Laurence Hogg

So we can all remember that BW used "Blue & Yellow" as a livery. Despite a directive for the application of the livery being sent to all that mattered only a few followed the guidelines to the letter. Bulls Bridge certainly did (most of the time) but places like Bradley had a completely different interpretation. Below is a "Red Bull" yard interpretation and probably the most diverse of all! And Bradley stencil jobs! This was a Bulls Bridge variant: A Uxbridge version on a ex FMC motors: Proper job here: Simple job here: Just how many can you find?

I thought I sent you all the details you need for this? Did you not get them? Irrespective of the cabin shape line widths and layout remain the same unless it was docked at Bradley who had their own version!

The mystery deepens! John Hill got in touch last night and confirmed that he did not paint this can, the style is similar to his but the type of paint used is different and he did not sign his work. So, any ideas who DID paint this can? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=152531167203

What a superb trio, proper boats for the canal too!

Broken cast is easily repairable, CRT could do it at Bradley or they have a contractor in my village that they use. (If they are bothered that is!).

Its a GWR nameplate which was removed when the owner sold the craft on. Peacock now rots away at the BCLM underused and like so many other floating exhibits in musuems would be better preserved on the hard in a building or covered area.

All Bantocks were horse boats, none were intended to be butty's when built. Anything converted will have no relation to the original hull as intended. Don't forget the original Bantock boats were composite but with a wooden lower strake in the side.

Apologies! Pete is dead right it is Pleione I had misread the data!!! (must be age related ;( )

There is no fully restored Bantock around. No one knows the livery or exact detail of these boats when in service. A couple of pictures exist of GWR ones but these are not in colour. Whilst the designs are well known scant detail is available.

Very good picture, haven't seen that before. The motor is ex GUCCCo "Pleione" which broke off its tow and ended up there, it has since been wrecked and a salvage attempt many years ago pulled it to bits, today only the engine beds are identifiable at certain tides. Theres plenty of "spare parts" in the rocks, ie knees etc. Alan Brown (late) identified the boat from a recovered gunwale gauging marker plate. The three pictures below date from the mid 1980's, today only the engine beds are visible (usually visible on google earth). Last image shows the engine beds in the mud from todays GE image.

Many BCN tugs towed with variations, they used chains or multiple hitches to attach the lines when towing multiple boats.

Absolutely correct. Some were still in situ in the late 70's and early 80's. Very good way of saving water providing they were used sensibly.

My money would be on Mildenhall lock, the factory is I believe part extant although I haven't been there for a long time.

Nice to see all together. How depressing the grey cabin interior must have been. the colour was still intact in part of "Umbriel's" cabin when we had her.

This is "Water Rambler" in her second guise. The original conversion retained the full height bow but was found to obstruct the forward view so remedial action was taken after the first year and part of the "top bend" and the bow removed as seen here. A commercial postcard exists of the boat as originally built: also two pictures in the BW collection: http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw192.2.4.1 http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw192.2.4.2

I really don't know what all the fuss is about. Its a great idea and should have been done years ago. However there's nothing to worry about CRT doesn't have enough enforcement officers and staff to cope now and certainly will not have enough to implement this. Come the worst where are they going to put the "inpounded" offenders craft? They could bring in third parties.... Wait for the "show" case to happen then it will fade away just like most good ideas do in CRT & former BW.

The boats were full length and curiously referred to a "River" class motors, they were entirely successful but far too late. The engines were bought in "Harbourmaster" powerdrives fitted with a Perkins from memory. Harbourmaster are still a going concern in the USA: http://www.harbormastermarine.com/

codecs are for viewing video, normal pc updates usually cure the problem.

your codecs need updating.

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Another "New" film GUCCCo addicts wil love this!! http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-grand-union-canal-1938/ First "Reading " & "Tayport", lots of lighters, the GUCCo tug "Tring", "Calstock", "Renfrew", FMC "Lupin" & "Freda", FMC "Dureus" with a bulk and much more!

Its a new one on me too. Lovely shots of potters boats, I wonder what else thy have lying hidden? Still missing is "Many waters" from which many scenes in Barging along are taken, also the FMC publicity film and lord knows what else.

Shropshire Union R&C Co "Trench" boats would have passed without problem, but are these dimensions accurate? Many a GU boat been up the Llangollen at 7ft 1/2".

What a dreadful story, but so believable sadly. What future for the other wrecks at E Port? Maybe time overdue for CRT to be removed from control of these sites.