Riches and Watts tandem compound vertical engine

Ron Alexander from New Zealand has recently made contact and advised that a Riches and Watts vertical tandem compound condensing combined vertical engine and boiler (sadly now minus boiler ) survives and is under restoration at the Canterbury Steam Preservation site at Macleans Island near Christchurch, New Zealand

This engraving from their 1893 catalogue shows an example of the type which was made in 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 nhp versions, with a boiler of 3'6" diameter this survivor would (from comparison with the single cylinder versions) appear to be in the 8 or 10 nhp bracket.

This photo from by Ron shows the complete engine some years ago, it shows the high and low pressure cylinders as per engraving, along with a tantalising glimpse of gearing behind the flywheel which presumably, as the exhaust pipe drops down here, once drove the condenser airpump, however the 'rainbow arch' at the base of the crosshead guides of the latter pattern webbed A frame has not been seen previously and will bear more investigation, again probably a means of strengthening the A frame following earlier failures The makers name is cast on the side of this arch. From the catalogue engraving the valve for the ligh pressure (top) cylinder is driven from the pulley side. the valve for the low pressure from the flywheel side of the crankshaft (note the counterbalance weigh cast between the two lower spokes). The circular hole to the right is where the boiler once stood, it is hoped a replacement boiler can soon be found to complete the restoration. It is thought to be engine No. 456.

Some more recent pictures from Ron shows the engine partially dismantled under restoration, above the mainframe and the cast in name leaves no doubt about the parentage. In front of the crank is the low pressure eccentric, behind it the high pressure eccentric.

This shows the gear which once drove the condenser pump (which was located over the inverted horseshoe shaped gap in the mainframe) the far side of the bedplate shows where the boiler once stood.

more views of the general layout.

We look forward to hearing more about this engine and its rebuild.

A makers plate, using the the 1nhp vertical's plate as a pattern and cast from metal last poured in the Riches and Watts foundry has been made and sent to New Zealand to fix on this engine when completed.

A Riches & Watts Tandem Compound Portable engine also survivies in New Zealand.

Ron has passed on this list, transcribed from the Records of the New Zealand Navy Board who were responsible for surveying steam boilers and noted details of engines attached to them, these are from the records of the Canterbury area, were all made by Riches and Watts and were all vertical engines. The date is that of the first boiler survey and may be considerably later than the date of manufacture (see Riches and Watts History for some other dating information / conjecture).

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