In article ,
Clive wrote:

In message
, Sam
Wilson writes
I remember being told about a fusible plug coming away on a preserved
Black 5 on the S&C some years ago. IIRC correctly the plug had been
cross-threaded and no one noticed. The loco wasn't fitted with a
rocking grate and I was told the crew had to shovel the fire out through
the cab rather than just being able to drop it.
The usual way to drop a fire is by removing about six bars of the grate
and scraping the entire fire into it. Fire-droppers had a special
hooked fire iron to whip out the bars with and could drop a complete
fire in a matter of minutes. You couldn't shovel out a fire as a fire
iron is of no use towards the firehole doors and a standard shovel would
just catch fire if you attempted to remove burning coals with it.

Interesting. I'm only reporting what I heard from a colleague who knew
the crew. I can't find a report of the incident.

Sam