archie57

That "Margaret" was a wooden potteries boat, as was the "Aston", the "Pamela" being an iron boat

...and I thought it was because the ashtrays were full......

Is it really worth restoring these canals if they are linked to linear housing developments - what with that and endless linear moorings the time will come when you won't see any cows or sheep!

There are far too many linear moorings on our waterways, and I would like to see less of them! Long lines of moored boats are unattractive to look at, especially when accompanied by landing stages, sheds, junk etc. etc. And as for being expected to slow down for what seems like mile after mile.....! (I'm now looking for my tin hat!)

http://www.hollinwoodcanal.co.uk/gallery/gallery023.htm That's where I've seen this before!

Fools Nook, Hollinwood Branch, Ashton Canal?

This beam has been broken now for something like 4 weeks. 30 years or so ago "Happy" Smith and the team from Hillmorton yard would have been out and at least made a temporary repair within half a day while waiting for a new one. ( New ones don't grow on trees....!)

If Hurleston is anything to go by, they'll be "monitoring" it for the next 20 years..........

Many years ago, Olga Kevelos was interviewed by Libby Purves ( I think for Womans Hour) in the cabin of the "Cassiopeia", which Olga reckoned was a motor they had at the time. I'm not sure about this, was her memory playing tricks? Bill Hambridge certainly had this boat from about 1943, were the trainees active before this?

I wouldn't have said I was there, on the lockside, if I hadn't been - I don't make these things up!

I was there at the time and all I will say is that this is a gross exaggeration.

If the "British Waterways" lettering here aren't transfers, the signwriter should have been sacked!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lister-JP2-engine-and-PRM-gearbox/192291207248?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D7142e7ded17043c7819812fad1cfd7d8%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D182726303736&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

Myself and a friend went along and helped Binkie Bush many years ago, I think early 1970. We joined him at the bottom of Wolverhampton and went to Norton Canes to collect a boat which we then took down to Warwick where I was considered surplus to requirements (only needed for bowhauling down the 19!) and left the boats there. What I remember most was the (seemingly!) sub-zero temperatures and Binkie's insistence on having his brass polished - put me off for life - my portholes are painted!

I seem to recall Bob Bush telling me that he had much material from the Toll Office at Sutton Stop - where he spent a lot of time with the "Capella"

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lister-CS2-Narrow-Boat-Marine-Engine-and-PRM-260-Gearbox-Starts-and-runs-/192271318357?hash=item2cc4437d55:g:X00AAOSwcNxZih-0

There were places where the gates were never fitted with beams, the River Stort being one example - not sure if they were all like this though.

Unless I've missed something, no-one has yet mentioned meeting an oncoming boat in the bridge - I've done it myself here.

As you say, they were designed to be closed by gravity, i.e. dropped. As I see it, if you can't drop them they aren't being maintained properly. When I was boating with youth groups, I was happy for them to wind them up, but was always a bit worried about letting them wind them down, safer to knock off the catch.

Yes!

https://www.search.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk/Details.aspx?&ResourceID=92&PageIndex=4&SearchType=2&ThemeID=247 This isn't an Oxford Canal drawbridge, I think it's the last one on the Warwick and Napton canal near Napton Junction, whose remains still exist on the towpath side - what does the team think?

Brownsover?

Regarding Bulls Bridge fleet (yes I know there were variations elsewhere) yellow lines round the cabin 3 inches wide, the "Reg at" lettering had to be 2" tall (legal requirement I believe), shading to RHS - remember a lot of the "British Waterways" lettering done by transfer shaded RHS ( hence the odd-looking arc - as in the picture of the "Gorse") so the other bits had to match - not to say there wasn't LH shading when it was done by hand.

Does this help.... http://www.waterwaysmuseum.org.uk/item/a-motorboat-skipper-preparing-to-take-the-butty-in/7470

Deja vu - I think we talked about this document not so long ago.......