Dartmouth Higher Ferry

[Channel]

Last paddler to operate daily in the UK year round - the Dartmouth Higher Ferry last Sunday.

[Channel]

DARTMOUTH & KINGWEAR FLOATING BRIDGE COMPANY

HIGHER FERRY - a large number of passengers turned out for a final crossing of Britain's last remaining diesel electric paddle vessel on Sunday June 07, 2009.

So many people wanted to be on the last trip that the final crossing for the ferry, which has been part of the town's river scene for almost half a century, had to be delayed by 15 minutes. More than 200 people packed the slipway as the Higher Ferry made her last crossing of the River Dart. The ferry was crowded as townspeople and visitors made the final voyage from Dartmouth to Kingswear and back. And she was followed by a mini flotilla of small boats, revealed ferry boss Tony Tucker. Mr Tucker, director of the Dartmouth and Kingswear Floating Bridge company, said the public's affection for the old ferry caught him by surprise. He said: "There were far more people than I thought would be there. It was a sea of flashlights. There were two past mayors and the current mayor there to see the ferry off. "It seemed to be something which was pretty spontaneous. "It was a surprise for me and the crew. All day people had been taking photos. I think they wanted something for posterity. "A convoy of small boats escorted her over and back. It was very pleasant."

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....Channel....was the ferry replaced with an alternate means of getting vehicles from A to B?...we still have a few of these in OZ...one that I have crossed with is at Mannum in South Australia

Anyway...lets spot the vehicles...do I see

 .......a silver metalic Rover sedan?, a metalic light blue Volvo sedan?, a silver BMW-X wagon, a Volvo Estate? ....& a black Range Rover?  I cannot distinguish the other two - Derek

[Channel]

She's been replaced by a £4 million newbuild - sadly not a paddler. So there ends the career of Britains last commercial paddler . . .

[Roderick Smith]

The Australian ones are not paddle.  They are punts, propelled by pulling on the permanent cables (wrapped around a drive pulley).  Several of the Murray River ones have been replaced with bridges.
My current list (top of head):
Qld: Moggill (over Brisbane River).
NSW: Six.  See www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/vehicleferries
 - Putney/Mortlake (Parramatta River)
 - Berowra (Berowra Creek)
 - Sackville (Hawkesbury River)
 - Webbs Creek (Hawesbury River)
 - Wisemans (Hawkesbury River)
 - Lawrence (Clarence River)
NSW & Vic.: Three (Wymah, above Albury; Speewa,a public one near Swan Hill; and a private one to Beveridge island).
Vic.: One, Paynesville.
Tas.: One (lower Pieman River)
SA: Lyrup, Waikerie, Cadell, Morgan, Swan Reach, Walker Flat, Purnong, Mannum (twin), Tailem Bend, Wellington, Narrung

I have been across nearly all, missing about five of the NSW six.

The steam-worked punt at Williamstown (Melbourne) was withdrawn over 30 years ago, but I did use it many times.
Self-propelled ones (not paddle) in Newcastle are described at www.billbottomley.com.au/car_punts/ch8.pdf
There had also been a major fleet in Sydney, replaced when Sydney Harbour Bridge was built (1930s).
There are also lots of self-propelled ones in Qld, of landing-barge style, from coastal ports to nearby islands.
There are larger full roro ferries in Vic., Vic.-Tas., and SA.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[monarch]

Oi we're a commercial paddler!!   

[Channel]

Ok - last commercial car carrying paddler in the UK ?! 

See you at Trinity Landing tomorrow ??

[monarch]

Yeah we're about matey!  All the best, Matt

[Channel]

I may make it up to Newport in the afternoon too - shooting Bal at Cowes on both calls.

[Roderick Smith]

Here are four photos of Murray River punts.

An older wooden one at Berri in 1976.  The twin punt there has been replaced with a concrete bridge.  All wooden punts have been withdrawn.  The replacement steel ones come in two sizes, both of which are larger than the wooden ones.

A glimpse of one at Mannum during Source to Sea, in 2001.  The moored paddleboats visible are PV Kulkyne, PV Canally, PV Impulse, PV Akuna Amphibious and PV Tamara Rae.  This is the last crossing with twin parallel punts.  The other three such crossings (Blanchetown, Kingston-on-Murray and Berri), busy enough to warrant a twin, justified replacement bridges.

The one at Swan Reach, showing most of the design features.

PS Oscar W, passing the one at Walker Flat, during the centenary voyage.

Correct procedure on the Murray is to give a long whistle at a 500 m marker.  The ferry operator will respond with a flashing red light if you are to hold, and a flashing green to call you through.  A couple of times I have had zero response, and have had to go through by judgement (come forward as the ferry is unloading; the cables will be slack, and it won't be attempting to start).  The one at Paynesville (Victoria) has no whistle or light code: just judge a correct time.
The SA ones are free, and available 24/7.  Crossings overnight may involve pressing an alert button to wake the operator (who is allowed to sleep if there is no vehicle for a few hours).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor