Ruston Diesels

Hi Guys.




Just interested to know more about the two Ruston diesel shunters which are/were at Shillingstone. I know one was there early on and sold, and then another one was bought to replace it.

All I know is:

• Ruston & Hornsby 48DS class 4WD diesel-mechanical shunter, works No.305302

 

The first Ruston at Shillingstone, arriving in 2007, was an 88DS class works number 466629 of 1962. This moved on to the Whitwell & Reepham Railway in Norfolk in 2013.

305302 of 1951 arrived in 2015 and as far as I know is still at Shillingstone.

As a curious coincidence both were new to "Ransomes" company. 305302 was new to Ransome Hoffman Pollard, Annfield Plain, Durham, and 466629 was new to Ransomes Simms & Jeffries, Ipswich.

 

Hadn't realised the R.S. & J one had spent some time at Shillingstone. I saw it at Whitwell & Reepham a couple of weeks ago, but didn't realise it was the Ransomes loco until I was driving out of the site, when I noticed a red & white "Ransomes" 1970's name sticker appearing under the flaking black paint! (it was originally yellow at RS&J).
The engine was running and it was undergoing some attention by the look of it. Think it went direct to the NNR when it was first preserved.

 

Thanks guys! Anything else you can think of will be great.

This is 305302 in 2016 with an identity crisis!

 

Called in at Whitwell & eepham on Sunday and managed to get a nondescript photo of the former R.S.& J Ruston shunter mentioned in this thread....