|
| In the 1960s the locomotive shown below worked the Ball clay trains around the Norden Complex | |
|
|
392117 was built at the Ruston & Hornsby works at Lincoln in 1956 and it is a 48DL class, which is a 48hp 0-4-0 compression ignition engined loco, with a four cylinder Ruston engine, driving both axles by a chain drive via a three-speed gearbox. Upon completion, the locomotive was sent- with several others – to work on the building of the new tunnels at Hadley Wood on the ECML, when the line was being quadrupled. At the end of this contract, 392117 was moved to the Ball clay works at Norden, where it worked until it was preserved in the early 1970’s, along with Orenstein & Kopple 20777, at the then Hampshire Narrow Gauge Society’s base at Durley near Bishop’s Waltham. At some point in the locomotive’s career at Norden, the exhaust arrangement was altered. The four exhaust pipes originally combined together into a manifold before existing through the side of the engine compartment to a vertical silencer. However the exhaust pipes were modified, with the use of some brass tubes from one of the steam locos at Norden, to extend through the top of the engine compartment to give this Ruston a unique appearance. The loco was purchased by a Swanage Railway Fireman (Dave Knott) in 1992 and was moved to the Old Kiln Light Railway, near Farnham. Richard Bentley purchased it from Dave Knott in 1999 and it still remains at the Old Kiln Light Railway and is not for sale. |
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
| One of our keen
eyed supporters spotted an advert for a similar locomotive for sale. (It
was known as "Snapper" on the Lynton & Barnstable
Railway). Knowing the reliability of these type of locomotive and the appropriateness
of having one of them back at Norden, a trip to have a look at the
locomotive was arranged. The trip established that with an overhaul this
locomotive was ideal. A deposit was left and efforts to find the remaining
amount commenced. This has been achieved with a mixture of donations and
short term loans.
The locomotive we have purchased is a Ruston and Hornsby 48DL number 283871, built at the Boultham Works in Lincoln in late 1949, part of lot number 16, it has the original VRH 4 cylinder 48 horsepower engine fitted and is one of 1127 locomotives in its class. The locomotive worked for a number of years at Sturry Quarry, near Canterbury for Brett Gravel Co. and was numbered No. 9 in their fleet, she was disposed of by 1989 and acquired by Charles Summers for the fledgling Lynton & Barnstable revival group. The locomotive became surplus to the Lynton & Barnstable group and has been bought by the PMMM group and moved to Dorset and to the Transport Depot of ever generous John Weaver, whose engineers have completed a removal of the pistons (the locomotive had been running on one cylinder out of four) and has carried out all other necessary work to reach full running condition. The locomotive has been steam cleaned underneath. The piston and rings were removed -nearly all of the rings were stuck in and one scraper ring broken. The fuel pump was removed and was sent round to Poole Diesels for testing along with the injectors. Two of the injectors were not working due to being gummed up and one of the helixes on the pump was seized up. This is the reason why the engine was only running on one cylinder. When the engine overhauled last, it appears that they changed only one piston liner. When the bores were honed out (3rd January), i.e. cleaned the carbon off it was noticed that the three remaining liners were badly pitted. The preferred solution to the problem was replace the liners with new ones and fit new pistons. The engine has now been reassembled. (The re-conditioned heads have been re-valved and new cylinder liners fitted. The sump has been cleaned of sand and sludge (Its previous life had included working in a sand pit!)). The refurbished pump and injectors have been returned. The engine is now running well when warm but one cylinder likes to misfire when cold. The drive chains were tightened and drained the axle boxes, not a lot of oil in them! The felt pads and the springs beneath them are in good condition, so the axle boxes were filled with new oil. The loco has now been moved to Purbeck as John Weaver Transport has moved from Fleetsbridge to Horton Heath. It still has to be painted and readied for its future life at Norden. |
|
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
| Now the loans will have to be
paid back and an further amount will be required to cover the final overhaul
costs of the locomotive before the locomotive starts work at Norden.
(We also have to build the locomotive shed at Norden to house the Ruston!).
We therefore ask you to still consider helping us by making a donation large or small to the Museum Group for this purpose. The appeal has be generously supported and raised over £10,000. We would thank you for your help. Now as well as building an Engine shed,we need to purchase some rail on which to run it. The rail we had in stock is mainly lightweight 20lbs and will be used "underground". We are looking to run "above ground" on 35lb rail. Unfortunately the cost of scrap carbon steel has soared recently and a very rough estimate of the total cost of second-hand rail for phase 1 of the rail is £25,000 to purchase. So please continue to support our appeal and what is not required for the restoration of the Ruston will be used for track for it to run on and construction of the ENgine shed. We have managed to secure a stock of rail for the initial layout, but this has to still be paid for. (see photo below) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
| Please download this form, print out and complete. Then send to the address shown along with your donation | |
 23rd December 2006 Photo copyright Andrew PM Wright |
|
