The gas filler valve on the fuel tank of loco No.118 failed during fueling on Friday 21st April 2023. The loco had to be taken out of traffic immediately and was replaced by loco No.B438 to run the service.
On inspection of the failed valve at Low End Works it was discovered that the filler valve sprung nozzle had been pushed right through the bottom of the valve body causing all the butane in the tank to escape through the top of the damaged valve to atmosphere. The valve spring is seated inside a brass ferrule in the bottom of the valve body and this had broken, the fractured parts falling into the bottom of the fuel tank.
It was decided to completely replace the fuel tank with a new Type A upright cylindrical fuel tank and gas regulator from Roundhouse Engineering in Doncaster.
While awaiting delivery loco No.118 has been temporarily fitted with at Bix fuel tank borrowed from loco Boy Roger, together with a Roundhouse No.20 gas jet nozzle.
This has been proved to be successful although the tank has to be topped up before running the loco after steam has been raised.
