The Willans air-blast injection diesel starting and running at the Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club. Only running on two cylinders as the fuel system needs further work (including some backfires from the third!). This video contains footage from two separate runs of the engine.

This engine was built around 1928 (serial number ID219) and is rated 250 hp at 220 rpm.
It was one of two engines that were purchased new by Carlton & United Breweries Ltd. (CUB) in Melbourne in 1928 to serve as backup generators, directly coupled to DC generators which were replaced by AC alternators in the 1930s.
While the fate of the second engine is unknown, the first engine was replaced by a larger standby unit and stored at the Abbotsford Brewery in 1950, before it was later moved a second time and was installed at the Yorkshire Brewery in Collingwood around 1953.
The engine continued to serve as a backup generator until the big-end conrod bearing of cylinder 2 failed in 1969. CUB decided to scrap the engine, but this fortunately did not happen, and the engine was later removed for preservation in 1982.
In 1988, the engine was donated to the Museum of Victoria where it remained until 2010 when it was donated to the Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club. After 12 years of extensive restoration, the engine is finally operational after more than 50 years.

This engine is based on Rudolf Diesel's original design which was first built under licence by Willans & Robinson Ltd. in 1904. The company was acquired by English Electric in 1919 who continued to build these engines under the Willans name until the 1930s.

This engine is the only known running example. Details here:
https://www.melbournesteam.com.au/wil...

Date recorded: 10 March 2024
Recording equipment:
- iPhone XR
- Kaiser Baas S1 Gimbal
Editing software:
- MacBook Air M1
- iMovie

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