This page is intended to show Ruston Narrow gauge locos in preservation today and provide details of current restoration work.

NEW RESTORATION PROJECT

Here are the first photos of work being undertaken on 11/13 HP loco w/n 189972.

This loco originally worked for the Gillingham Pottery, Brick & Tile Co., Gillingham, Dorset and was acquired for preservation by Mr P. Briddon on 20th Feb 1971 to be used on the Wey Valley Railway at Farnham, Surrey. It later moved (1977) to the Bala Lake Railway in North Wales but saw little if any use here. It was here that work began to restore it but this does not seem to have progressed beyond dismantling the running gear and braking system. The loco was left out to rust, exposed to the elements for over 10 years (see photo left) until it was sold to  MRT member Brian Budd, and moved to the "restoration base" at Buxworth in April 2002.  Photo: Brian Budd.

The cab that was fitted was from a 10HP loco, never fitted properly and was corroded beyond repair so one of the first jobs was to remove and discard it. The cooling tank and fuel tank support / bulkhead were also found to be badly corroded but replacements have been located. The engine oil had turned to a thick sludge and this neccesitated the removal of the sump to remove it. The engine is incomplete and further investigations are required before the state of the crankshaft can be determined. If this is OK then the original engine will be rebuilt, if not it may be replaced.

IF YOU HAVE ANY RUSTON LOCO RESTORATION PROJECTS AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE PUBLISHED ON THESE PAGES THEN CONTACT:

ruston@mrt.org.uk