[alan dd]

The maasmondmaritime newsletter has pictures a couple of days ago of a Laker named Navi on the way to scrap, this was formerly the Algoma Navigator (originally Demeterton built in 1967 at Readheads, South Shields) and fitted with a Hawthorn Leslie Doxford engine, the last British built Doxford in regular sea service. The end of an era?

There is now apparently only one other ship, the Aban Ice, a drill ship (originally Jean Schneider built in 1959 at Ateliers et Chantiers de France) that has a Doxford engine, albeit this one was built in France by Provence. Apparently the engine is still in good condition although probably doesn’t do many running hours in a drill ship.

 

[James_C]

Isn't there still one of the two Port boats converted to cruise ships still in service and fitted with twin Doxfords?

 

[alan dd]

As far as I know, the last one, Port Melbourne/Princess Danae had B&W opposed piston engines and was sold for scrap in March 2015, and scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey about August 2015. The Port Sydney/Princess Daphne was the one with Doxfords and went to scrap in Alang, India, in July 2014.

 

[george e mitchell]

hi. this is not about the last Doxford engine. but about an engine. one of a kind .
Back in the 1950s The Aberdeen (Scotland) fishing fleet had over 300 steam trawlers. Whos fate was doomed by the invention of the diesel trawler. The engine works started to build an engine designed by Doxford for installation in trawlers.One engine had been built.tested then installed in one of the first diesel trawlers sailing out of Aberdeen. She was called the BEN LUI. a middle water trawler sometimes Iceland in the summer She was very successful as one of the top trawlers for about 15 or so years. The engine shop could only build one at a time. Steam trawlers were disappearing fast Replaced by the two Aberdeen shipyards They were being powered by Mirrlees, British Polar and Widdop. approx. 1200 bhp also diesel driven winches of 400 bhp. unheard of power for that time. They were all being produced en mass down south. I expect cost was a big concern. for the smallest DOXFORD ever built. A ONE OFF.

 

[wayfarer]

I remember the weight of the old Doxford fuel valve.

 

[hamishb]

3 Cyl Doxford

hi. this is not about the last Doxford engine. but about an engine. one of a kind .
Back in the 1950s The Aberdeen (Scotland) fishing fleet had over 300 steam trawlers. Whos fate was doomed by the invention of the diesel trawler. The engine works started to build an engine designed by Doxford for installation in trawlers.One engine had been built.tested then installed in one of the first diesel trawlers sailing out of Aberdeen. She was called the BEN LUI. a middle water trawler sometimes Iceland in the summer She was very successful as one of the top trawlers for about 15 or so years. The engine shop could only build one at a time. Steam trawlers were disappearing fast Replaced by the two Aberdeen shipyards They were being powered by Mirrlees, British Polar and Widdop. approx. 1200 bhp also diesel driven winches of 400 bhp. unheard of power for that time. They were all being produced en mass down south. I expect cost was a big concern. for the smallest DOXFORD ever built. A ONE OFF.

If you search 3 cyl Doxford or Lammermiur you will see some more info on the trawler engines

 

[A.D.FROST]

hi. this is not about the last Doxford engine. but about an engine. one of a kind .
Back in the 1950s The Aberdeen (Scotland) fishing fleet had over 300 steam trawlers. Whos fate was doomed by the invention of the diesel trawler. The engine works started to build an engine designed by Doxford for installation in trawlers.One engine had been built.tested then installed in one of the first diesel trawlers sailing out of Aberdeen. She was called the BEN LUI. a middle water trawler sometimes Iceland in the summer She was very successful as one of the top trawlers for about 15 or so years. The engine shop could only build one at a time. Steam trawlers were disappearing fast Replaced by the two Aberdeen shipyards They were being powered by Mirrlees, British Polar and Widdop. approx. 1200 bhp also diesel driven winches of 400 bhp. unheard of power for that time. They were all being produced en mass down south. I expect cost was a big concern. for the smallest DOXFORD ever built. A ONE OFF.

The first stern trawler/factory ship FAIRTRY had a Lewis/Doxford 480SB4.
Worth a read "The Fairtry Experiment" by Jack Campbell the story of how the Rusky's stole the idea

 

[funnelstays]

Upper Lakes Shipping had a converted tanker Evan Thomas Radcliffes Llanishen retro fitted with a KaMeWa driven by an 6 Cylinder LB Doxford.

 

[A.D.FROST]

Upper Lakes Shipping had a converted tanker Evan Thomas Radcliffes Llanishen retro fitted with a KaMeWa driven by an 6 Cylinder LB Doxford.

 

[Bill Morrison]

Hi George. Post # 13. This one from a 1953 City of Aberdeen Official Handbook.
Bill

 

[george e mitchell]

hi Bill Morrison. as you suggested I read this site like a newspaper every day. I seen your posting about the Torquay Used to see her all the time when I was younger many years ago. Thank you for the picture of the 3 cyl doxford, built by John Lewis and sons. The First and last time I saw that engine was in 1956 when I was an apprentice. I thought it was huge at the time,compared to the steam engines I was used to. She was built in 1953 It was fitted to the Ben Lui.
She was built in 1953 length 166 ft. gross tonnage 473 bhp 1000 Doxford I always thought she had been scrapped in 1967. but seemingly she was converted into a research ship and fitted with a new engine same bhp.Then iin 2003 was converted into a luxury motor yacht
The other Lewis Doxford was the Fairtry. She was built in 1954. I never really thought of this one as a normal trawler Always knew it as a factory ship.
She was 280 feet long Gross Tons 2605 ..4 cyl doxford 1900 bhp.
Looking at the Doxford advert reminded me. on the last year of my apprentice ship was spent in the engine drawing office. I was teamed up with my journeyman draughtsman and our job was to get a new venture under weigh
That was John Lewis was going to build engines again. We were responsible for all the depts. got the correct drawings at the correct time etc. One new drawing I had to make for casting a new name plate. That was LEWIS A.K. DIESELS.The name lewis had to be scrolled like the Doxford ad. After several attempts it was finally accepted by the chief draughtsman. I Seen two of these engines being built and tested before I left to join Shaw Savill so I don't know how many they actually built. I see A,K DIESELS OF LOWSTOFT (the original builders ) closed down in 2015. A,K.(Alexander King}
The last Doxford I ever seen was the DORIC in Shaw Savill.Ionly did a UK coastal and a month or so in the shipyard. Extensive work was done. I Left the ship in London. I was told the ship only got as far as Capetown. Inspection showed both engines. had been destroyed. In the shipyard the engine cooling system had been cleaned with chemicals. in Capetown it was found the the swinging arms inside the crankcase must have started leaking bad.and ground away as the coolng water was like grinding paste mixing with the oil. damaging all the bearings. I don't know what happened after that but it was her last trip.
so I can say that this was MY LAST DOXFORD.
George Mitchell

 

[760J9]

The last doxford engine

Hello
The last Doxford engine ever built was a 760J4CR, engine number 477 for Canadian Pioneer, a laker built at Port Weller Drydock, Canada in 1980. The engine was built at Doxford Engine Works Sunderland. There were 94 Doxford J engines built after Demeterton. The last Doxford engine for a British built ship was that of the Badagry Plam, Jl Thompsons yard number 741 in 1979.
Regards
Tom

 

[lewisholgerjorgensen]

what about the 3 cylinder engines built for Ellerman's in the late 70's early 80's.
they had the trihedral flywheel with pneumatic piston arrangement to haul it into a start position, Ted Ranson's "brain wave" as he refused to have anything to with CPP after the Dilkara disaster.
they were an engine ahead of their time in many ways, CP fuel rail and mechanical injectors and the basic design would have adapted so well to modern needs for super long stroke, giving improved scavenging and camshaft-less engines.
old heads at design stage with daft ideas, the tri-part liner was a costly failure which a Junior eng. first trip could have told them it would not seal after dismantling and the course of higher rpm on the ill fated seahorse giving unacceptable liner wear.
I spent a lot of time with LB's and J types, the on-off overspeed trip on the J was scary in heavy weather, run like hell to re-set it before we broached.
was on the City of Newcastle in 73 when the sump turned to sludge, we had no idea why, but turned out to be microbial degregation.
opposed piston trunk engines, chieftan tank engine? the Deltic, and one I have fond memories of the Fairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8th which just kept going, this engine seemed to consider maintenenace was for cissies which was good I suppose as it was designed for USN Submarines, ***** changing a liner though trying to get the two cranks and two camshafts and all the timing gears in the right places.
the worst arrangement ever, the Dilkara, Allunga and Paralla, V18 Pielsticks.

recently was doing an delivery on a new eth tanker and was explaining opposed piston engines and others of strange arrangement, the Cammell Laird Fullagar, double acting engines with OP to a couple of engine trainees and they gave me a slight smile as if to say "aye alright Grandad whose p.ss.r who are you pulling".
festive greetings to all our readers.
Jorgie

 

[A.D.FROST]

what about the 3 cylinder engines built for Ellerman's in the late 70's early 80's.
they had the trihedral flywheel with pneumatic piston arrangement to haul it into a start position, Ted Ranson's "brain wave" as he refused to have anything to with CPP after the Dilkara disaster.
they were an engine ahead of their time in many ways, CP fuel rail and mechanical injectors and the basic design would have adapted so well to modern needs for super long stroke, giving improved scavenging and camshaft-less engines.
old heads at design stage with daft ideas, the tri-part liner was a costly failure which a Junior eng. first trip could have told them it would not seal after dismantling and the course of higher rpm on the ill fated seahorse giving unacceptable liner wear.
I spent a lot of time with LB's and J types, the on-off overspeed trip on the J was scary in heavy weather, run like hell to re-set it before we broached.
was on the City of Newcastle in 73 when the sump turned to sludge, we had no idea why, but turned out to be microbial degregation.
opposed piston trunk engines, chieftan tank engine? the Deltic, and one I have fond memories of the Fairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8th which just kept going, this engine seemed to consider maintenenace was for cissies which was good I suppose as it was designed for USN Submarines, ***** changing a liner though trying to get the two cranks and two camshafts and all the timing gears in the right places.
the worst arrangement ever, the Dilkara, Allunga and Paralla, V18 Pielsticks.

recently was doing an delivery on a new eth tanker and was explaining opposed piston engines and others of strange arrangement, the Cammell Laird Fullagar, double acting engines with OP to a couple of engine trainees and they gave me a slight smile as if to say "aye alright Grandad whose p.ss.r who are you pulling".
festive greetings to all our readers.
Jorgie

'Fullagar' was not a "Double Banger"

 

[760J9]

Last Doxford engine?

The last Doxford ever built was engine number 477, a 760J4 for the Canadian Pioneer, a Laker built by Port Weller drydocks in 1980. The last British ship fitted withna Doxford engine was Badagry Palm built at J L Thompsons, North Sand yard in 1980. There were 94 doxford engines built after the Demerterton. The last I heard, the Canadian Pioneer was still in service as Pioneer, but I am uncertain if it is still in service.
regards
Tom

 

[760J9]

Here is a picture of the 580JS3 engines fitted to the Ellerman ships One of these engines is preserved at The Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham

 

[chadburn]

Having served on a Doxford I was curious about the Doxford held at Beamish Museum and went there to see if it was possible to have a look at the engine whilst the rest of the family had a look around the other exhibits. The engine is I believe held in the large sheds on the left hand side as you approach the 'Town' after numerous enquiries there appeared to be no one around who could give permission that day.

 

[lewisholgerjorgensen]

'Fullagar' was not a "Double Banger"

never said it was, read carefully.

 

[Stephen J. Card]

Have a look at You Tube for:

1. Doxford Engine Room For footage of Princess Danae

2. Princess Daphne Final Voyage Sea Trials


Excellent. Note, the Doxfords in these two ships had different types. You would not think sistership would have different engines. One is Cross Head type and the other one Opposed type.

Good footage of both and sounds too!

I only sailed in one ship with a Doxford. SSS&A 's ICENIC. Once in a while I went below to enjoy the views!

 

[Dartskipper]

what about the 3 cylinder engines built for Ellerman's in the late 70's early 80's.
they had the trihedral flywheel with pneumatic piston arrangement to haul it into a start position, Ted Ranson's "brain wave" as he refused to have anything to with CPP after the Dilkara disaster.
they were an engine ahead of their time in many ways, CP fuel rail and mechanical injectors and the basic design would have adapted so well to modern needs for super long stroke, giving improved scavenging and camshaft-less engines.
old heads at design stage with daft ideas, the tri-part liner was a costly failure which a Junior eng. first trip could have told them it would not seal after dismantling and the course of higher rpm on the ill fated seahorse giving unacceptable liner wear.
I spent a lot of time with LB's and J types, the on-off overspeed trip on the J was scary in heavy weather, run like hell to re-set it before we broached.
was on the City of Newcastle in 73 when the sump turned to sludge, we had no idea why, but turned out to be microbial degregation.
opposed piston trunk engines, chieftan tank engine? the Deltic, and one I have fond memories of the Fairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8th which just kept going, this engine seemed to consider maintenenace was for cissies which was good I suppose as it was designed for USN Submarines, ***** changing a liner though trying to get the two cranks and two camshafts and all the timing gears in the right places.
the worst arrangement ever, the Dilkara, Allunga and Paralla, V18 Pielsticks.

recently was doing an delivery on a new eth tanker and was explaining opposed piston engines and others of strange arrangement, the Cammell Laird Fullagar, double acting engines with OP to a couple of engine trainees and they gave me a slight smile as if to say "aye alright Grandad whose p.ss.r who are you pulling".
festive greetings to all our readers.
Jorgie

The engine in the Chieftain Tank was the Leyland L60, a multi fuel opposed piston, turbo charged, 6 cylinder motor. Multi fuel technology was first used in the Rover Meteor engine used in the Centurion, the predecessor to the Chieftain. The Meteor was a de-tuned Rolls Royce Merlin V12 engine developed by the Rover car company.