Heartland Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 It is often a topic of conversation to follow boat origins. There was a boat called Water Wanderer that could be seen on the canal network such as the Grand Union, called the Water Wanderer, does anybody know of the history? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAtterley Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 (edited) 5 hours ago, Heartland said: It is often a topic of conversation to follow boat origins. There was a boat called Water Wanderer that could be seen on the canal network such as the Grand Union, called the Water Wanderer, does anybody know of the history? There was a passenger/hotel boat called 'Water Wanderer' operated by British Waterways in the 1960's, but it was either an old 'West Country' boat, a Leeds & Liverpool Short boat or something else of a similar size, so it would never have been run on the Grand Union between Foxton and Buckby. You are probably thinking about 'Water Rambler', which was a little Woolwich motor with the top bends and the deck cut down to just above the guard and a glass saloon for the passengers between the deck and back to behind about where the middle beam would have been. They only carried tea mashing and sandwich making gear on board for the daytime and the passengers were put up in hotels or B&B's each night. 'Water Wanderer' ran on the Trent, the Fossdyke and the Witham between Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln and Boston, and 'Water Rambler' mainly on the Oxford and Leicester Cut's. There was also a 'Water Princess' - similar hull to 'Water Wanderer' but just a day trip boat operating a short way on the Trent or up the Soar from around Trent Lock (bottom end of the Erewash). There was another almost identical boat doing day trips around the Leeds/Wakefield general area for a short while in the 80's - 'Fair Maiden', I think. Edited June 3, 2017 by PhilAtterley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 I think Water Wanderer was A&CN Flyboat 99, built in 1879 and lengthened in 1913. Fair Maiden may have been A&CN 95, also 1879 and C&HN size, as was A&CN 68 of 1876, which may be June, and A&CN 85 of 1878, which may be Pauline. The three L&LC boats were Humber (Water Gypsy), Wharfe (Water Prince), and Aire (Water Princess), the later two being shortened to work on the C&HN. David Lowe recently sent me the details regarding the L&LC boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAtterley Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Pluto said: I think Water Wanderer was A&CN Flyboat 99, built in 1879 and lengthened in 1913. Fair Maiden may have been A&CN 95, also 1879 and C&HN size, as was A&CN 68 of 1876, which may be June, and A&CN 85 of 1878, which may be Pauline. The three L&LC boats were Humber (Water Gypsy), Wharfe (Water Prince), and Aire (Water Princess), the later two being shortened to work on the C&HN. David Lowe recently sent me the details regarding the L&LC boats. I think you're probably right about 'Water Wanderer'- my recollection of it was that it was definitely longer than the others. 'Aire' was one of the shortboats that BW used for a while on the Nottingham - Leicester traffic before they got the first Bantams for running to Leicester with Nottingham Pans, and I think the other one was probably 'Wharfe'. Edited June 3, 2017 by PhilAtterley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted June 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 Thanks for that, the question now is captioning error? This image is quoted as near Kingswood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuckbyLocks Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 Someone on here will be able to confirm this is Water Rambler - it has been discussed in this forum before but I am not familiar with the search facility. Plenty of images exist of Rambler and I believe that this is indeed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilAtterley Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, Heartland said: Thanks for that, the question now is captioning error? This image is quoted as near Kingswood That is one of the little Woolwich Zoo Bus conversions, so it definitely is NOT 'Water Rambler' - the hull is still 'as built' without having had the top bends and deck cut down to improve the forward view for the passengers sitting in the glass saloon which ran about halfway along the length of the boat. As for where the photo is - going from the concrete piled and capped inside (towpath side) and how close the railway is, I would say it's just on the Hatton side of the turn into the arm on to the North Stratford at Lapworth, which I think I have heard referred to as Kingswood Junction. Edited June 3, 2017 by PhilAtterley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMModels Posted June 3, 2017 Report Share Posted June 3, 2017 Heres Water Rambler as described with cut down top bends. From the late Jim Paylers collection as seen on Blisworth.com and my site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X Alan W Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 Also in the 60's Willow wren ran a trip boat"Water Ouzell "can't recall the skippers name but any "special" events ie rallys he wore a blazer & white trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J R ALSOP Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 That would have been George Walker, seen here as we were heading to the IWA Rally at Stratford upon Avon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 19 hours ago, Heartland said: Thanks for that, the question now is captioning error? This image is quoted as near Kingswood For one moment I thought that having roll down sids roll down sides, the photo could be of Water Sprite (Ex GUCC small Northwich "Pisces"), but the roof line is not quite correct. Water Sprite had squared corners on the roof, whereas the boat in the photo appears to have rounded corners, also Pisces did not have a cabin stove, although that could have been removed before it was sold. I have never seen a photo of Pisces either in her GUCC condition, either carrying or as a wartime Thames fireboat, or as an operational water bus. If anyone has one i would love to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 22 hours ago, PhilAtterley said: There was a passenger/hotel boat called 'Water Wanderer' operated by British Waterways in the 1960's, but it was either an old 'West Country' boat, a Leeds & Liverpool Short boat or something else of a similar size, so it would never have been run on the Grand Union between Foxton and Buckby. You are probably thinking about 'Water Rambler', which was a little Woolwich motor with the top bends and the deck cut down to just above the guard and a glass saloon for the passengers between the deck and back to behind about where the middle beam would have been. They only carried tea mashing and sandwich making gear on board for the daytime and the passengers were put up in hotels or B&B's each night. 'Water Wanderer' ran on the Trent, the Fossdyke and the Witham between Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln and Boston, and 'Water Rambler' mainly on the Oxford and Leicester Cut's. There was also a 'Water Princess' - similar hull to 'Water Wanderer' but just a day trip boat operating a short way on the Trent or up the Soar from around Trent Lock (bottom end of the Erewash). There was another almost identical boat doing day trips around the Leeds/Wakefield general area for a short while in the 80's - 'Fair Maiden', I think. I think that the "Water Wanderer" you're talking about ended up in France sometime during the 70's, where she worked as an hotel-barge, last time I saw her was in the early 80's not looking well cared for tied up at the Port of Beaucaire in the South of France. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X Alan W Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 2 hours ago, J R ALSOP said: That would have been George Walker, seen here as we were heading to the IWA Rally at Stratford upon Avon. You Sir are 100% correct events/folk of 60 or so years ago I'm now suffering brain fade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Hogg Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 (edited) 20 hours ago, AMModels said: Heres Water Rambler as described with cut down top bends. From the late Jim Paylers collection as seen on Blisworth.com and my site. This is "Water Rambler" in her second guise. The original conversion retained the full height bow but was found to obstruct the forward view so remedial action was taken after the first year and part of the "top bend" and the bow removed as seen here. A commercial postcard exists of the boat as originally built: also two pictures in the BW collection: http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw192.2.4.1 http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw192.2.4.2 Edited June 4, 2017 by Laurence Hogg ADD PICS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 (edited) Thanks for that link Laurence, I found a photo of Pisces on the site, showing Pisces when she was operating as Water Sprite. Apart from the back panel, and the enclosed cabin section (which we put on) she looks almos identical to how she looked when she was taken over by the London Borough of Hillingdon, and given her original name back. Water Sprite Pisces Edited June 4, 2017 by David Schweizer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted June 4, 2017 Report Share Posted June 4, 2017 Just managed to find an old publicity video of the "Water Wanderer" (that ended up in France) from the days she still belonged to British Waterways. https://youtu.be/iIIBHAJDql0 Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted June 5, 2017 Report Share Posted June 5, 2017 (edited) Found this on the CRT archives. BW192-3-2-2-13-1-586 Water Kelpie 'Water Kelpie' near Hayes on the Grand Union Canal Description Black and white photograph taken from the stern of the boat looking along the top towards Bridge 198, the boat is heading north. Date 1960 Edited June 5, 2017 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenataomm Posted June 5, 2017 Report Share Posted June 5, 2017 Water Ouzle operated out of Braunston regularly tripping up to Brinklow to turn in the arm in the mid 60s. She was small Woolwich "Sun" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek R. Posted June 5, 2017 Report Share Posted June 5, 2017 Two funnels! Bet the stokers were kept busy . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted June 5, 2017 Report Share Posted June 5, 2017 30 minutes ago, Derek R. said: Two funnels! Bet the stokers were kept busy . . . Unlike it's contemporaries, Water Kelpie must have had two gas bottles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanM Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 20 hours ago, zenataomm said: Water Ouzle operated out of Braunston regularly tripping up to Brinklow to turn in the arm in the mid 60s. She was small Woolwich "Sun" Was still operating in Braunston in the '90s Vulcan by Ian, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 (edited) From Tony Lewery's "Flowers Afloat." Caption reads: "The Trip boat Water Ouzel with roses and Castles by Dennis Clarke in the 1970's, when he owned and operated it in Braunston. It was photographed in 1993 just prior to a major restoration which required the complete replacement of the cabin sides." Edited June 6, 2017 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorksshirepud Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 On June 4, 2017 at 03:08, bargemast said: I think that the "Water Wanderer" you're talking about ended up in France sometime during the 70's, where she worked as an hotel-barge, last time I saw her was in the early 80's not looking well cared for tied up at the Port of Beaucaire in the South of France. Peter. My husband and I traveled on the "Water Wanderer" in August 1964 from Nottingham but did not make it to Lincoln. Sadly the Captain died the night before we were to cruise into Lincoln so we were taken in by bus. It was a wonderful cruise otherwise and we all were very upset at our Captain dying. I have photos somewhere of the trip if I can find them. Also a package of information about the cruise issued by the British Waterways . Twelve years later we returned to England and rented a Narrow boat and with our 2 young children cruised for 2 weeks and had a fabulous time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 2 minutes ago, Yorksshirepud said: My husband and I traveled on the "Water Wanderer" in August 1964 from Nottingham but did not make it to Lincoln. Sadly the Captain died the night before we were to cruise into Lincoln so we were taken in by bus. It was a wonderful cruise otherwise and we all were very upset at our Captain dying. I have photos somewhere of the trip if I can find them. Also a package of information about the cruise issued by the British Waterways . Twelve years later we returned to England and rented a Narrow boat and with our 2 young children cruised for 2 weeks and had a fabulous time. Rather an unusual way to end a trip! I, and I am sure others, would be interested to see any photos you can find. The time when canals/waterways were changing from commercial to leisure use is becoming of interest to historians, so any information is very useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorksshirepud Posted October 12, 2017 Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) Pluto. Glad my post went through as I was not sure if I had done it correctly. I just joined so I could reply about the " Water Wanderer ". I will look through all my photos the next few days and see what I can come up with. i have also often wondered what happened to the lovely narrow boat called "Dorothy Grace" we rented in 1976 in October 1982 we rented another narrow boat but forget the name. We met a lovely couple who were living on their boat they had build . He was a Jazz Musician and she was a writer . Their name was Owen and Iris Bryce. Such an ideal way to get away from the life in a city. Edited October 12, 2017 by Yorksshirepud Spelled word incorrectly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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