Derek R.

Only the picture of a shed. Though it does have some big bits, and a hull attached . . . and seemingly reproductive qualities. Now, if the photo had been taken by me - what price then?

Classic. Thanks for sharing.

A touch of Dutch, and steam towing on the Rhine. Watch some skill of the pilot with timing when coming alongside and leaving, in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=HUWtymehNyk Another with many a barge in tow from around the same period (same pilot): http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=jKgLnRfduDQ Might want to go mute on those two, as there is no commentary but patriotic singing. And Maasvaart is good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=RlkQuFKZ5Pg Nice if you can understand Dutch.

Several people have baulked at 'Narrow Boat', but seek out the Landscape trilogy; Landscape with Machines, Landscape with Canals, and Landscape with Figures. All three are quite brilliant, painting the industrial and social scenes of the age. His 'Red for Danger' is absorbing, and some quite good ghost stories in 'Sleep No More' - one based on the canal too. One of my favourite authors.

There's another interesting boating picture amongst that collection - item No.46 on page three of the listing: A family shot on a Peniche or similar C1956 by Henri Cartier-Bresson http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/detail/35919/46.0

Think I may be able to see something opposite the tunnel entrance, but I'll wager there's a boat under that row of vegetation in the shadows HERE. BCN has always fascinated. So many ghosts.

You could add the Grosvenor Canal too. Most of that is now railway track. Though in fairness is was a very short piece of navigation, and the basin is still in use at the Thames end, though I don't think the rubbish lighters go there any more.

I had not known there was a Yardley Wharf in Birmingham, and when reading the short report on PINCHER's exploding boiler (December 1875), took it to be Yardley Gobion as the incident happened between London and Birmingham. Richard Thomas has a little here. Back to the Cape arm; Laurence, the tunnel you mention at the start of the arm - is that at the entrance at the main line? (Just getting my bearings). And is the Joey represented by the line of shrubs growing in the shadow of the basin at the bend in the isolated section? And is this the entrance to the former GKN factory? Both sides of the road? (Quite likely). and HERE? Still some good brickwork available here. Coincidentally, the name Hartland is that of one of the lost engine drivers on PINCHER, and Heartland Furniture occupies one of the buildings in Cranford Street! Derek

I understood all the 'Northwich' motors had three four (can't count) guards. That one looks to be a 'small' Northwich. The distance between the middle two is less than the bottom two. The 'large' were almost equal distance apart on the lower band.

If you saw some of the spelling my wife manages to come up with, it would come as natural as breathing. Odd is the norm! If it sounds right, it must be OK. Is it spelt right? Well, if you were brought up to believe accuracy in all things is essential you might consider it important, but near enough was good enough in such things amongst many who could not read or write to the extent we do today - and they still got by. Authors - their work is subject to many elements before ending up in someones hands to read. I wonder how much diligent research has been changed into banality or nonsense by printers devils and the like.

Fuzzy but nice to see them all the same. We often don't think such items are of much importance when taken, as they may simply reflect what is commonplace at the time. It's not until much later on that they become a fascinating insight to things as they were, and as they will never be again - sometimes for the better, but even so, they do kindle memories.

Back pedal to post No.13 Max - seems like it was used to access Burgh Island and the hotel thereupon. High water Bus. PS: The original vehicle was constructed in 1930; the current, third generation tractor dates from 1969. - and you can The interesting thing about the scooter on floats, is that it appears to have been an attempt to cross the Channel on it - "Calais - Londres" on the legshields, or so it looks. Found! George Monneret broke several records using scooters. In 1952 he made a crossing of the English Channel as part of a Raid Paris - Londres. That's him on the scooter, and you can seem a liitle more of his exploits HERE. It's in French, but scroll down and you will see him aboard. A rough translation of the picture credit is: "Monneret found its stride in second gear (the gearbox is equipped with 3). But halfway across the key to the drive shaft broke. The repair is impossible on the spot, the sea is too rough. The only solution is to return to France for repair. But Georges Monneret can not be removed. "I do not want the English to laugh at me!" The next day (October 9, 1952), he hits the road, in reality the sea! At 8:00 am, Monneret off again, and after 5:30 hrs. navigating the English Channel it reaches the coast at Dover."

No Roads in Central London roughly between Marble Arch and the East end of the City of London, North of the River Thames and South of Holborn. Many streets are named after people and events that took place in or around them, and like Smithfield a corruption of an area - Smooth field - and rightly, 'Roads' are often associated with a destination. Edgware Road is divided into three main bits, all called Edgware Road. If you wanted Edgware Road Station, it's in the Edgware Road (there's that 'the') but not in Edgware. 'That' Station is called Edgware. There's a linguistic term for not applying The before a Street name and I'm blessed if I know what or why. But there are other places sometimes called with The as prefix, such as The Minories, though in speech it sometimes is simply known as Minories.

"The" - there's no puzzle, it's an individuals quirk of speech. Big ships often got called 'The' as in the QUEEN MARY, the WAVERLEY and so forth, though if H.M.S. or R.M.S. were to be placed in front of the name, 'The', might well be dispensed with. Now if it had been stated as 'the FMC LYNX' it would have made perfect sense, as it defines which LYNX is being spoken of. But to speak of a narrow boat as 'the' NAME, gets a bit of a raised eyebrow. Though some boats do have names which it seems to suit, such as the HEATHER BELLE. Perhaps it's all down to how 'famous' one thinks a particular vessel may be.

I can vouch for LYNX being a shifter. Breasted up Maffas with YARMOUTH and she fairly flew along - into gear and off - no messing. Derek

Love the cousin of 'Brum', and some interesting craft behind. Putney Railway bridge methinks!

Cape, as will be known is a geographical element, but within an urban or industrial complex more likely to have been picked up from a pub name, or 'works' name, themselves being derived from such places as Cape of Good Hope etc - old landmarks from East Indiamen days, and signs at one time of prosperity, industry - trade.

Reminds me of the 's version of William Wallace's fate. Starts around 5m 20sec and runs for a few minutes. History corrected!

The dogs expression says much. Bowler hats anyone . . ? Oh - sorry, no, it's red neckerchiefs. As mobile exhibitions go, the boats do draw a crowd. But their movements are frequent and so not likely to draw much in the way of comment. Apologies for the slight cynicism. Derek

I recall ROMFORD being up for sale no so long ago. Rather a unique conversion to put it gently. That is, if we are talking about the Braithwaite & Kirk ROMFORD, seem to recall it was on a Thames mooring, though I could be wrong. Derek EDIT: Here it was! ROMFORD 281, as in F281

Animal fats are naturally resistant to water - ask a Cow! As to any argument for or against, it's ultimately down to the size of the wallet, what makes you happy, and a desire in preserving an existing piece of history. Check out Chris Collins work HERE. Follow the thread to see stages of development. Impressive stuff.

This is true. We had the pump come on one night at regular intervals and after a search discovered a leak where the bottom boards were bolted up to the chine by the engine. With the boat still in the water, we slackened off a few bolts, hung over the side and reaching below water line stuffed some bitumen soaked rag along the gap. Nipped up the bolts again and stopped the leak. Always kept the bottoms wet though. When we punched a small hole in the bow plating (iron) on the water line breaking thin ice, that got fixed with a nut, bolt and some washers. Holes in a steel or iron bottom are no so easily bodged (sorry - repaired). Though I've heard of some French Peniche methods using rashers of bacon and quick setting cement. Cuisine of some sort maybe. Possibly had the in-laws coming. Edit: Talking of wooden bottoms, looking along our bilge, we could see fungi growing at one point. It was beneath where the stove was situated. Wood brought in for the fire would drop spores which found their way through to the bilges. I don't recall they were growing out from the boards, mostly from the detritus that collected at that point. Gave us food for thought though, and was one of the many reasons why we went for steel. Were I to be in the same situation again, I'd go for new wood.

Henry Cooper v Karl Muller. It's in the text.

John, take a look. http://canalsidecamera.weebly.com/severn-bridge-disaster.html The images and the description tell and show all. (Save the fire and the heartache for those lost).