Ruston & Proctor Steam Navvy 306
Working in the chalk pit for 22 years
and then abandoned when the pit closed
what became of the steam driven excavator that for many years poked its jib
out of the water at the Blue Lagoon.
Part 1 of 3 parts – Early days
Images supplied by Mr. Ray Hooley
M
any locals will remember the ‘crane’ from the Blue Lagoon. Some
would have dived off the jib in the hot summer days of childhood or
teens. It was recovered from the chalk pit in 1977, and has only now got to a
stage where it could soon be ‘working’ again.
History
Designed by James Dunbar the ‘306’ had similar principles to a previous
steam navvy built by William Otis of Boston, USA, but it is believed to have
had driven rail wheels and was the first to have an all steel power shovel.
Rustons obtained a patent for a full-circle (360o slewing) excavator from
Whitaker Bros Limited of Horsforth, Leeds and built the machine under
licence. Rustons then started development of their own full-circle excavator
in 1902, known as the 12-ton Crane Navvy. The navvy from the Blue Lagoon
‘no. 306’ was built in 1909 by Ruston & Proctor, and is now the oldest in
existence, of its type, in the world.
In 1910 Ruston Proctor acquired Whitakers Bros including all drawings,
patterns and associated items.
Working life
The navvy, was originally bought by Thomas Oliver & Son, Neath
Abbey, Glamorgan on 3rd May 1909 from Ruston & Proctor Ironworks
in Lincolnshire, and later brought to the pit in Arlesey. Working as a face
shovel, quarrying chalk for the cement works off Hitchin Road. The navvy
was ‘operated by Mr A. Albon and later by his son George.
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December 2013
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