Tonic required. Send in your photos of what is nice on the waterways now.

[Chris G]

2 minutes ago, Athy said:

That is good news. There's an operational narrow-gauge one on the Festiniog/ Welsh Highland, but I think that's currently the only working Garratt in the country. I assume there are still a few chugging about in Africa.

There are six on the Welsh Highland Railway - repatriated from all over the world, I believe.

[Athy]

7 minutes ago, Chris G said:

There are six on the Welsh Highland Railway - repatriated from all over the world, I believe.

Blimey!

When, during my student vacations, I used to work on the Fester (1969-70) there was one at Boston Lodge works - it was, I think, the first ever built, and had been donated to the railway. But it was too big to fit the loading gauge and it rarely, if ever, left the works. Evidently the WHR has a more generous loading gauge.

[Dav and Pen]

These photos from yesterday. About 10 days ago this barge sunk whilst being loaded with stone on the Meuse in Belgium. From the initial photos it looked as if it had split and these show that that’s what happened. Very sad for the owner and the insurance company won’t be very happy either.

Edited September 8, 2020 by Dav and Pen
Spelling

[David Mack]

2 hours ago, Chris G said:

Built for Baddesley Colliery at Atherstone.  Is at Bresingham, https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/beyer-peacock-company-works-no-6841-william-francis-0-4-00-4-0t/ .  Restoration is in the offing.

Somehow, this picture of the loco in (no doubt authentic) orangy brown livery

doesn't have the same appeal as the gritty black and white image of the same loco in its everyday grime at work

Edited September 8, 2020 by David Mack

[Athy]

I know what you mean: I thought the same about the ex- Great Central O4 freight engines which I used to see around Sheffield when I was a boy. They looked much weightier and more butch when they had a good coat of grime, which was usually.

[Pluto]

This day in 1994, and the Bardowick Lock on the River Ilmenau below Lüneburg. Then there is the circular lock in Emden, where the Ems-Jade Canal crosses the Stadtgraben.

[Dav and Pen]

Today 2013. The summit lock and the automated locks canal du Centre. This side of the canal was modernized in the 50s to 60s by replacing 2 locks with one 5plus meter deep lock to speed up the passage of the peniche’s down to the Saone. At the junction with the river a new canal was dug and a 15m deep lock bypassing the route down through Chalon sur Saone.

[Victor Vectis]

4 hours ago, Athy said:

Blimey!

When, during my student vacations, I used to work on the Fester (1969-70) there was one at Boston Lodge works - it was, I think, the first ever built, and had been donated to the railway. But it was too big to fit the loading gauge and it rarely, if ever, left the works. Evidently the WHR has a more generous loading gauge.

This beastie:

 

 

A few years ago I tied t'boat up near the Dog & Doublet on the B&F and yomped over the motorway to Kingsbury Water Park to visit this place Echills Wood Railway.

A 7.25" gauge version was operating.

Great fun!

The railway is well worth a visit. When it became obvious I was an enthusiast, as opposed to a member of the general public, I was made most welcome by the staff there.

As with everywhere else they have been bowled out by Covid-19 business this year.

Edited September 8, 2020 by Victor Vectis

[Richard T]

53 minutes ago, Victor Vectis said:

This beastie:

 

 

A few years ago I tied t'boat up near the Dog & Doublet on the B&F and yomped over the motorway to Kingsbury Water Park to visit this place Echills Wood Railway.

A 7.25" gauge version was operating.

Great fun!

The railway is well worth a visit. When it became obvious I was an enthusiast, as opposed to a member of the general public, I was made most welcome by the staff there.

As with everywhere else they have been bowled out by Covid-19 business this year.

There is a Garratt much closer to Atherstone than the Welsh Highland. There is one at Statfold Barn Railway which is about 30mins walk from Alvecote. I had the pleasure of seeing in steam a few weeks ago and being hauled by it. It is ex Tasmainian Railways and is the first Garratt built by Beyer- Peacock.

[Athy]

I think that's the one to which I was referring earlier, which was stored on the Festiniog. . It's looking happier now!

[Victor Vectis]

It's the same one.

 

From Wikipedia: 'Not suited to WHR operational needs' and 'Moved to Statfold Barn for boiler work'.

 

I seem to remember that the K1 was not the success it was hoped for. It is a compound loco and there were problems with steam condensing in the pipe connecting the HP and LP cylinders.

 

I don't think any compound Garretts were built subsequently.

Edited September 8, 2020 by Victor Vectis

[buccaneer66]

How about riding this thing?

 

[PeterScott]

On this day in 2012

 

The Liverpool Link

 

[Mike Todd]

1 hour ago, PeterScott said:

On this day in 2012

 

The Liverpool Link

 

Sad that the clock no longer tells the right time.

 

But it is great experience navigating the link as well as being able to stay in the centre of Liverpool.

[buccaneer66]

Shame that glass and concrete monstrosity on the bank spoils the view.

[PeterScott]

Earlier Today.

The subject stays in the same place (500 m in from the northern end of Harecastle Tunnel T&M) but still eludes exact placement in t'middle of a picture. Compare #952 (2019

[PeterScott]

On this day in 2011

 

W+B Tardebigge near top of flight, 

 

Reservoir

 

and paddle gear controlling feed to the canal

 

[Naughty Cal]

On this day 2017. It was a tad wet in Lincoln

 

 

[Rob-M]

A year ago

Heading down the Severn to Gloucester

[DandV]

22 hours ago, Chris G said:

There are six on the Welsh Highland Railway - repatriated from all over the world, I believe.

There is one class 15 ex Rhodesia, in NZ,  at Mainline Steam just north of Wellington,  awaiting it's boiler to be rebuilt and recertified before being let loose on excursions.

It was stored for for some months about 8 years ago. in the Auckland Port transfer yard after shipment from South Africa.

[PeterScott]

Yesterday evening

 

Stoke T&M from railway footbridge looking south (above) and north (below)

Compare #2584 (1997) #2881 (1998) #1725 (2000) #506 (2001) #2776 (2012) #1459 (2013)

 

[Dav and Pen]

Today at Buckby top crt work boats having a rest

[jake_crew]

Lunchtime today at the North Portal.

Edited September 9, 2020 by jake_crew

[PeterScott]

This evening

 

Tixall Wide S+W

 

Edited September 9, 2020 by PeterScott
unmerge a merge

[PeterScott]

This morning

Stone T&M Warbler