springy

Pages 127 - 129 (Chapter 23 - Harecastle Tunnels) of L.T.C. Rolt's "Narrowboat" have a description of his passage behind the electric tug, and of ballasting Cressy down to give adequate clearance under the overhead power line. The description suggests a single conductor overhead and the motion achieved by a winch picking up a "second cable" laid in the bed of the canal, and paying it back out astern. He also mentions "Vivid blue sparks" from the overhead conductor. A photograph published in Canal Boating Times, November 2015, has a fairly clear image of the tug showing a single overhead pickup. Another photograph published in "Narrowboats at Work", Michael E. Ware, 1980, shows , according to the caption, the Chatterly end of the tunnel and one of the original Battery powered tugs, the battery bank carried in a second boat towed behind the tug. On a slightly different note a pathe video https://www.britishpathe.com/video/electric-canals shows experiments with a two conductor overhead trolley on the Staffs & Worcester at Kidderminster. springy

Line in an Express & Star report of a tree brought down, little details except tree down across towpath and a boat was struck. nothing on C&RT yet. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2020/02/09/warnings-as-storm-ciara-crashes-into-the-midlands/ springy

sabb 1gg, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-18HP-MARINE-DIESEL-ENGINE/303441296433?hash=item46a682bc31:g:q5UAAOSwn~JeGcGn springy

I've lost at least two evenings browsing around nls maps on this very subject, being able to overlay satellite views with o.s. maps is interesting but time absorbing. great bridge https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.81325934105347&lat=52.5331&lon=-2.0334&layers=6&b=4 switching to the current satellite view i almost seem to see the tracks springy

other brands are available https://www.nulon.com.au/products/aerosols/start-ya-bastard-instant-engine-starter springy

realised just after hitting submit springy

deleted - misread post springy

Lawrence Hogg listed the different shapes here :- https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/43402-bcn-registration-plates/ springy

I think what Heartland means is that as a day boat she would not have had a "sanitary" registration and "Registered at Birmingham" or anywhere is not appropriate. B.C.N. 1606 should be on a cast plate (with variously shaped corners depending on when it was gauged) allowing toll clerks to identify the boat in their gauging tables. springy

Looks right to me, tallys well with 1903 6" O.S. springy

marshmallows anyone ? springy

ATV (now Central) 1972 interview with Ernie Thomas https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-04121972-canal-millionaire-ernie-thomas several other interesting videos on the site as well springy

AS2 (?) on sawbench https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stationary-engine-saw-bench/153686812041?hash=item23c872a589:g:jeEAAOSwrSpdZnIj springy

Out of curiosity do any of the cables have a knot in them ? I've seen it done with all green/yellow - doubtless what was available, - green/yellow was positive and green/yellow with a knot in it was NOT positive ! springy

HR3 with a rather odd gearbox, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lister-Marine-diesel-engine/264480472549?hash=item3d9443bde5:g:q2wAAOSwOANco8KY springy

Grey paint on balance beams suggests they mean shropshire union rather than grand union, can't identify it though. springy

nls link for old hill, 6", 1888-1913 - unfortunately there are 14 basins/lay by between windmill end and gosty - mostly clearly associated with collieries, no sign of fishers dock, https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.52130223556615&lat=52.4726&lon=-2.0577&layers=6&b=4 springy

lift pump or injector pump ? the lift pump has a drain hole underneath it (almost impossible to see in situ) diesel from here is possibly the diaphragm leaking, it also has a rubber washer under the cap. springy

Well worth looking at some of his other videos - lots of hidden and historical stuff in and around manchester, another drained lock, culverted rivers and railway tunnels including standedge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xbtXYAlKhc springy

It sits wherever you like and a suitable length of tube carries the grease to the stern gland, just make sure you can turn the handle without loosing your knuckles, springy

IIRC Ex FMC steamer Count was shortened and a 5L2 fitted to become the tug Enterprise - used to work with 6 "hampton" boats behind. springy

Petter PJ3M & mechanical gearbox https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Petter-PJ3M-Marine-Engine-and-Gearbox/202638328975?hash=item2f2e2f848f:g:ILsAAOSwaAtciBSV springy

we did borrow one, but dutifully handed it at the southern portal, we were first through on that day and no one followed us in, besides my bugle playing is rubbish ! springy

went through about 12 months ago & were required to have a "powered" horn for emergency signals, a canister powered air horn was deemed acceptable springy

almost, - railway ones had B.R. moulded into the plastic, at least the one I have does ! same piece of kit - and yes bloody loud, but not acceptable for harecastle. springy