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Ruston moved into workshop for overhaul

DATE POSTED: 24 Mar 2024

Little Eva, our Ruston DS48 loco, is now safely resting on hardwood blocks in the workshop, after a very soggy move from the track to the workshop during a torrential cloudburst last Friday. Many thanks to Alan Wiffen, Phil Jacques, Steve Brown and Chad from Bascombes haulage for all their hard (soggy) work, getting the engine into the workshop.

Little Eva will have a major overhaul which will include:

*Draining the engine and gearboxes, removing the inspection plates and checking the engine for problems.

*Investigating and rectifying a problem on the gearbox which makes selecting the forward gear difficult.

*Fitting a vacuum pump, gauge, control lever and 2” steel piping to operate vacuum brakes on the brake van and any wagons pulled.

*Removing the wheels and sending them away to a firm in the Midlands, to have the wear grooves skimmed out and the wheels re-profiled. Once the wheels are refitted, new brake shoes will be fitted and the handbrake linkage will be greased and adjusted.

This work should enable the loco to legally haul passengers and be a backup for Ashdown. The loco will also have a complete paint job, from top to bottom.