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24th November 2001.
The River Class butty DEE is for sale, and details are as follows. Built of steel in 1957, by Thames Launch Works Ltd of Teddington, for British Transport Waterways. Very solidly built, with deep knee and bottom frames, they were built to last. Details of butty "DEE" 72 ft River class butty. Converted, full liveaboard. 1 1/2 ton coal/wood store, utility room, washing machine. New gel battery. 2 x 40 gallon water tanks. Large saloon, 16 ft, free standing furniture, oak floor. Oregan s/f stove, almost new Rayburn/back boiler, full gas cooker. 4ft bath/shower, porta potti. New fixed double, 5 full wardrobes. Large Boatman's original cabin with Belle s/f stove comprising hot plates, large oven and side water tank. All new carpets throughout. 12v & 240v. BSS to Oct 2004. Full repaint just completed. Asking £33000 ono. Tel 01327 341926 or 07974 263243.
5th October 2001.
The Large Northwich motor boat, SHIRLEY is for sale, and currently in London. She has a twin National engine, is fully converted, and up for £32,000. If you're interested, e mail me and I'll pass it on. Good News; the SPITFIRE has been sold to very worthy owners, and will in the coming months be based on the Caldon Canal. This is very good news for the boat, the new owners already having considerable experience of working boats, their upkeep and navigation of; well done! A new volunteer group has emerged to look after the STOUR (Thos Clayton Motor,) and BIRCHILLS (BCN joey boat), at the Black Country Museum. Both are in relatively good condition, but with all wooden boats, need coutinual upkeep. Both boats have been docked at Bradeley Workshops for assessment, STOUR requiring new bottoms and bottom strake at the stern end, and BIRCHILLS needing a new back cabin. Both of course will be in need of a complete repaint.
3rd October 2001.
Recently brought to my attention is an advert for an Historic boat for sale, completely lost in the boats advertised by Canal Craft in Waterways World. Have a look at moored at Shardlow; a 46ft BCN tug by Harris's of Netherton; no name, but none other than the SPITFIRE. This boat was latterley used on the Chesterfield Canal as a trip boat, but is a true BCN tug. Let's hope the boat finds a worthy owner. Thanks for pointing this out to me! ROACH the FMC motor has headed South on the T&M empty, whilst ANNE, blue top heads North to the Macclesfield loaded with coal. Recently seen on the move was the ELK, FMC motor based at Poynton, fully converted with wooden cabin, and powered by a now vintage Petter PD2. At Stoke Marina is a wooden boat by the name of DAISY; no more details at present.
Recent News that the Large Northwich motor PURTON was jammed in the entrance to Napton Lock 4. Has the width of this lock come in in recent months, and have any other owners had problems here? BW commended on turning out so smartly.
30th September 2001.
Black Country Museum, Boater's Gathering, 29th & 30th .
An excellent event for the real enthusiasts, and visitors keen to learn more about working boats and their cargoes. Bernard Hales was in action on ENTERPRISE with 3 Joey boats in tow, and FMC EMPRESS made a brave sight loaded with housecoal, with the fore end bends half out of sight. The line up was as follows;
On the canal frontage, SANDBACH, Yarwoods LMS tug in LMS livery; BARNET, Large Woolwich in BW livery; BUCKDEN, Large Woolwich, Metro & Midland livery; ALTON, Large Woolwich BW livery; ANNE, Blue top prototype; CALLISTO, Small Woolwich GUCC livery; ENTERPRISE, FMC/BCN tug; RADIANT, Middle Northwich; REGULUS, Middle Northwich; EMPRESS, FMC steamer; RUDD, FMC Motor blue livery; DORY, FMC motor FMC livery; HADLEY, Large Woolwich in BW colours, PETREL, FMC Motor; CORONA, Small Woolwich; DITTON, LMS station boat; GREYHOUND, FMC motor; BLETCHLEY, Large Woolwich; CLENT, wooden FMC motor in FMC livery, SCULPTOR, small Northwich.
In the museum arm were; LINDSAY and KEPPEL, BW Admirals, BELLATRIX, Small Northwich; PEACOCK, FMC motor; GIFFORD, Thos Clayton horseboat; STOUR, Thos Clayton motor; SPEY, Thos Clayton motor, BIRCHILLS, BCN day boat; KILDARE, FMC butty boat; LEO small Northwich butty; LYNX, FMC motor; LAMPREY, FMC motor; ETHEL, LMS station boat; STARLING, Cowburn & Cowpar motor. ETHEL is paired with STARLING, and painted in Cowburn & Cowpar livery; the best the owner could do to get a Cowburn butty. (Question; did a Josher butty go to Cowburn's for a short period; ie BELGIUM?) Tugs were represented by CHRISTOPHER JAMES and JAMES LOADER, both wooden of Leonard Leigh, and HELEN, an iron Harris's Leigh tug. A wharfe boat not visible, but sunk and now part of the arm edge was the BILL, (if you know where to look)! Other boats in the arm were HANLEY, FMC motor with side plate damage evident, the ice breaker ROSS; the GOVERNOR, Matty BCN tug; JUBILEE, Midlands & Coast motor; and the AQUARIOUS, small Woolwich motor. On the bank is the DIAMOND, Midlands & Coast, and a recently raised, (from the museum arm) BCN iron joey. Any offers on any more that left early on Sunday! All in all an excellent do, only made possible by the many hours of hard work, and financial commitment by the boat owners and crews in presenting the boats so well. It was good to see the younger boating enthusiasts handling boats so well. Thanks to Paul for your info.
17th September 2001.
Thanks for all the e mails on Historic Boats, that I now hope to comment on, and add to.
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G.U.C.C.C0 TAPLOW; sunk...and raised!! Late in year 2000, the wooden butty TAPLOW sank not far off Stone on the Trent & Mersey Canal. This could well have been the result of a passing boat breaking ice. Efforts to raise her, with the assistance of BW initially failed, due to insufficient pumps being available. As a last resort, the whole pound was drained, and the boat refloated. Without local assistance, and an understanding BW attitude, this boat would probably have been broken up from the tow path, and another one gone. A day later it was on it's way to Charity Dock for restoration. |
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....................................................................................Taplow, sunk on the Trent & Mersey near Stone.
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Historic boats ROACH and HANLEY crushed in Bevere Lock on the River Severn. In Mid August, HANLEY and ROACH, loaded with coal, and a third pleasure boat , all entered Bevere Lock near Worcester. As the level lowered, the 3 boats became jammed, as the lock sides come in well off the vertical. Fortunately there were no injuries to the crews involved. The water drained away, leaving the boats suspended in mid air, with minor damage to ROACH, and more seroius damage to HANLEY, with buckled side plates.
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.........Ex F.M.C. ROACH..... typically fully loaded...............
....John and Jenny Jackson on ROACH are on the move again, and currently at Acton Bridge. Their coming route will be up the Macclesfield, then back down to Harecastle and on the T&M. if you want coal, give them a ring on 07885 284812.
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Harris's of Netherton tug in safe hands. Until recently this very early pusher tug was on the bank at Booth Lane near Sandbach. It then disappeared, but we are pleased to hear from the owner, in Cheshire, that restoration is under way. For many years this boat was at Tipton in the late Caggy Stevens yard. It had a Lister JP3 as the original engine, and a 4 bladed prop. The boat was built for Hardy Spicer's, and used with 54ft day boats; it being necessary to fit both in BCN locks. A more recent name of this boat is CAMBRAI, but could the original name be LION. Any ideas or more info? |
Any news of these fine GUCC boats; have they moved yet from Foxton?
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Narrowboats returning to nature, but not for sale, and to be restored. COLESHILL and VIRGINIS of Foxton Boat Services.
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