Ruston, Proctor Portable Progress February 2012

Ruston, Proctor Portable Progress February 2012

Steam Engineer Stuart Hines was recently in Suffolk and called in to see progress on the rebuild of the Ruston, Proctor portable engine’s boiler currently underway at a contractor there.
Below:Trevor Wrench is working on the reassembly of the Ruston, Proctor Portable’s boiler, this view showing the new firebox side sheets (outer wrapper) bolted in place ready for a coded welder to come in and weld them to the existing upper wrapper. The new sheets are the pinky coloured parts in the photo below.
Below: This view, from the smokebox end, shows the absence of front tubeplate. You can also see the bolts, lower down on the barrel (shiny bits!) which run along the seam and have enabled the old rivets to be removed. This was originally to be a partial replacement but further inspection has resulted in the need to replace all of the seam rivets along the barrel length.

Below: The circular shape in the centre of this photo is the new front tubeplate, with pilot holes drilled ready for opening out to the tube diameter.

All of the longitudinal and firebox stays have been made and delivered and procurement of the new inner firebox is underway. After this the new smokebox will be produced, a new chimney made and repairs made to the forecarriage. Stuart will also be carrying out various jobs on the boiler, including fitting of new studs etc.