Rusty Rivet

Could you borrow a coal boat and take a trip up the Welsh. 20 ton would last a few years. 😉

The boat might be loaded with feldspar, used in the manufacture of pottery. This could have been loaded at Weston Point or Runcorn docks.

These photos of small Ricky, Merope, were taken in the dry storage facility of Ellesmere Port Museum. Assuming these are the original fuel tanks as fitted by Walkers, they look very similar to those fitted to small Woolwich motors.

Think I'd better buy a lottery ticket! Dream property in Barlaston. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/79240434#/

It's my understanding that some boatmen carefully opened up the middle sections, turned them round then closed them down again. Then when the chain was hung on the chimney with the hooks inward it looked neater and was easier to polish. It was an ex-boatman that told me this, not certain who but it could have been George Wain.

It was built with a 'reverse' layout, engine in the stern and the cabin between engine room and hold. More information here: https://hnbc.org.uk/boats/willow Sorry don't know if it has a reversing gearbox or not, we weren't allowed to go on the boats so I had to hold my camera at arms length reaching in and hope the photos came out okay! CRT were doing trips to the warehouse during the Easter Boat Gathering. I believe access to the warehouse is by appointment only now through the museum.

Looking through some photos I took of the boats in the warehouse at Ellesmere Port, Easter 2018 and think this is the Petter in Oak. Must have been very noisy for the steerer!

Just to quash the rumour, as the current owner of Sudbury, she is most definitely NOT for sale and we intend to keep her for a very long time! Rob

Try G W Dale Ltd, Newcastle Street Burslem. I haven't used them personally but know a few people who have and they all rate Dales very highly. Rob

Don't worry you won't be alone, it's also my first gathering and I'm sure with an audience I'm going to make a hash of it! Especially as Sudbury has been shortened you can't let go of the tiller for a second or she heads for the bank! And in reverse she has a mind of her own, with loads of prop-walk; probably due to the 22" X 22" prop! See you there. Rob

Yes we're going and excited it is to be our first historic boat gathering now we own Sudbury. The main canal festival is being organised by an arts group but Etruria Boat Group are organising the historic boats. I have sent off an entry form and you can get one by contacting them at: info at etruria boat group volunteers dot org dot uk. I've typed it like that to prevent spambots getting hold of it! Rob

I guess G. O. B. could be 'Gathering of Boats'. Don't know about the other letters. Rob

I would definitely be interested and would have two. Rob

There's currently two Parsons F types for sale on Apollo Duck, ad says for parts. http://engines.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=459016 Rob

Have a look at Canal Cruising Company, www.canalcruising.co.uk They are based in Stone, Staffordshire, so on the Four Counties Ring and their boat Carey Ginger has a solid fuel stove. It has a fixed double and two singles which can be converted to make another double. Rob

I've just asked the owners of Canal Cruising Co to have a look but sadly it has gone!

Contact has now been made; many thanks to everyone who has helped. Rob

Yes Ditchcrawler that would be a great help thanks.

Canal Cruising Company's hire boat 'Carey Ginger' is currently somewhere on the Ashby Canal. The hirers have phoned the base to say they have a problem but didn't say where their exact location is. Canal Cruising Co have been unable to contact them, so if anyone on the Ashby sees 'Carey Ginger' please could you ask the hirers to contact the base again. Many thanks Rob

Could Lila Proof be an anagram!

I also agree with it being leaves fouling the prop. I once had to bow-haul a boat out of a lock because it was so full of leaves! Can't remember which one but it was on the Staffs and Worcs.

Thought it might be a typo and should read 3VRH. It's the same bore and stroke as a Lister JP - 4.5" X 5.5" but a bit more powerful - 49.5 horses @ 1500 rpm, there is a marine version 3VRHM 37.5 hp @ 1250 rpm. I believe the 3VRHZ was also used in narrow-gauge locos and cranes.

I totally agree. I recently read 'Idle Women' in which the author Susan Woolfitt recounts her experiences working narrow boats during WW2. I don't have the book to hand to give the exact quote but she describes winding as in "the wind that blows". I think she said "wind rhyming with pinned".

I do think the first image is Essex Bridge, taken from the Great Haywood end of the bridge. This photo clearly shows the downstream elevation of the bridge being simpler in construction than the image Alan posted, which I think was taken from the opposite bank and upstream of the bridge. This image also shows the bridge curving to the left at the far end, which can also be seen on Google Earth but I don't know how to post a link to this. [ Image by Shaun from Flickr ]

One or the other, not at the same time, that would taste disgusting