Jump to content
 

The Ruston 88DS class - a rivet counter's guide.


Recommended Posts

Yesterday I visited the Derwent Valley Light Railway to see the return to service of 88DS w/n 466630, which also had its nameplates Octavious Atkinson reinstated. The day was also celebrating 25 years of trains on Murton Park site in preservation. The 88DS had also run the first train there in 1992.

OA1.jpg.9ffa5782cbf572ec3d72f3344ad31a2e.jpg

 

OA2.jpg.9b55a4b12d42dec44e8400c3b390883b.jpg

 

OA3.jpg.d61f362daf2e8a5060b12b5821a669a3.jpg

 

 

Edited by Ruston
  • Like 9
Link to post
Share on other sites

Very shiny, but red buffers?

That's how this loco last worked in industry, so they decided to keep it like that and it also suits future plans to add lining and give it the identity of a British Railways-owned 88DS that worked for the Civil Engineer's Department at York. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/7112797453_4b2023a27a_b.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 8 months later...

236362 at Cornforth Limestone Company, 24/1/47,

CornforthRuston88.jpg.ba213dc042a057bb52b00d8b5f4af7aa.jpg

 

247287, 245034, 245037 and 236363 at the works of Babcock & Wilcox, boilermakers, Renfrew.

1578488088_BWRustons.jpg.e2444ecf9c0596fb4bb7ebb24c82aa7a.jpg

Edited by Ruston
  • Like 15
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
On 09/07/2019 at 21:08, Ruston said:

236362 at Cornforth Limestone Company, 24/1/47,

CornforthRuston88.jpg.fd59b962557d5e1dcb56d6de00c9dad4.jpg

 

 

 

Great photograph Ruston, there were still 2 Rustons here, locked in their shed, in the early 1980s...also a late surviving exNER diagram R5 coke hopper at the far end...

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
2 hours ago, Jack7812 said:

Update on the restoration of 408496 since my last post.
Of course with an, "I'm really pleased with this I'll have a photo with it"; photo. Here's to what could be a 2020 finish.

 

-Jack
467057280_72056275_2500231603401956_8882771797318041600_n(2).jpg.e3958f1dc987f12d16bae66e667281b1.jpg

73004006_2514180605340389_7824182248571142144_o (5).jpg

68578238_2399106420181142_4707671605415772160_n (1).jpg

Is there much to do regarding the mechanical bits?

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 25/12/2019 at 15:45, Ruston said:

Is there much to do regarding the mechanical bits?

A little bit but not as much as originally thought. At the moment I'm trying to source an under size bearing for it (40 thou). It will also get a new set of piston rings, a new head gasket, and new O-Ring oil seals. Other than that it's a good block. It's not far off. I'm always after any support or information on the history of the loco itself, or any contacts for mechanical bits.

-Jack

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

This is a great resource for modelling the 88DS - many thanks for collating all these photos and links.

I could almost justify an 88DS for my MSC theme - 299100 of 1950 worked at Lancashire Tar Distillers in Cadishead in my period of interest, and I'm planning to model several of their tank wagons.

I have come across just one photo of it.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

Really interesting thread. I’ve had a soft spot for 48 and 88 DS Rustons for many years; always being very taken with the immaculate red 88 DS at Hilsea gasworks in the early 1980s. 
 

I’ve just purchased and part built the excellent Bowater Models gauge 1 88DS loco kit. The kit is in laser cut resin sheet. Was a joy to build. Efforts so far are in the attached photos. I plan to finish the motorised chassis (whole lot purchased from Bowater models giving change from 140 pounds). Usual disclaimer applies; I’m not linked to Bowaters Models - just a delighted customer. https://shop.bowatersmodels.co.uk/collections/motive-power/products/1-32-scale-ruston-88ds   
 

Further detailing of my loco; beyond what’s in the kit; to occur - Notably hand rail fitment. The prototype pictures posted on here are an absolute blessing - much appreciated 

 

Paul 

D44DDC20-92ED-44CA-9E48-D1BDF28BBE45.jpeg

7E9D912A-B365-47C0-B15B-2EF8FBD1B98E.jpeg

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 05/01/2021 at 12:14, 69843 said:

Over two years on and still nothing in the shops. If and when we do see these models I expect there to be some more interest in this topic and although it hasn't had the same level of interest as the 48DS equivalent, I'm sure it will gain more of a following and so the photos have now been reinstated. As with the 88DS 'guide', I would like to ask contributors to edit their posts and reinstate photos, where possible.

 

This topic is so old that the 4mm version of the Judith Edge kit wasn't available when I started it!

88ds-020.jpg.f5b883c5c241d3445257b1e7388bae4b.jpg

@pauliebangerany news on the sound front?

 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for doing this - a great resource, especially because I'd like to scratchbuild one. I might as well add a picture of my own, though it has appeared before on another thread. This is at    T. W. Ward, Silvertown, London, in September of 1986. I think it might be 398611/1957.

 

1393367622_IMG_20200108_0003-Copy.jpg.ec990d9c90643437172c559c3475f3e0.jpg

  • Like 6
Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Ruston said:

What scale? Presumably not 4mm or 7mm.

Yes - 4mm/EM. I know there's not much sense with a kit available but it seemed a simple job and I have some bits I wanted to use - etched R/H plates, some nice etched louvres from Plano, and a set of spur gears. Perhaps it will come to nothing! The kit is actually good value considering it comes with wheels/motor/gears - hmmm.

 

By the way - do you know when they changed to 'Ruston' plates instead of a painted logo? If after 1947 I oughtn't to use them anyway.

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Barclay said:

By the way - do you know when they changed to 'Ruston' plates instead of a painted logo? If after 1947 I oughtn't to use them anyway.

It seems that they continued to use the painted version up until 1947. I don't know exactly when it changed but certainly by 1949.

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

This one's an oddity that I've never seen before. The caption says that it's unidentified, but if it was taken in 1952 at Bristol Canon's Marsh gasworks then it has to be W/n321731 of that year. It looks very new in the photo, which makes me think that cab is original. I can't think why that odd cab would be specified though.

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/08/28/tbt-another-ruston-at-canons-marsh/#jp-carousel-781

Link to post
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Ruston said:

This one's an oddity that I've never seen before. The caption says that it's unidentified, but if it was taken in 1952 at Bristol Canon's Marsh gasworks then it has to be W/n321731 of that year. It looks very new in the photo, which makes me think that cab is original. I can't think why that odd cab would be specified though.

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/08/28/tbt-another-ruston-at-canons-marsh/#jp-carousel-781

Intriguingly, 321733 of the same batch also has a low-height cab, but in a different style!

Tonks p113 for a pic.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...