CNR 6167 Water Treatment Instructions Circa 1962

This telegram recently appeared in my inbox, courtesy of Grant Kingsland. It gives instructions on a boiler water treatment intended to stop the spread of corrosion and pitting discovered inside 6167's boiler during a recent inspection as part of the process to obtain a one-year extension on 6167's boiler tube time. According to other records in my collection, 6167 was due to be retubed on October 1, 1962. Fortunately the CNR was eventually able to obtain two one-year extensions on her tube time allowing 6167 to run until the fall of 1964.

On a personal note, Grant adds that he got to know W.R. (Ross) Chalmers quite well during the '70's when he was General Shop Foreman at Spadina Roundhouse.

(COPY)

Toronto, Ontario, Sept.14, 1962.
File 6610

Locomotive No. 6167

Mr. R. M. Veenis - Toronto

The recent inspection of the boiler internals of Eng. 6167, made in accordance with our request of the B.T.C. for an extension of time, disclosed an active pitting condition on the tubes and firebox surfaces. This pitting condition is also present in the superheater as evidenced by the necessity to change out three units that were pitted through and found leaking under hydrostatic test.

Inasmuch as it is the desire to keep this locomotive in service to the limit of available time extensions it will be necessary to make an effort to arrest this pitting condition. To effect this we propose that the boiler be put under wet storage when out of service for periods longer than one week, using catalyzed sodium sulphite and caustic soda as for chemical treatment. The application of chemical may be accomplished as follows:

When going into storage and before the fire is drawn:
with the tender tank about 1/4 full of water (3,000 gals.), and with about two inches of water in the boiler glass, add 30 lbs. of caustic soda and 16 lbs. of sodium sulphite to the tender tank (make a slurry of the chemicals, taking the necessary precautions for handling). Using the locomotive feed pump, fill the boiler to top of the gauge glass. Then draw the fire.

After the fire has been drawn:
Using the injector, fill boiler until the injector breaks, then let boiler stand until the remaining steam pressure dies.

With no steam pressure on the boiler:
apply the locomotive brake using shop air, couple water hose to front boiler cooling valve; with engine relief valves and cylinder cooks open, open the throttle partly and turn on water, - let water run until a good flow is seen at the cylinder cocks. Turn water off and close the throttle.

It is important that the boiler be kept full to the cooling valve when charged with chemical in this manner and this can be controlled by leaving the water hose coupled and making a daily check by turning the water on until it flows out of the back cooling valve.

The treatment concentration must also be checked periodically (once weekly) to ensure that the alkalinity of the solution is maintained at 400 PPM and the residual sulphite content at a minimum of 100 PPM. This control will be arranged for with our boiler inspectors.

When the boiler is steamed up for return to service after being stored in this manner, the rate of blow-down should be high initially and when the engine has been spotted at a location favourable to blowing down, several glasses of water should be blown out. This of course refers to main blow-down valve operation.

Caustic soda is, we believe, a stock item in the Stores Dept. All that is necessary is to ensure a sufficient quantity on-hand, say 200 lbs.

Would suggest that a supply of 200 lbs. sodium sulphite be kept on hand and this can be requisitioned as follows:

200 lbs.	Alchem Formula 19 catalyzed
	sodium sulphite, pulverized

	as supplied by Alchem Ltd., Burlington, Ont.

Sgd. W.D. Piggott
Gen. Supt. Equipment
W.J.T.

The front cooling valve is incorperated into the boiler check valve and is located just behind the front tube sheet. Notice the missing bolt on the right check valve cage...

From left to right: Rear Cooling Valve, NALCo Continous Blowdown Valve, Safety Valves. Although the rear cooling valve appears to be located halfway along the boiler, it is actually just ahead of the rear tube sheet as 6167 is equipped with a combustion chamber in the firebox.