Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Research => Topic started by: Walter Snowdon on January 14, 2005, 05:36:15 AM
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Paddlle tug OLD TRAFFORD was built on the Tyne for the manchester Ship Canal, serving from 1907 to 1949, by which time she was getting too weak to handling the new generation of large merchant ships. Plans were drawn to convert her to a single screw diesel tug, but the idea was dropped.
In october 1950, she sailed back to the tyne, river of her birth, under new owners, Messrs RIDLEY TUGS Ltd. , where she was drydocked. At this time she had a black funnel with 2 white bands. It is well known that we Geordies have a better eye than most for the looks of ships, so the skinny Manchester funnel was enlarged- this was done by SLEEVING (not removing) the existing funnel externaly!! She then got the RIDLEY colours, Black funnel with THREE white bands. During her life on the Tyne she journeyed twice a year to METHIL in Fyfe, Scotland where she worked as a relief tug.
In 1956 RELIANT was sold to SEAHAM HARBOUR DOCKS CO. where her appeerance again changed. Her funnel stayed black but with a SINGLE BROAD RED BAND. More drasticaly she lost her full length sponsons as they interfered with her stability in the rough north sea. In the waves the long sponsons affected her stability, trapping the waves under, and interfering with the flow of water to the paddles, more criticaly causing an eratic and exagerated roll- NOT GOOD FOR A SIDEWHEELER, on occasions almost rolling her onto her beam ends, so off they came, making her look much more handsome. It was in this form I remember her as a Teenager on my numerous trips looking at ships on the north east coast (but thats another story! Cheers, Walter.