Anyone who has travelled on a steam -hauled main line charter in recent times will no doubt have noticed the relatively high price of tickets compared with a standard diesel-hauled charter. Steaming fees for main line locomotives are at an all-time high, principally due to the sheer cost of heavy overhauls. What is it about these that costs so much? Well, steam locos are not cheap to maintain... While every locomotive is different, we have taken the recent overhaul of a main line Pacific to show how one that is retired in good order will still cost a substantial sum before it is deemed fit to return to traffic. The single most expensive item that will always require extensive repairs during a heavy overhaul is the boiler. On most overhauls to date these have required lifting from the frames, but a recent change in inspection policy means that this may not be required in many cases in future; examination can normally be carried out from the inside of the vessel once the tubes have been removed, and as long as there is not excessive corrosion in otherwise inaccessible places the boiler can remain in situ.
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