BuckbyLocks

Well, as the boat is quite clearly one of Alan Steven's Rubbish Boats it seems to fit in quite well. I have never heard of Wimbolds Green either and it doesn't look like Winson Green. These things are nearly always agreed a long time before any press releases are free from embargo.

Geographical Magazine, June 1945 has an article written by New Zealander Cecily Ramsay, "On Canal Boats in War Time" which has several pictures which are identifiable as being Anthony, including the 2 from the Kit Gayford Collection.

Antony was worked by one of the Wartime Trainees, with Alphons in September 1944. There is a photo in one of the Books written by Trainees, which says the motor is Alcor, but Alcor was in use by the London Fire Brigade at this time so it is highly likely that this is really Antony. Additionally there are two photographs in the Kit Gayford Collection showing a pair loading at Longford which has also been claimed as Antony and Alphons. In neither of them are the boats identifiable. I believe one of these photos has been used in either Waterways World or Narrow Boat Magazines but no idea which or when. Somebody will know! Margaret Cornish, in her book Troubled Waters has a picture of Alphons paired with a motor, but she doesn't name the motor either. As she worked with Margery McPhee and later owned Alphons again it is quite likely that the motor is Antony.

To the best of my knowledge the Weighing Machine that has now gone back to Wales came straight to Stoke Bruerne from under a bridge in Cardiff, where it had been stored ever since it went out of use, (in Wales!) I would suggest that if there are matching recesses on both side of the locks, they were added to provide supports for bridges across the out of use locks.

Yes, and on Thursday evening too, not the weekend.

The Radio 4 Play for the Day version has been broadcast at least twice and bears very little resemblance to either the original book or the televised version. In the radio play, Wilfred is portrayed as being Kit Gayford's brother, whereas in the original book his character is based on the future husband of one of the Trainees - at the time a Captain in the RN.

A 3 part series shown in 1977 and then repeated as a single episode in 1978. Featured boats from Tam and Di also 3 Fellows and cameo roles for Elstree and Lyra as themselves, not repainted as Venus and Ariadne. Mostly filmed on the Leicester Line of the GU and in Limehouse. Best part of the series according to Emma Smith was Geoffrey Palmer as Wilfrid! No copy has been identified yet, but it is possible to view at the British Film Institute by appointment.

Surprised how few people I recognised in this. The Millwards, Tony Lewery and David Owen. Couldn't even spot myself in the final sequences. I was there, having walked from Chester and spent many happy hours there ever since. Seems a long time ago!

A Ribble was in there. Ribble. National (Coal Board presumably.

It was very hard to identify most of them. Frank and Ribble come to mind, but I certainly didn't try to list them.

Seen de Majesteit many times, although never travelled on it. Always used to appear at Dordrecht for the Steam weekend. Had a glass coach on it for several years which rather ruined its appearance.

Remember asking about this myself when we passed it in the 80s. I think someone suggested it was a generator for use with pumps. Obviously on a wide waterway like the Weaver.

When I first took Victoria to London I was told it was Henry that was a gunnite boat. Henry is the one Royalty motor that seems to have vanished and I always wondered if it had been cut down to do that job. Remember Jay rebuilding Prince in Gas St.

I haven't got my Engine Manual to hand, but I think the JS was a stationary engine, the JP was the 22 Hp Marine version and the JK was an uprated version giving more power and having a dry sump. JKs were certainly more powerful. There was one fitted in the modern boat Dove in the early 70s and it motored extremely well.