Sydney Ferry steam engines

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

I am a tyro timidly looking at the deep end of the hobby but nevertheless have a set of castings for the OB Bolton triple. I have a set of drawings and copies of JP Bertinat's details from 1986.

OBB was an optician in Sydney and the drawings state that the engine represents the power plant of Kuttabul, a 1920 ish double ended ferry sunk by the Japs ( who had aimed for the USS Chicago) during the midget sub fiasco.

The K class ferries were still about in the 1980s when I caught them to school- albeit with Diesel engines refitted

The unusual feature was that the engineers station was on main deck level with the tops of the cylinders visible at his feet ( and wafts of diesel/ bilge/ oil / paint fumes wafting up from the depths. A balustrade divided the passenger space off from the control station.

the ferry was designed to go either way with equal facility ( perhaps explaining the symetrical valve gear on the model). The main steam valve wheel is uppermost for access for the engineer. The full scale reversing gear was a lever but the model has a more typical wheel at a lower level.

i have found a photo of a K class engineer at his controls and he had 3 levers- can anyone tell me what the other two might have done?

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Can we see the photo please? Sounds like an interesting model

Chris

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Simpling valve and draincocks ?

MikeW

Edited By MICHAEL WILLIAMS on 05/03/2014 12:28:10

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Mike – would agree, that seems a likely explanation, only other thought was did it have a variable pitch propellor? Or did one lever reverse the propellor pitch, the boat was designed to go both ways, or were there two propellers, one at each end, and one lever swapped the engagement over from one prop to the other dependant on which way the boat was required to go?

Chris

Edited By ChrisH on 05/03/2014 14:16:56

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

The ferries did not have variable pitch props

AFAIK both props (one at each end) turned irrespective of which way the ferry was going. The FWD rudder was secured amidships (I can remember them doing that!)

The 1958 engineer I think is on a larger Manly ferry – they were a 4 cyl triple expansion – a smaller LP cylinder at each end, the closest cylinder perhaps not seen. The rod with the bronze bush is (AFAIK) the IP valve rod – used as an indicator to avoid stopping at a dead centre of the HP.

Russ

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

I have found a further clue!

The fwd/reverse lever was most likely to operate a steam-assisted valve gear system – ie the engineer didn't need to pull the gear over with the lever, but simply operated a valve for a steam ram- seen near what must be a manual override wheel on the BW photo.

There are 4 levers on that engine!

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

There is an engine from a Sydney Ferry at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland NZ. It looks just like a scaled up Bertinat triple. It came out of a ferry (the Greycliffe) that was sunk in an accident when it was rammed by the Tahiti. (An NZ ship.) The engine was salvaged and ended up being sold to a dairy company here in NZ. So the thrust bearing has gone and instead there is a large stationary engine type of flywheel with rope grooves cut in the pulley. I don't think it has power reversing, but it is a while since I have seen it. It does have a worm and wheel arrangement that can be engaged for barring the engine over by hand. Compared to the one in the black and white photo, the condensor is at the other end and there is an Edwards air pump and I think a feed pump at the near end.

You can read about the Greycliffe disaster here: **LINK**

John

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

Thanks- found that MOTAT engine on google. It has a single long lever for the rev gear, hanging off one of the valve covers. The controls are set up to suit an engineer at crankshaft level.

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbNGPbVFhk

This very interesting video is from the SS Freshspring and shows a similar installation.

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

This is the 'Toroa', in Auckland – under resto . 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-2934'

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

The Toroa is of course not looking quite so tidy at the moment, but the guys are making quite a lot of progress. She is on the hard near the Northwest motorway not too far from my place. Fortunately the recent work on the motorway in that area did not need her to be moved. Last time I was on board they had replaced quite a lot of the frames. This is a massive job. She is of composite construction, and they have to first replace all the frames, then replace the planking. I believe they have got hold of a source of kauri for the planking. From what I recall the plant is pretty similar to the Sydney ones. I probably have photos somewhere, but maybe not on the digital camera.

**LINK**

Bear in mind that the reversing arrangement on the Motat engine may not be original. The engine used to run on steam quite frequently but the current Motat management has managed to acheive the resignation of the qualified fireman and the steam section manager, as well as the entire set of steam section volunteers, so it is unlikely that anything will run on steam for a while now.

John

[Russell FurzerParticipant @russellfurzer50760]

It is a shame to hear about MOTAT. Our hospitals here in Tas have imported kiwi admin who are having similar results!

it'd be great to see some of your photos if you can do the magic!

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