Chairman's Run - 2006 ........ RAY'S RUSHTON RUN 23rd April 2006 After some speculation regarding the weather it turned out to be a 'not bad' day. Some fourteen Sevens turned up at Bishop's Waltham car park, and it was good to see some new faces. Ray set us on our way at the appointed hour, and we swept out onto the Highway to the smiles, laughs, waves, or to be generally ignored by the local inhabitants - much dependant on their age. After several miles the back of the column detached itself due it turned out to a malfunctioning petrol pump. Convoy rules sprang into action. The message worked its way to the front of the line and we all came to a stop in a convenient gateway. (Turned out that the property owner was the proud possessor of a Model T Ford and he and his wife and a colleague all came to examine our vehicles! - That was good on National Drive-it Day!) Our Leader went back down the road to find the rest, and I believe to tender assistance to the casualty. After about twenty minutes the convoy hove into view and we continued on our merry way.
Thus, running a little later than originally planned, we all
hove to at the Owl for lunch. Certainly no-one left feeling that
they were hungry, the portions were indeed huge. As we re-gathered
outside, an absolutely splendid white XK120 swept into the car park and parked
up. Lo! this was indeed our host for the afternoon come to fetch
us!!! Dave Kendal is the proud, delightful, and comedic owner of the
Rushton Diesel we were about to inspect.
Just for laughs he swapped cars with John Pike, and led us off up the road driving the Ruby. John was about half way down the queue, and I followed him out of the car park. Not for long however - he was intent in having his money's worth and soon overtook the car in front! It was lucky for Dave Kendal that we did not have far to go as I fancy that if John had made it to the front of the line we would not have seen him for duet, or the rest of the day! Dave led us into a field where there was a sizable brick building right in the
middle. It was in this that resides the splendid Rushton diesel
engine which we had come to see. In the building, and apart from the
huge Rushton single-cylinder horizontal diesel engine are a number of other
pieces of vintage equipment. Firstly there are the two enormous
pumps that are belt-driven from the Rushton. Then, in the corner
there is a vast cooling tank, which probably contains about a thousand
gallons. In order to start the Rushton there is a need for a supply
of about air at approaching 200psi. This need is met by a Lister D
type single- cylinder petrol engine driving - again by belt - a vertical
compressor feeding an equally historic air receiver.
Cranked furiously by Dave the Lister burst into life and began to charge the system. It took probably ten minutes for the desired pressure to be established, and then the Lister was shut down. Much manipulating of valves took place, the Rushton was pulled back onto compression, all the various knobs and levers were checked, and then Dave opened the valve to let in the compressed air. The Rushton spun over a few revs and burst into life. When once it had settled to steady and acceptable revs Dave juggled with the fast-and-loose pulley levers, and one at at a time brought the two pumps into commission. Splendid, splendid, splendid. Of the two pumps one brings water up from a deep well to a reservoir outside, whilst the second transmits it up to 'The Big House. The equipment was installed by SCATS in 1946, and one would suppose that the 'kit' was made up of overhauled pre-war pieces of machinery, which had not all come from the same original home. Dave has the whole set-up in splendid working order without having spoiled it by over zealous restoration. He obviously takes great pride in it all, and it certainly brings out the showman in him! We were very privileged to be allowed to join him for what was obviously a regular play session. Our thanks to the splendid Mr. Kendal, and also of course to Ray for having organised such a good day out. Spanner
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