I am fascinated at hearing all the memories of hard work and sweat gone to Princess Engines that only require a master mechanic and not even a crew. Hats off to all the Doxford engine type workers who made it all happen at the whim of a captain. You all made it look so easy for the hard task at hand. You should all be commended for a job well done.
thank you for having the good sense to take this video, and the decency to share it. excellent pictures, excellent quality and a valuable historical record.
Thank you so much for this video. I was an engineer on the Marshalla which was the old Port Auckland which i think was the same group of design and i didnt have any photos etc, I was on board when the Alan Generator went up and let the smoke out and caused the engine room to burn out. We crippled back to Bombay for 7 weeks of repairs which continued on the way back to Australia. This has brought great joy to me. Thanks again
This is fascinating, sailed on the Daphne in the '80s when she was Costa's "boutique" ship in the Caribbean and the interior design was so contemporary that I had no idea the original engines were down below. Looks really different than other marine diesels I've seen. Always wondered why they called her (I think) MTS Daphne vs MS or MV, do any of you folks know? Anyway shame she couldn't be modernized it was a lovely little ship.
Great video, my last Doxford engined ship was the old "Teak Bank" bought and renamed "Newton" in Siri Lanka about 1974 if I remember correct. Real basic machinery but worked fine. The diesel alternators didn't even have turbo's fitted. No air conditioning, it was dam hot in India.
I never will understand why a vessel working so well had to be scrapped. I know that in today's "everybody's in a hurry" world there should be a few things from older times that are preserved just to remind people of what life was like when things were real and not fake wood and plastic! The Port Sydney, or Princess Daphne, had some really great lines and was a beautiful ship, unlike the floating shoe boxes they pass off today as liners.
South Shields Marine and Technical College, as was, used to have a single cylinder Doxford. Our class had at least two visits to the Doxford works in the 70's.
Back in about 1968 I worked on the Port Sydney as a dockyard apprentice and much later I was reading an ad for cruise on the Princess Daphne and I easily recognised the old Port Sydney which was marketed as a travel experience from the past with gentle entertainment such as deck Quoites etc. I thought that once again a fly by night temporary company had bought out a worn out ship and was trying to make some quick money. It was MUTTON DRESSED UP AS SPRING LAMB. Maybe the great old girl enjoyed the last laugh.
A special and good video. Absolutely fantastic and almost unbeatable engines, soon there are no more of these. Take the opportunity to see the heart of "The Princess Dapne" here before it's too late.
I sailed on the Port Sydney as a steward in the early 1960 s, great ship was built for fast runs to Australia and back, Port line was one the best companies to work for, so sorry to see she was broken up last year, had lovely memories of serving on her.
Beautiful. Many thanks. I was lucky enough to serve part of my apprenticeship with a Doxford in 1979 on MV Ripon Grange (Houlder Bros). That was a J type though.
L.S. Professional video from those marvelous engines Sad that they are broken up! I sailed also 2½ years with DOXFORD LB Types, as 2nd and C/E I strongly doubt if she had LBD engines? because She was launched on October 29, 1954 and ran her engine/sea trials on March 3 1955 According my information; The first LBD was put in the mt SHEAF HOLME (May 1955) 1956 "LBD" Type became Standard for all Doxford ship’s, "D" stands for Diaphragm, to separate the cylinder from the crankcase for not contaminating the Lubricating oil. Whom brings more clarity? Regards Alfons
despite being reasonable mechanical, I have no understanding of what I'm seeing. Is each cylinder separately housed? Really interesting. Ships are alive and I hate seeing them scrapped. Hope the USS United States somehow survives. Will have to look up Doxford engines.
No expert by any means but its an opposed piston 2-stroke diesel engine. Basically two pistons share the same cylinder, and each piston crown forms part of the combustion chamber. As they approach each other, fuel is injected for the power stroke, and as they reach their limits of travel (furthest apart), the pistons uncover ports that allow fresh air charge in and exhaust out for the next work cycle. There are blowers (or turbochargers) at the base of the engine that help generate pressure to force the air charge in through the ports in the cylinder. In the middle of the video you can see the cylinders behind the line shafts and the oilers, and at the end of the video are the rods and beams that hook the upper pistons to the crankshaft (behind the numbered shields with presumably cooling hoses attached). Since the lower piston is in the way, there are tie rods that run up each side of the cylinder to the beams at the top which transfer the cranks motion to the upper pistons.
but why are the telegraphs on STOP when both M/E are turning over? WRONG-WAY alarms disconnected? (but then, I'm only a captain!) Wonderful videography all the same!
I sailed on the mv Bardic in 1962 as a first trip engineer cadet with Furness Withy, she was fitted with a six cylinder Doxford. Later sailed on 4 cyl as well.
Sadly not. Princess Danae although (as Port Melbourne), the sister ship of Port Sydney (Princess Daphne) was built at Harland and Wolff and had B&W engines. Same opposed piston principle but zero interchangeability of parts. As a first trip engineering apprentice, I sailed on Port Melbourne in 1961.
I am fascinated at hearing all the memories of hard work and sweat gone to Princess Engines that only require a master mechanic and not even a crew. Hats off to all the Doxford engine type workers who made it all happen at the whim of a captain. You all made it look so easy for the hard task at hand. You should all be commended for a job well done.
thank you for having the good sense to take this video, and the decency to share it. excellent pictures, excellent quality and a valuable historical record.
Thank you so much for this video. I was an engineer on the Marshalla which was the old Port Auckland which i think was the same group of design and i didnt have any photos etc, I was on board when the Alan Generator went up and let the smoke out and caused the engine room to burn out. We crippled back to Bombay for 7 weeks of repairs which continued on the way back to Australia. This has brought great joy to me. Thanks again
This is fascinating, sailed on the Daphne in the '80s when she was Costa's "boutique" ship in the Caribbean and the interior design was so contemporary that I had no idea the original engines were down below. Looks really different than other marine diesels I've seen. Always wondered why they called her (I think) MTS Daphne vs MS or MV, do any of you folks know? Anyway shame she couldn't be modernized it was a lovely little ship.
Great video, my last Doxford engined ship was the old "Teak Bank" bought and renamed "Newton" in Siri Lanka about 1974 if I remember correct. Real basic machinery but worked fine. The diesel alternators didn't even have turbo's fitted. No air conditioning, it was dam hot in India.
Amazing! Purring like a kitten and they scrapped it!
I never will understand why a vessel working so well had to be scrapped. I know that in today's "everybody's in a hurry" world there should be a few things from older times that are preserved just to remind people of what life was like when things were real and not fake wood and plastic! The Port Sydney, or Princess Daphne, had some really great lines and was a beautiful ship, unlike the floating shoe boxes they pass off today as liners.
South Shields Marine and Technical College, as was, used to have a single cylinder Doxford. Our class had at least two visits to the Doxford works in the 70's.
I rememebr it well as i was a Cadet at Shields
I rememebr it well as i was a Cadet at Shields
Back in about 1968 I worked on the Port Sydney as a dockyard apprentice and much later I was reading an ad for cruise on the Princess Daphne and I easily recognised the old Port Sydney which was marketed as a travel experience from the past with gentle entertainment such as deck Quoites etc. I thought that once again a fly by night temporary company had bought out a worn out ship and was trying to make some quick money. It was MUTTON DRESSED UP AS SPRING LAMB. Maybe the great old girl enjoyed the last laugh.
A special and good video. Absolutely fantastic and almost unbeatable engines, soon there are no more of these. Take the opportunity to see the heart of "The Princess Dapne" here before it's too late.
Thanks for posting, those Doxfords were fascinating.
I sailed on the Port Sydney as a steward in the early 1960 s, great ship was built for fast runs to Australia and back, Port line was one the best companies to work for, so sorry to see she was broken up last year, had lovely memories of serving on her.
Beautiful. Many thanks.
I was lucky enough to serve part of my apprenticeship with a Doxford in 1979 on MV Ripon Grange (Houlder Bros). That was a J type though.
Sounds and sights are amazing this may sound odd but i wish video had scent.
I still remember how to drive one :-)
Awesome video, we have had learned at school, Doxford, but never seen
Great clip, the last I saw a Doxford working was in 1975, Gandhi Jayanti ex SCI
Worth preserving if only on video. Someone's pride and joy.
L.S.
Professional video from those marvelous engines
Sad that they are broken up!
I sailed also 2½ years with DOXFORD LB Types, as 2nd and C/E
I strongly doubt if she had LBD engines? because She was launched on October 29, 1954 and ran her engine/sea trials on March 3 1955
According my information;
The first LBD was put in the mt SHEAF HOLME (May 1955)
1956 "LBD" Type became Standard for all Doxford ship’s, "D" stands for Diaphragm, to separate
the cylinder from the crankcase for not contaminating the Lubricating oil.
Whom brings more clarity?
Regards
Alfons
Who is whom?Is whom who or is whom whom/ You're m
Mick Stupp.
despite being reasonable mechanical, I have no understanding of what I'm seeing. Is each cylinder separately housed? Really interesting. Ships are alive and I hate seeing them scrapped. Hope the USS United States somehow survives. Will have to look up Doxford engines.
No expert by any means but its an opposed piston 2-stroke diesel engine. Basically two pistons share the same cylinder, and each piston crown forms part of the combustion chamber. As they approach each other, fuel is injected for the power stroke, and as they reach their limits of travel (furthest apart), the pistons uncover ports that allow fresh air charge in and exhaust out for the next work cycle. There are blowers (or turbochargers) at the base of the engine that help generate pressure to force the air charge in through the ports in the cylinder. In the middle of the video you can see the cylinders behind the line shafts and the oilers, and at the end of the video are the rods and beams that hook the upper pistons to the crankshaft (behind the numbered shields with presumably cooling hoses attached). Since the lower piston is in the way, there are tie rods that run up each side of the cylinder to the beams at the top which transfer the cranks motion to the upper pistons.
but why are the telegraphs on STOP when both M/E are turning over? WRONG-WAY alarms disconnected? (but then, I'm only a captain!) Wonderful videography all the same!
If it was being scrapped, why the sea trial? Was it a survey for pre-sale?
Alfons Verheijden, I have the engine makers plates at home and will see if I can post a copy here for you.
The Unscripted Nomad à
Waiting for engine makers plates
I sailed on the mv Bardic in 1962 as a first trip engineer cadet with Furness Withy, she was fitted with a six cylinder Doxford. Later sailed on 4 cyl as well.
Looks like they were givin it hell there near the end! I wonder if they bypassed the REV limiter? :/ Ya, sad to see that fine machinery scrapped.
Why didnt they preserve this beautiful ship??
I miss Steve McQueen
What is the wheeze--wheeze from 4:20 to 5:20 ?
She looks a lot like the old Texas Clipper.
Squeaking/scraping sound @ around 4:50-5:00 ???
Would those engines would be a good source of spares for 'Lisboa' (ex-Princess Danae)?
Sadly not. Princess Danae although (as Port Melbourne), the sister ship of Port Sydney (Princess Daphne) was built at Harland and Wolff and had B&W engines. Same opposed piston principle but zero interchangeability of parts. As a first trip engineering apprentice, I sailed on Port Melbourne in 1961.
Many thanks for that information, Chris
Chris Triffitt Princess Danae also went to scrap recently but she was towed and not under her own power
Yes, I only found that out last Sunday. All very sad, considering that a lot of work had been done on her recently
so its a v 10 or how many cylinders??
These must be authentic Doxford engines and not Sun Doxfords.
A little more light lads, don't see as well as I once did.