rustynewbery

Here are a few photos....

I totally agree, and my smelly 3 pot is going nice, thank you, but not smoky anymore.

I stand corrected on the working boat girth! It's a bad day if nothing can be done to stop them.

There is a place for wide beam boats but the north Oxford Canal is definitely not one. Despite the published dimensions of 2.1m beam and 21.9 length, it would seem that CRT have not objected to these boats being moored at Dunchurch Pools [Onley "Monster Marina"] and Barby Moorings. On my return trip to Cropredy last week, I saw 4 wide beams in Dunchurch and 2 in Barby. The former's entrance from the canal has clearly been constructed to allow these boats to gain access and egress. The local licensing officer even said there was nothing they could do. Really? But let's look at the real issue, and disregarding the fact that only narrow beam boats can travel through Hillmorton Locks: the canal profile is totally unsuitable for anything over 6ft 10" nominal beam! Several pinch points exist which will render meeting a wide beam an accident waiting to happen include a. the length between bridge 90 and 89, with 14 day mooring and overgrown offside vegetation, b. between bridges 83 and 84, again overgrown vegetation on the offside, not to mention the slope of the towpath edge c. the blind approach to bridge 80, only recently repaired. CRT have said they doubt if these boats will actually go out, but I do know that Dunchurch have constructed a wide beam slipway so we can expect movement along this 3 mile section. I for one would not want to come up against a wide beam at the locations noted above. An even worse scenario would be one going down to Hillmorton, finding they cannot go further the trying to reverse back to Tarry's bridge winding hole. Maybe it is time to campaign for a narrows to be constructed at bridge 90 of 8ft beam. I'm sure it would get the support of most narrow beam boaters.

Thanks for your heads up on a good man "oop north". Good vintage/traditional engineers are always welcome. I'll make sure his location is publicised for the members.

You can find his details inside the front cover of the Newsletter its on the web or your own copy Cheers

I'll update this thread when there's more news Kevin

For any RN owners who do not have a "book of words" [either the small book or the A4 ring bound version], they are currently out of print. Over the coming months, both of these are being scanned with a view to reprinting them for sale. Alongside this work, we are also going look at producing an up-to-date service manual that takes in the changes that have been made to the engines, in particular making it more of a marine engine manual, which the older ones are not. Anyone interested in acquiring the manual should contact the Register via www.rnregister.org.uk Kevin

Try contacting Richard Milligan on 07973 826260. There are several RN engined boats down your "Wey" and Richard has carried out work on them. I can vouch for his skills - he rebuilt my DM3 in 2008. He's good on all traditional engines. Have you thought about joining the RN Register? Only £12 per year and access to spares from RD Diesel Engine Co. at 10% discount. If you visit the website mentioned above, all the details are there. Kevin Director, RN Register

Looks more like a Morso Squirrel - if you look at the sides and there are squirrel castings, it is.

For all owners and interested parties, The Russell Newbery Register can provide most answers to topics raised here, just Google rnregister.org.uk. The workshop in Daventry holds a vast archive of information, some 14,000 drawings covering original Assemblies and all the parts used in production of the D series engines as well as many relating to the bigger E beasts! It also houses the spares inventory; any parts not in stock can be made from these drawings and the company has access to CNC facilities to support this. Anyone new to RN may not be aware that their main production was for static machines coupled to generators, air compressors and pumps. Indeed the National Oil Engine Co. were subcontracted to produce their D2 variants for the GUCCC because RN did not have the capacity to deliver such a large contract at the time owing to existing orders for the static engines. Several dozen [or more] of the RND series have been marinised including my own DM3. Membership of the RN Register is only £12 per year and for this you will get 10% discount on all parts from the company and a quarterly newsletter. Back issues of this have been scanned onto DVD which is available to members. Two field engineers can be contacted to support owners, from basic servicing to full reconditioning work - even in your engine room if required Hope this all helps Kevin Secretary, RN Register

Neither, just absolutely MENTAL I crossed from Eastham to Brunswick Lock last June in convoy - and with a pilot - in conditions suitable for a narrowboat. The pilot, with 50 years of Mersey experience, was at pains to point out that Peel Ports are just looking for reasons to ban all pleasure craft, seaworthy yachts as well, from the river. This trip ticks that box

Tim, What are you like?????!! Kev & Trish

In June last year I organised a convoy of Russell Newbery powered narrowboats [along with 2 others] across the Mersey from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool. One of the boats was an Alvechurch ECO hull initially fitted with a single cylinder. The owner initially, and wisely, pulled out due to the fact he couldn't get decent headway on the Thames and he moors on the Wey. The upshot was he had a 2 cylinder retrofitted and he made the trip without any drama. Talking to the marine surveyor who did our seaworthy certificates, the concept of such a bulbous front end did more to prevent the smooth flow of water and on the canal system was actually a barrier to headway. Seemed like a good idea at the time, and very "green"

Perhaps the term vintage is appropriate to engines of a certain age but the RN Diesel Engine Company would probably describe the marque as Traditional. There are many, like me, that can lay claim to the engine being vintage though; my DM3 was built in Altrincham around 1945 and was originally a static machine supplied to R.A. Monk of Warrington. It was fully rebuilt in 2008, so you might actually call it "new" [my bank balance thought so ]