[SEL] Please "hold thumbs" for me :-)

[john palmer]

Yes,Jerry sit on that guys door step!
 
> Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 21:22:10 +0200
> To: stationary-engine at oldengine.org; sel at lists.stationary-engine.com
> From: jerrye at databak.co.za
> Subject: [SEL] Please "hold thumbs" for me :-)
> 
> Hi Guys & Gals,
> Hold thumbs for me please.
> I'm hot on the trail of a Lister 6/1 diesel (or 5/1 - same engine) 
> "radiator cooled" and hope to see it on the back of my pickup in the next 
> few days. (The engine that the "Listeroids" were copied from).
> As many of you know, we now have a Black government and they are 
> systematically trying their best to destroy all the "infrastructure" built 
> up previously! Well, this time it looks like it may just be to my benefit 
> if things go the way I hope.
> I have come across 2 radiator cooled Lister diesel 6/1's installed 
> together in 1953 as "standby" engines in a boiler room of our South African 
> Railways maintenance workshops. They were there to use in the case of 
> (electrical) power failures and to keep the "grates" of the boiler working.
> As many of you probably know, we did not have many power failures 
> in those days (things worked properly - unlike today). Anyway, these 
> engines have been "scrapped" (possibly as part of a scheme to enrich some 
> or other govmunt official) and became part of a very large "lot" sold to a 
> scrappie.
> I have met with this "scrappie" him and he is quite prepared to 
> sell me one at a very reasonable price - unfortunately not both - he'd like 
> to keep one for himself but I'm working on that as well (he is NOT a 
> collector - just appreciates these kind of things) - can you imagine two of 
> these beautiful engines displayed in their original "working clothes" with 
> very close serial numbers - Wow - that must be many an engine man's dream. 
> Of course the fact that they are both "radiator cooled" is also a major 
> plus - most were supplied set up for "tank cooling".
> These Lister engines (only 56 years old in this case - not as 
> glamorous as many of your engines) are engines that I have always admired 
> but never thought that I would be lucky enough to own. They run beautifully 
> and do definitely have their place in the realm of "historically 
> significant" stationary engines. (read David Edgingtons book on the CS 
> (Cold Start) diesels here:
> <http://www.stationaryenginebooks.co.uk/listercs.htm>)
> 
> Hey, It's great to talk about engines for a change :-) (and engine 
> dreams maybe).
> 
> Back to the story. I was also lucky enough to meet up with a 
> millwright who has spent his whole working life in the same workshops and 
> he told me (I have no reason to
> disbelieve him) that these 2 engines were never "started in anger" ie. they 
> were never called upon to perform the duties for which they were installed 
> - the only times that they ran were for regular maintenance and service. He 
> surmised that they had not run for more than 50 hours each and again, I 
> have no reason not to believe him.
> Please guys - hold thumbs for me here!
> Back to the story!
> I first saw these 2 engines when my brother asked me to go to a 
> "preview" of the stuff on auction as he was interested in some lathe parts 
> about 3 weeks ago. I saw the engines from a distance but did not go closer 
> for a very good reason. My daughter, Jacqui, had her (uninsured) car stolen 
> about 2 weeks previous to that and, not being a person of unlimited 
> financial means, engines were just not in the budget - another car for 
> Jacqui was top priority. (But those engines stayed in the back of my mind :-))
> Well, without trying to be a preacher, a sign from above came by 
> means of an unexpected cash paying job that said "Jerry - go and buy that 
> engine!". I'm sure that many of you will understand. The rest will, 
> hopefully, be history!
> 
> Back to the engine. As I said, I first viewed it from a distance 
> and forced myself not to go closer. It seemed to be very dirty - what I 
> assumed was oil - and this did not "tie up" with what the millwright had 
> told me about "hours run". I called him again and brought this up - his 
> answer was, "It's been in a "boiler room" for 50 years, what do you expect 
> - that's soot not oil."
> 
> Hey Guys (and Gals) I seriously want that engine now and do 
> believe that it has my name on it. The next 4 or 5 days will tell - as I've 
> said "please hold thumbs for me!"
> 
> Watch this space.
> 
> Keep the revs up (or down)
> Jerry Evans
> Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
> Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
> <www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm> 
> 
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