Ruston Steam Shovel (Ruston No 10 Navvy Crane, number 1031)
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Manufactured in Lincoln, England, by Ruston Engineering co (Ruston and Hornsby Ltd)
The Shovel was purchased by the Gisborne Harbour Board, on the 21st January 1926, from John Burns and Co, Lichfield street, Christchurch. The unit was then on-sold to the Oamaru Harbour board, who in turn sold it to the Otago Harbour board in 1958 for the sum of £800-0-0 (NZ).
The machine saw service at the Aramoana quarry until taken out of service. Remaining on site, and open to the weather and to vandalism, the unit deteriorated until gifted by Port Otago, to the Otago Settlers museum in 1997. With OSM lacking suitable restoration and display location, the machine was relocated to the Dunedin Gasworks museum. Here a small group of volunteers returned the machine to steam and for a short time it was occasionally displayed, in operation, on vacant land adjacent to the museum. In more recent years, with the boiler unable to gain an operating certificate the machine has been a static display only.
A 2012 initiative to regain a operating certificate has been somewhat thwarted by an indicated reluctance of authorities to issue certificates for heritage, especially vertical, boilers. With this knowledge, and limited volunteer resource availability, along with other higher priorities, the restoration project is currently on hold.
Photos by John,
Scanned images by John from documents by Bob Bradshaw.
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The Shovel was purchased by the Gisborne Harbour Board, on the 21st January 1926, from John Burns and Co, Lichfield street, Christchurch. The unit was then on-sold to the Oamaru Harbour board, who in turn sold it to the Otago Harbour board in 1958 for the sum of £800-0-0 (NZ).
The machine saw service at the Aramoana quarry until taken out of service. Remaining on site, and open to the weather and to vandalism, the unit deteriorated until gifted by Port Otago, to the Otago Settlers museum in 1997. With OSM lacking suitable restoration and display location, the machine was relocated to the Dunedin Gasworks museum. Here a small group of volunteers returned the machine to steam and for a short time it was occasionally displayed, in operation, on vacant land adjacent to the museum. In more recent years, with the boiler unable to gain an operating certificate the machine has been a static display only.
A 2012 initiative to regain a operating certificate has been somewhat thwarted by an indicated reluctance of authorities to issue certificates for heritage, especially vertical, boilers. With this knowledge, and limited volunteer resource availability, along with other higher priorities, the restoration project is currently on hold.
Photos by John,
Scanned images by John from documents by Bob Bradshaw.
Scroll down for more
At Aramoana 1997.
Without the subsequent TLC lavished on the machine, it could have expected a very limited life span.
Relocation Day 1997
A small group of volunteers, with valuable assistance from Fulton Hogan heavy haul equipment, broke the shovel down into manageable sized pieces and transported it to the Gas works Museum
A small group of volunteers, with valuable assistance from Fulton Hogan heavy haul equipment, broke the shovel down into manageable sized pieces and transported it to the Gas works Museum
Arrival at the Gas works Museum
Subsequent action
Boiler inspection, Showing off with classic cars, Wire rope replacement (2012)
Boiler inspection, Showing off with classic cars, Wire rope replacement (2012)
The Lincoln Imp is the symbol of the City of Lincoln the county town of Lincolnshire, England
The Lincoln Imp is well known in Europe, but lesser so this side of the world. Various origins of the imp can be found with an internet search, and further explanation is not relevant on this site. However what is relevant is the museum link with the Imp, and here he is – lurking on the back of the Ruston face shovel. Widely used as a mascot by several Lincoln city entities, our fellow comes from the Ruston Engineering company.
The Lincoln Imp is well known in Europe, but lesser so this side of the world. Various origins of the imp can be found with an internet search, and further explanation is not relevant on this site. However what is relevant is the museum link with the Imp, and here he is – lurking on the back of the Ruston face shovel. Widely used as a mascot by several Lincoln city entities, our fellow comes from the Ruston Engineering company.
Supporting documentation
Slide show (pause to read)
Slide show (pause to read)