Nice local event for anyone interested.

 

It is for SBA members only, but membership starts at £18 (or £36 including the quarter full colour magazine) which with a free buffet lunch and entry to Ellesmere Port boat museum means no excuse not to come down and meet some steam boaters!

 

https://steamboatassociation.co.uk/

 

https://facebook.com/events/s/sba-55th-agm/1886049951992785/

1 minute ago, DHutch said:

Nice local event for anyone interested.

 

It is for SBA members only, but membership starts at £18 (or £36 including the quarter full colour magazine) which with a free buffet lunch and entry to Ellesmere Port boat museum means no excuse not to come down and meet some steam boaters!

 

https://steamboatassociation.co.uk/

 

https://facebook.com/events/s/sba-55th-agm/1886049951992785/

 

I always thought it was a shame that Firefly (Keith Jones) isn't around any more, that was the only chance most "normal" people had to experience the joys of steam on the canals... 😞 

Yeah. I never saw the boat, which is a great shame. However there are plenty of ways the public can interact with the SBA and the various privately owned steam narrowboats including our own and Tixall as well as the large number of trailerable launches. 

 

For anyone real keen, Adamant is currently for sale! £28k or offers.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17uTBQ5Wcn/

 

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

I always thought it was a shame that Firefly (Keith Jones) isn't around any more, that was the only chance most "normal" people had to experience the joys of steam on the canals... 😞 

You obviously never had the chance of getting covered in black smuts on  the "Slug" Laplander

If you look on my website, https://www.canalhistory.co.uk/LLC-Boats/, there is probably sufficient information to build a replica of one of Wilkinson's engines, and a boiler to go with it. The explosion reports are quite interesting, with it taking most of a day to get a badly scalded crew member from off the summit to the nearest hospital at Blackburn. He died.

17 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

You obviously never had the chance of getting covered in black smuts on  the "Slug" Laplander

No, but when it passed us a few years back the friend who was steering was so busy looking at this we almost rammed the bank... 😉 

 

No black smuts from Firefly (gas-fired), but plenty from the Bolinder on Colonel when it was wound up -- explains why flat caps are so popular, like with loco drivers and firemen... 🙂 

Edited February 26Feb 26 by IanD

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

You obviously never had the chance of getting covered in black smuts on  the "Slug" Laplander

Heard from the side doors more than once when pressure was high:

 

"There is a bomb in here and it could explode" 

 

2 hours ago, DHutch said:

Yeah. I never saw the boat, which is a great shame. However there are plenty of ways the public can interact with the SBA and the various privately owned steam narrowboats including our own and Tixall as well as the large number of trailerable launches. 

 

For anyone real keen, Adamant is currently for sale! £28k or offers.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17uTBQ5Wcn/

 

 

 

 

A lovely boat to steer, had the pleasure of steering round the Braunston parade a few years ago when the usual steerer couldn't make the Saturday.  Don't think I would want to run with steam full time though.

43 minutes ago, GUMPY said:

Heard from the side doors more than once when pressure was high:

 

"There is a bomb in here and it could explode" 

 

But he made a fine mug of tea on a cold day with a good shot of something warming in it.

2 hours ago, Rob-M said:

A lovely boat to steer, had the pleasure of steering round the Braunston parade a few years ago when the usual steerer couldn't make the Saturday.  Don't think I would want to run with steam full time though.

 

Yes, steam boats, boilers and engines seem great until you actually have to run, maintain and clean them. Only then do you realise how much work it involves.

6 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

You obviously never had the chance of getting covered in black smuts on  the "Slug" Laplander

Slug on a stick...  (sorry Sean)  now has a vintage Kromhout for motive power. 

 

4 hours ago, GUMPY said:

Heard from the side doors more than once when pressure was high:

 

"There is a bomb in here and it could explode" 

 

Which is ofcause hyperbole the stringent safely systems and inspections on boilers, although the steam atomising burner was not unknown to produce a significant volume of hot fuel oil, and or a ball of fire, igniting the content of the bilge.