stort_mark

According to the Heritage Railway Association, in 2005 there were 6 million visitors to heritage railways in the UK, and 4.2 million passenger train-miles were operated.

No, he was preparing his digital camera for the person on the....errr......bow to take a photo. The copper was bright enough to realise that it was unlikely that any of the 6,000 people present for the working boat procession would take a photo of three policemen being ferried around Little Venice in a boat smaller than a Tupperware lunch box.

It's on the starboard side, hidden by one of the policemen's legs. As seen here....

The WRG never wear lifejackets, silly!

Exactly which part of SDA 1975 does it contravene?

Being (hopefully temporarily) boatless, I always worry at going to some of these big events as they have always seemed a little cliquey. Old blokes in dungarees and bright neckerchiefs drinking Black Dog and wistfully bemoaning the fact that they don't make Land Rover gearboxes the way they did in the 1950s, and small clusters of nattering magpies posing artfully in the doorways of their vintage something or other. It can be enlightening to encourage a nearby kid to ask "Oy mister, is it made out of plastic?": you get that original boatman-in-a-fury scene! The "2008 You Know Where You Can Stuff Your Lionel Munk Award" was the wonderfully prosaic 26ft Viking cruiser moored up opposite NB Brighton at the Harrow Road Bridge. In fact, the Cavalcade - and there's a lot more of it today - was great fun, and even my two kids were impressed. They love boats but struggle to see the sense of a waterways festival. The arguments to get them out of bed and onto the train include assurances that it's not all Rosie and Jim and painted castles. No, not all of it. Not every single part of it! For those who don't know Little Venice, it's a cramped location near London's Paddington Station where the Regent's Canal swings away from the Paddington Arm, just before the latters' conclusion at the Paddington Basin. The triangular junction has space for around 100 boats, stern moored, and the whole affair is like an advert for a cheap Lincolnshire off-line marina. Behind the boats, along 100 yards of what is now officially Europe's narrowest towpath, is a motley collection of vendors everything from herbs ("Get yer prostrate rosemary here!") to bric-a-brac (mainly of the completely brac variety) and lots of cunningly New Age stuff. With a few notable exceptions there are, rather sadly, few stands of waterways charities or hire companies. The WRG, of course, are there in red T-shirted glory (and a yellow boat the size of a large Canada goose) but other than the IWA's grandstand and the NBT's Brighton open for display, there is little else. To be fair, there are several community narrowboats and BWB educational boats, but fewer than I would expect of others....no Wey & Arun Stand, no EAWA, no Chelmer volunteers, no Chesterfield Canal Trust, no Buckingham Canal Society and - no Waterways Trust. Does the Waterways Trust still exist? Are they still collecting museums? The venue was packed much of the day, and there was always something to see or do, and if there wasn't you could always push someone in to see if Community Support Police Officers are actually trained in anything other than using a mobile phone and chatting to their mates. There was a big range of food, served from a darkened alleyway underneath the Westway - perhaps one of the oddest food-courts in modern times. A bit like having a McDonalds in the depths of the Bora-Bora Caves of Afghanistan. So a day after coming away from the 2,000 Guineas 500 quid better off, I couldn't find much to spend it on. Other than Black Dog. At which point, my memory becomes slightly hazy, yer honour. At least the camera kept working.

Love the name of the first boat in the register. If they ever shortened the boat, they could rename it "-"

I am disappointed that not a single flash lock seems to have survived to the present day. It would appear that the last working flash lock was at either Castle Mills Lock on the Great Ouse in Bedford or Eaton Hastings on The Thames...or perhaps someone knows of one that lasted longer somewhere else? It is ironic that the Castle Mills Lock was finally swept away as part of a restoration effort, I think in 1978 - although it was derelict by then. However, I wonder if there is the possibility of restoring a flash lock somewhere? Any possible restored flash lock would need to be at the very margins of the network, because they are clearly incredibly difficult to use and result in considerable loss of water. The staunch at Bottisham would seem to be a good location (see separate thread that started all this!). By coincidence, it is also on the route of a proposed major cycleway (between Cambridge and Wicken Fen) so would get plenty of visitors. I am sure that flash lock stonework exists in many locations, although the staunch at Bottisham is right next to a public road so may be more easily accessible than many sites. There is a working flash lock capstan, also by the Thames and restored in 1999, in the grounds of Wittington House between Henley and Marlow at the former Hurley flash lock: this particular lock was converted to a pound lock in 1773. Although no flash lock survives anywhere in Britain (by stating this so bluntly, I am really hoping that someone is going to prove me wrong!), there are three weirs on the River Thames at Northmoor, Rushey and Radcot weirs. I understand all three continue to use the paddles and rymers principle of water level control. (See web page here) Technically, I imagine that these could actually be used as a flash lock if someone hauled a small boat through the gap. Perhaps even use by a canoe would constitute real usage of it as a flash lock! So…which was the last working flash lock? Or is there one working in Britain somewhere now? Should one be restored somewhere? If so, where?

(Is it me or is the Internet shockingly slow this evening? Every page is taking several minutes to load! I used to have quicker access in Vietnam!) These are good photos...but are there any flash locks still in existence? Are there any remains on the Teme or the Stour?

Does it exist? Or is it a rhetorical sunken boat?

Perhaps an update of Baldwin's Canal Books would be a start. However, it is clearly aimed at book collectors as there is an emphasis on value. It was this book that helpfully explained the 'Hadfield pyramid' with his single volume British Canals at the top, then the twelve titles in the Canals of the British Isles and then the 19 titles of the Inland Waterways Histories. It was also in Baldwin's book where I learnt that the Ballinamore & Ballyconnell Canal was only ever used by 15 boats, and given the book's appearance in remainder shops, there was according to Baldwin, seemingly little need for either canal or shop. At the same time, as an example, Oakwood Press' "Wilts & Berks Canal" by L.J. Dalby is better than most of the D&C guides. Sorry. I was thinking of Oakwood Press, not Moorland.

I also noticed the emphasis on the west of the country! Given the takeover, and the fact that the canal books do not show up at all on the D&C website, it wouldn't surprise me if the publishers were prepared to sell the series to another publisher. Isn't this the kind of series that Moorland are good at.....even though they are mainly railway publishers. Come to think of it, didn't they publish some canal books as well?

In practice, many social charges are a mixture of both. Often expressed as a standing charge and a usage charge. Agree fully. Actually, it/they probably are well-managed, but modern-day communications and transparency obligations mean that any slip-up is highly publicised and scrutinised.

Using average wages from a historical date makes it quite difficult to make meaningful comparisons, because you need to remember what "X,000 quid" felt like and what it bought. Hence the rationale for bringing old prices into today's language instead. You can use the PPP Index, but again the same problem as using the CPI. Also levels of taxation have changed substantially since then. The Treasury has various indices, including average incomes.

Below is the annual inflation rate going back to 1970, which is based on the CPI. I have it going back to the middle of the 13th Century but as only a few people on this forum have boats that old, it's probably not worth providing it all. The third column is the inflation rate expressed as an index, and can be used to convert any two years. 1970 6.37% 45.35 1971 9.40% 49.62 1972 7.13% 53.15 1973 9.22% 58.05 1974 16.02% 67.35 1975 24.18% 83.64 1976 16.50% 97.44 1977 15.88% 112.92 1978 8.30% 122.29 1979 13.41% 138.69 1980 17.97% 163.61 1981 11.86% 183.01 1982 8.59% 198.73 1983 4.63% 207.93 1984 4.95% 218.23 1985 6.09% 231.52 1986 3.40% 239.39 1987 4.16% 249.35 1988 4.91% 261.59 1989 7.76% 281.89 1990 9.46% 308.56 1991 5.87% 326.67 1992 3.75% 338.92 1993 1.59% 344.31 1994 2.42% 352.64 1995 3.47% 364.88 1996 2.41% 373.67 1997 3.14% 385.40 1998 3.43% 398.62 1999 1.53% 404.72 2000 2.96% 416.70 2001 1.76% 424.03 2002 1.67% 431.12 2003 2.89% 443.58 2004 2.98% 456.79 2005 2.84% 469.77 2006 3.17% 484.66 2007 4.29% 505.45 For example, my crusty WW of January 1984 tells me that I can take a Hoseasons holiday for as little as 24 pound per person. That sum is the same as 55.59 in today's money (505.45/218.23*24.00). So can I get a Hoseason's holiday today for less than 55.59 per head. Haven't time to look through the Hoseason's brochures but reckon that there is probably not much in it. One boatyard in west London was offering hard-standing for boats at 20p per foot plus VAT. That would be 46 pence per foot plus VAT now. FMC Holland was on sale for 15000 plus VAT, which would be 34,722 using the inflation indicator. That seems cheaper than you might expect. A top of the range, two year old David Piper 60ft boat was on sale in early 1984 at 30,000. That's 69,500 today. Again seems less than you might expect. And, from the Whilton Marine advert, it is clear that GRP boats are a lot cheaper now than they were then! In the early 1980s, of course, companies were willing to print prices in a monthly magazine, but not any more, so it's difficult comparing prices. Also, everything is sold metric now and in a multitude of options. In 1984, you bought a 36ft x 24ft boat cover. Period. Now, you need to specifiy 500 different options. An Ordnance Survey map then? 2.45 which is the same as 5.67; in fact they are 6.49 so have exceeded inflation. However, using these kinds of tables requires a lot of caution because of the circular nature of it all. For example, a friend bought his house for 3000 in 1971, so it should be worth 30,561 by now. In fact, it's worth a tad more. A shedload of tads, in fact. So no conclusive answers....but interesting to look at whether prices really have increased more than 'consumer' price inflation!

It's a pity that WW or one of the other mags doesn't run a Cost of Boating Index. Based on a basket of boatong related items. It would be valuable to see how much the different elements cost.

No. Pay As You Go suggestions are not ludicrous. I don't like them myself much, but it is becoming 'the norm' in many areas where previously there were lump sum charges. In terms of "thin end of the wedge" then welcome to 21st Century Britain: like it or not, you are more monitored now than you ever have been. But this is not an argument about monitoring, it is about access pricing and whether it is fair. Some will say it is, others will say it is not. The best arguments against access pricing is to suggest viable alternatives, preferably coherently and with a minimum of dribble and phlegm. The demands of the waterways community is compared, over time, with the demands of multiple other demands on the taxpayer's money: from everyone from astronomers, diplomats, the Army, English Heritage, nurses, etc.

I don't disagree with you, but wonder if anyone has real evidence (like for like costs) going back a few years on the 'cost of boating'. I'd be interested to know just how much it is going up.

Damn! Wish I'd seen that boat before you did. <sigh> I'd be really interested to know how much you spend to bring it "up to standard".

The analogy with road pricing is a pretty good one. There are plenty of advocates and plenty of critics, but the "system" has been working (regardless of whether you are for it or against it) in some places for 20 years. There's some good commentary here. The convergence of multiple technologies is tending to lead us towards devices that can (again, like it or not) provide incresaingly accurate tracking (for example) such that a GPS chip could be used to track, to the metre, how much a boat, car or person moves. This kind of kit could - and probably will - end up being used for charging purposes. A useful test of people's attitudes towards things is to consider how much they would be prepared to pay not to have certain things. There is often a tendency to very bitterly oppose proposals, of any kind, but without an acceptable alternative (to a wider community), a simple "no" campaign can lead to even more unacceptable outcomes. I feel there is, sadly, an inexorable move towards charging for everything that can be measured, ostensibly as a way of democratising everything. Someone earlier mentioned whether we should be paying for ambulance, police and other services; while there are plenty who would argue that we should, remember that ours is a leisure activity that will never be perceived in the same sense of a 'common good' as an ambulance, police response or a fire engine. (Even if you live on the waterways continuously - whether moored or continuously cruising - the same principle holds). As well, as the inevitable increasing demand for Pay As You X, there is also a demand for less tax, less government; yet the calls for increased spending are found in every part of society. There isn't a government department in Britain (nor has there ever been probably) that has said to the Treasury...."We've got more than we need, so cut back on our budget this year". Wherever there's a lobby in the UK, there's a demand for cash from the government and the taxpayer. So if there is a declining budget for waterways, combined with decreasing tolerance from the waterways public for any further increases in any fee or tariff, where do we go next? The cash will dry up. I have a lot of sympathy, however, for the arguments I've heard on this forum many times, that it is about time local authorities started paying their way. Looking back through a few EIAs for proposed waterway restorations, every single time, the local authority bleats about how good it will be for the local economy. OK. Good. Now let's see your willingness, Local Authority, to fund that restored canal on a long-term basis! I know that these authorities often put finance into the capex, but that's fairly easy and painless: we need sustainable maintenance for the entire system, and that's a lot less sexy and has a lot fewer headlines and photo opportunities, but is the difference between a thriving waterways scene and a network of stinking ditches. I also see no reason, whatsoever, why there cannot be a local land tax premium for developers that have made a fortune (show me a property developer in poverty) out of canalside developments but have put next to nothing back in to it.

Unless it is part of the "movement" part of the fee, that is.