Blue Star Logbook

Brush Diesel Engine driven refrigeration



I recently received an image of a Brush Diesel sale brochure featuring Blue Star ships (Imperial Class)from Kevin Parsons.
I only visited one vessel fitted with this machinery and I seem to remember the Refrigeration Flat was like the Black Hole of Calcutta.
Does anyone remember sailing with these dinosaurs?

For a larger view go to here: http://www.bluestarline.org/Brush_Diesel/Bush_Diesel.html

Kevin has an interesting website featuring these engines at: http://brush-oilengines.webeden.co.uk/

I remember them well,I did a 6 month trip in the "Australia Star" in 1961 and then sailed in her on her final coastal discharge trip and the run to the scrapyard in 1964.
The fridge flat was certainly a sight to see ,low headroom,2 Brush diesels clunking away, and since the entrance to the flat was on the engine top landing, you had the fuel haze from the upper middle platform to cope with as well as the noise.
They must have been the only ships in the company, where the Frigies boiler suits were as dirty as the Mains engineers. You worked hard and helped each other out and when the job was done you then " played" hard ".
There always seemed to be a great crowd of Engineers on those old ships and a lot of joking and leg pulling going on.
In the brochure on the fridge machinery, it gives the impression that all the ships of the "Imperial" class had J & G Hall machinery fitted, but the "Australia Star" had Liverpool Refrigeration Co fitted, so perhaps it was only the first 3 ships that had that type and the rest had Halls equipment.
They were certainly dinosaurs, but life on watch was never dull as there was always a lot to do to, so time seemed to pass pretty quickly.
Best Regards
Bob Smark

Some interesting photos from Liverpool Refrigeration Co, brochure at: http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Liverpool_Refrigeration_Co

Re the Liverpool Fridge Co, I have looked at the factory records again. These show that only one ship (2 engines) were supplied to Liverpool these being serial numbers 164 and 165 - so this must have been the Australia Star. 4 more engines were made in this batch (no's 160-163) that went to the Imperial Star (H&W build 933) and New Zealand Star (H&W build 934).

All very acedemic. What is important is that Bobs comments are most welcome.

Kevin Parsons

Bob Smark wrote:I remember them well,........

I too remember them well!
I joined the Australia Star 1 in June 1955 - she was my first deep-sea vessel, and I was Junior Frig Engineer for the run home. The following trip we took oranges from Jamaica to NZ, and I was put on the fridge for the whole trip. Then I was made 2nd freezer, where I stayed till I left in November 1957.

Those Brush diesels...
Barring them over to the correct start position – by hand at the flywheel with a 5' iron bar.
The cracked layshaft casing we kept “repaired” with plaster of paris from the Mate's first aid chest.
And..
Breaking up drums of solid calcium to make the brine.
The brine-room door which had no handle on the inside. I actually got locked in there on one occasion!

Lots of other memories, but this thread is about fridge machinery.

Bob Smark wrote:I
....In the brochure on the fridge machinery, it gives the impression that all the ships of the "Imperial" class had J & G Hall machinery fitted, but the "Australia Star" had Liverpool Refrigeration Co fitted, so perhaps it was only the first 3 ships that had that type and the rest had Halls equipment...
Bob Smark

Strangly enough, the Australia Star's domestic fridge units were Hall's - never had to touch them all the time I was there (IIRC).