nbfiresprite

Correct that for you.

It is true fact, it was back in the late 1990's, the late owner come down the Nene from the GU through the locks that had been ‘reversed’ while heading for the Middle Level. Back then all the guillotine gates were manual, he just wound the gate up and went through. At the time he did think it was a bit odd that the upper gates had been chained backed on some locks. The only damage other than paintwork was one window. The boat was moored on the coal yard moorings next to the railway bridge in March until a few years ago.

This cropped up on my facebook feed from the canal market place. If your looking for something thats different, it may suit you. https://www.facebook.com/12VCopper-108438001808835/shop/

Find a nice handy bridge to paint under. As murphy's law means that as soon as you painted the roof, it will cloud over and rain

He had been reading a history book on canals before hiring. On some canals in the past e.g. the Oxford, marker posts some distance from lock gates giving precedence at the lock to the boat first to the marker. Apparently introduced to try to calm down commercial traffic that otherwise would race each other right up to lock entrance resulting in collisions, damage to lock gates and to fights. First boatman to crack their whip against the post had precedence.

That is the case with hirers, but as anyone will tell you, who has had the job of instruction hirers. You can explain, but you can not make them listen, they more concerned with setting off. Which why some hirers get a bad name.

Up on the the South Tynedale narrow guage Railway on the old Haltwhistle to Alston branch line (close 1976). They have been testing the use of sawdust logs on their Hunslet 0+4+2 tank engine 'Green Dragon'. Noted on my visit, that extra logs had to be carried in the guards van as the bunker on the engine could carry a fuel days fuel if coal but not with sawdust logs, the fireman had to work harder stoking the fire with logs on the climb back up to Alston. The Barry railway is doing tests using blazer logs with a small standard guage tank engine on their line.

Which is how the Anglia Revenues Partnership deem a berth holder be charged council tax on a mooring. It you cannot provide a council tax bill with your name on it for another address. Proves a problem for people who's 'primary residence' is else where and their name is not on the bill or live overseas.

Had a good meal at the Old BoatHouse at Higher Green Line Bridge, Astley Green(Just east of Leigh). Had a look around the Mining Museum the following day.

They not soft, They have to control a class nowaday with very limited powers and the risk of being sued. I blame the namby panby childless Social workers who think that you should not punsh a child for misbehaving and that you should have a little chat instead. We all seen the effects of this policy, out of control kids roaming the streets causing trouble where ever they go. The day that caning in school was banned, was the day that teachers lost effected control.

Foxes has a stop planks ready for use along with a overhead hand crane to lower them in place plus a pump. Bill Fen at Ramsey has lockgates. The problem here in the Fens is keeping the water out of the marina when the river levels are high.

Foundry Arms, I remember that as a very rough pub back in the 1970's, fights every nights.

I remember these pumps and with the older ones in a power cut, you could insert a big hander and pump by hand. Useful in the rolling blackouts of the 1970's

Turners Garage SU 14p litre, Gayton Junction 42p litre, Wille Watts 26p per litre, Stanground 23p litre (2001 prices)

Being on the inside of a bend , it would quickly slit up. Must be hell for the locals on matchday, with the roads outside their houses blocked with parked cars. Some distance to the nearest bus stop, even further to the nearest tube and rail station. Putney Pier by Putney Bridge is the most westly stop of the clipper service from Westminster Pier. Putney bridge marks the start of the speed limit upstream. As the rowing clubs are upsteam of the Putney pier, I can see their point about safety concerning the clipper boats, not so much from the wash due to the speed limit on this section more of a case when the clipper boats are turning round.

Its on the Fleur Anderson website as well https://www.fleuranderson.co.uk/2022/03/31/press-release-the-future-of-putney-boat-race-is-being-put-at-risk-by-fulham-football-club-pier-plans/ Bit more detail here https://www.ranelaghsc.co.uk/ffc-pier/

Lots of room to turn.

Cosgrove is not that much deeper, I hooked the front of the baseplate under the metal strap along the top of the timber there once about 20 years. Held the front of the boat down until it started to lift the timber. But which time I dropped the top paddles and open the bottom ones. The timber dropped back into place. Next time the boat was out the water, I modified the baseplate to prevent it happing again.

I known the one you mean, I was told the tale by one of the Great Yarmouth lifeboat crew. He set off at first light crusing out of Great Yarmouth passed the Harbour masters office. The harbour master who had only just arrived tried to call him back by radio. When that did't work called out the lifeboat who followed them up coast while using a loudhailer to try persuade him to turn back or at least move futher out to sea as he was crusing only half mile offshore. The wind picked up as did the waves that close to the shore. The lifeboat did try to get close to take him, at that point water was getting too shallow for the lifeboat. The narrowboat rolled over and was washed up on the shore. The owner was pulled out the sea by the Coastguard who had been following along the coast.