed under her own steam.
This represents the final stage of this huge task and when complete she will be issued with a passenger certificate which allows her to carry paying passengers for the first time since October 2018.
I have heard rumours of doing a short Clyde season consisting of 3 short sailings per day from maybe Largs or Greenock which would maximise the foot fall to make it viable but as yet no official announcement from the operating company - guessing they want that pax certificate signed off first!

She couldnt have picked a better day to go out for a paddle - the weather up here was excellent!

Here are some photos of her taken from the drone of John Huggins.
I particularly like the one which shows her wake trailing way behind her. Shows how tricky she can be to hold in a straight line too :)

Welcome back old girl - have to admit at one point I was very worried that we wouldnt get this sight again!

Gav

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #28 on: Aug 14, 2020, 11:07 AM »
Here is a YouTube video taken yesterday as Waverley departed from Custom House Quay, Greenock under her own power for the first time since October 2018.



Make sure the volume is up!!

Gav
« Last Edit: Mar 04, 2021, 11:47 AM by Rob Lightbody »

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Re: Waverley re-boilering 2020
« Reply #29 on: Aug 14, 2020, 03:03 PM »
Here is a YouTube video taken yesterday as Waverley departed from Custom House Quay, Greenock under her own power for the first time since October 2018.

ps Waverley departing CHQ 13082020

Make sure the volume is up!!

Gav

Fabulous

I'm going to make this the only piece of news from 2020 that I remember!!!
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.