Derek R.

Thanks Kathryn, Roger came back to me with the answer very quickly. The steam grab was best for taking out spoil, but the chain grab was used in tight spots such as bridge'oles and the like. Nice shot of what could be No.14 from Laurence Hogg HERE. But on looking closer - I'm now sure is not! It's shorter overall, and I cannot see separate sponsons. Much other detail is also different, though likely similar plant and manufacturer. Derek

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to upload that video. Watching PERSEVERANCE at work - as well as the Bantams, was wonderful. I do have a query: When did the steam powered grab get replaced by a chain operated one? Or was there different periods when one was fitted as an alternative? The video claims to have been taken in the nineties, yet it has an earlier feel to it. There are pictures of PERSEVERANCE taken in the seventies with a chain/cable grab, and the bulk of the boiler room was in red. There is also a shot in Sonia Rolt's 'Canal People' of 'A Dredger' being towed past the unloading gantries on the Oxford reckoned to have been taken in the late forties. Looks like PERSEVERANCE to me. If anyone has trouble viewing the file in MP4, download VLC media player. It's free, then copy the file address and place in the VLC window to play. At least, that's what I had to do.

TYCHO's rivets that can be seen on the plating are in exactly the same place as they were before the new counter round was fitted - but originally less distinct. Elsewhere on the hull sides they were all nearly flush with a few exceptions. No welded washers there, hot riveting. The 'Z'bar. I'm loathe to call it a Ram's head, as I consider it (right or wrong) to be more associated with a Butty but Z is a shape it makes even though it 'sounds' odd, anyhow, I believe the square base ones were Northwich, and the round base Woolwich. PPS. Bet if I'd called it a Ram's head (and I'm happier with that name), someone would have said 'No, it's a Z bar, only butties had Ram's heads'. Betchya!

So, which is the bigger mug? Interesting 't's, but no artistry. I hope the seller bought it for 20p at a car boot. If I'd seen that at a car boot, I would have walked on. I guess that would make me the biggest mug . . . .

I am reliably informed by the guy who rebuilt TYCHO's back end, that the rivets held an angle within, on which would have been set the decking planks, and so the lower setting was correct to allow for the thickness of the wood deck and the cants. What is different and does look a bit odd, is that 'Birmingham' rivets (round headed ones?) have been used on TYCHO to fix the strakes. They really ought to have been countersunk rivets as per SICKLE. (I think they're riveted). That's TYCHO on the outside at Braunston 2008. Can you spot the Woolwich 'Z' bar?

Unlikely soot accumulation will stop by any engine rebuild. The short extension as shown in Ray's post would be a cheap and practical answer, unless something clouted it - a coping stone maybe. Historically exhaust went out through the roof, but from an engine room further forward. Putting it out the side or back is inclined to fill a lock chamber with fumes, though a steerer might experience smoke from a roof exhaust when under way. All depends on what the wind is doing and how tall a pipe is practical. With a stern located engine room, perhaps a cabin chimney disguising an exhaust might be one answer, although the cheapest answer is a drop of washing liquid on a cloth. Can't be doing that all day though, and 'skid marks' become the norm. I am inclined to favour your idea of the bilge pipe exiting through a skin fitting as culprit. I don't recall the precise layout without searching back through posts, but to have the pipe coming from the skin fitting run at least a foot higher than water level before descending to the pump would prevent any water running back if the skin fitting became submerged. Or if the skin fitting is already that far above water level, the same would basically apply. Water cannot be allowed to run in through such fittings unchecked. Fenders, well, I can see the button on the roof, but generally when placed one against another they should rise from the counter round, not left horizontal but rise - never droop! Little things make such a difference! Hope this isn't coming over as being picky, as I do realise a lot of effort has gone into getting PYTHON into the shape she is today, and through limited resources no doubt. Nice to see it about. All in all (lock included) progress!

Excellent effort all round. Another gateway opened. (Sorry - dreadful pun) Just need to sort the exhaust and fenders out now, shouldn't take long. Was it ever discovered what caused the boat to 'take a look'?

Interesting painting. Could it be recognised by any locals thereabouts? The bridge brings thoughts of why it was that way - subsidence, or deliberate? Or artists licence! At least the towpath side is high enough for a horse.

'Olympic village' - now there's bad language for you. But I think we've already been there - if not physically.

I think that handbowl has a 'Nurser' look about it. Maybe Ron Hough's work?

Take me back to '74, I want to live in that cottage and tend that garden. Do I see two children just behind the balance beam? Lovely picture.

Very good. Is that A J P Ritchie on the button accordian? Thanks for posting. PS. The trip boat view does look like 'VILLAGE TRUST' written on the cabin side. Hard to say.

Touché! I might add, though it's hearsay again, that during the early eighties when WATER LILLY was moored at Cow Roast someone said it was the fore end of OSTRICH. Can't remember who, and that person may have heard it from someone else, who heard it . . . . etc. etc. No proof.

So many pieces lost, changed, duplicated, and claimed true. So many 'Holy Grails'. Only so much is known from records as have been kept. The rest is conjecture and guesswork. Was not an 'E' left out of N Old R Send?

Spot on Mike. That's George Prentice driving XMB 15 (later re-numbered MBS 15 and known as the 'Yellow Peril' for it's fondness for breaking down), pulling out for Highfield on another of his regular runs back through Tring to the Station, and on certain runs on to Aldbury. The can's cranked spout helped stop spilling water over the bonnet and yourself. Mostly used on the RT's and RF's as they were non-pressurised and some were thirsty. The two RT's seen at the bottom of the ramp are red'uns - used as staff buses only to pick up staff for Aldenham. It's me . . . At the start of a late turn - Tring - Aylesbury - Chelsham via London, Victoria - Tring.

Correct. Picture 151 also shows the 'modernised' gauging lock, the same lock as is depicted in the 1903 flood picture and shows the pair of locks that replaced those washed away, but prior to their 'electrification' in 1962.

I believe you asked this question back in August. One of those as yet undiscovered facts. Something maybe Ernie Thomas or maybe Alan Stevens would have been able to supply, but without such personal statements available, and without certain documentation available and connecting evidence in the way of numbers affixed to the hull, there may be no way of being certain which boat it is though it can be narrowed down through elimination of those other Braithwaite & Kirk boats extant, or when they were disposed of. We had YARMOUTH for a number of years, but could never prove it WAS Yarmouth. Regards to Roger and Fran. Derek & Louise. Another link.

Where do you find them Tim! I know nothing of the boat, but is the location known? If not, I would hazard a guess at Old Ford Road crossing above with Duckett's Cut off to the left beyond. Both bridges are different now, and there's no railway as seen beyond. Wide boats too, and maybe a chicken hutch on the cabin top? Or a small dog kennel. Cheeky pair of eyes peeking from just behind!

Only if you ejucated in arra or eaten.

Lovely shot, thanks for posting. My Sister would like to see that. One of W. & A. Gilbey's buildings on the right. Nice advert for KODAK on the railway wagon. Stairs similar to those up the side of the LMS railway building were still in use in the late nineties. Jim Henson had his 'Creature shop' up top and the stairs were the main access. That's all changed now. Example of a horse ramp on the left. Quite a few along the Regent's.

I would hazard a guess at Regent's Canal Dock. But no degree of certainty. Lovely work on RELIANCE.

It's wearing its name! - 'Patience'.

Esparto Grass was carried in wide boats and horse drawn from Brentford to John Dickinson's paper mills at Croxley Green on a regular basis, and in a different direction; timber from Regent's Canal Dock up the Lee navigation to Bambergers near the N. Circular Road. Just two of I'm sure many. Lots of short haul from Marylebone to the tip on the Slough Arm, as well as coal from Marylebone to Kensal Green Gas Works behind a tug. Mark Pullinger has researched quite a lot of London traffic, he's MarkyP on this forum, but also was instrumental in setting up LondonCanal-Scape, a Yahoo group forum, though there's not a lot of input save from those watching the 'developers' at waters edge. But if you do log on there, go to the 'files' section, and open up the pdf entitled 'The boats of Harefield Flash (V. low res.) Final pdf'. 25 pages and well worth a read. Couple of archive film clips: Barge Fellows 5m 38s 1926 English Canals 18m 25s 1941 Both show wide and narrow boats, the first jumps to the Manchester Ship canal half way through. Search around and more will be found.

Point taken Chris - sort of! And whilst I don't have any figures, and this is extreme, a practical thought might be to consider how much effort is involved in pushing a canoe sideways - as opposed to forwards. Same displacement, same Lwl. Would it go as fast given the same propulsive power? As the drag increases by increasing the cross-sectional element of a given hull shape being forced through the water, so the hull speed and power required for a give speed be affected. I don't mean to digress and stretch it out, it's just a fascinating subject - and I'm always keen to learn more about such things.

Yes, I need to do an about face - it's the buildings opposite where the boats are moored that used to belong to the London and North Western Railway. The Large building that spans a subterranean basin (Dead Dog Basin) was part of the railway interchange yard. The rear of this building is accessed by road from the end of Oval Road, and to this day, or I should say correctly - when I last delivered there in 2002, the main structure along with the old sets and rail tracks were still extant, though the entire building was given over to modern offices and conference suites. The buildings surrounding what is now known as Camden Lock were largely workshops and storage. Part of the complex included a horse hospital which had underground passages connecting various parts. A great many horses were used in Railway haulage and many of their needs were served here. A little further North along Chalk Farm Road is the 'Roundhouse'. Only used for locomotives for a short time due to complications of access, it latterly became a theatre. Log onto this site and scroll down past the artists impression of City Road Basin, and some nice shots of the buildings appear. On the other side, where the boats are tied, was a dock, on the left of which was the North Western Stone wharf. Somewhere in this box of chips I might discover its name etc. Here's an old map: 1875. There's a contemporary page on the Horse tunnels HERE, and a great deal of information about the stable. It's all a bit garish, though better than demolished, but I'm blessed if I can find the names of the basins opposite, or who inhabited them. Will have to leave that to someone else. Addendum: Having scratched around, found these: Purfleet Wharf (next to Dingwall's) WWII map showing South side docks gone, and Borough Council on the site opposite Dingwall's. (You will have to play around with the map controls a bit). More: docks and wharves, but still no names! Here we are. Map with wharf and dock names 1837. The two narrow boats and wide boat are tied against the North Western Stone wharf and basin, Stable blocks were positioned behind the buildings immediately behind the boats, and can be seen on the plan. This area fascinates me personally, as I was frequently taken to see my older sister and her family who lived in Fitzroy Road, a stones throw from the railway yards, buildings and canal. Of the canal I knew nothing. It was always hidden from street level view behind high walls - a hidden world. Only from the top deck of a 629 Trolleybus could on catch a glimpse of water as the bus crossed the canal by the Aerated Bread Company (replaced with a horrendous Sainsbury's building). Where the water went and came from, I knew nothing, other than another section that passed through the Zoo, which was as a child, foremost in my mind as any visit to my Sister meant getting into the Zoo free of charge as Dad worked there (as did my Sister and her husband). How those fragmented glimpses of water were connected, I had no idea. Until the day we went on Jason's Trip - and for the first time saw Dead Dog Basin! Apologies for the digression from subject, and thanks to Tim and Alan for posting those lovely B&W shots.