Stern-Wheeler on the River Thames (UK)

[Brian]

Since having visiting the Paddleduck website I had been thinking that it is a very rare sight to see a Stern-wheeler in the UK.

While contemplating on this I then remembered that I had indeed seen a Missippippi-style Stern-Wheeler on the River Thames (in the vicinity of Richmond, Kingston, Hampton Court Palace).  This was often seen when I lived on South-Western border of London. On the internet I have now found a reference to her, she is the "New Southern Belle" and was designed and built at the Sunbury-on-Thames boat-yard of Messrs Turk & Co.

The vessel may be seen on the Turks web-page - http://www.turks.co.uk/tl/nsbpic.html. The boat-builders Turks have had a long history linked to London and the River Thames. Indeed one of the Turk family had been Lord Mayor of the City of London, long before Dick Whittington (of Nursery Rhyme fame).

Turks run several vessels on scheduled services, Their fleet also includes the Victorian Side-Wheel Paddle Steamer "Yarmouth Belle", originally built in 1892, but she since then been rebuilt.
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[Brian]

Further to my earlier contribution about the two Paddlers (one Stern-Wheeler and one Victorian Side-Wheeler) on the River Thames which are operated by Turks Launches (west of London).

I have found now another, except this one is based near to Tower Bridge. Her name is "MV Dixie Queen" and previously was used as a night club in Stockholm. Due to her size she cannot sail any further upstream than London Bridge, but she can travel downstream to the Woolwich Barrier, Dartford Crossing and beyond.

For more information about the Dixie Queen see - http://www.thamesluxurycharters.co.uk/DixieQueen/intro.html..
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[AlistairD]

 
Since having visiting the Paddleduck website I had    been thinking that it is a very rare sight to see a Stern-wheeler in the    UK.

While contemplating on this I then remembered that I had indeed    seen a Missippippi-style Stern-Wheeler on the River Thames (in the vicinity of    Richmond, Kingston, Hampton Court Palace). This was often seen when I lived on    South-Western border of London. On the internet I have now found a reference    to her, she is the "New Southern Belle" and was built at    the Sunbury-on-Thames boat-yard of Messrs Turk & Co.  
Is she a real paddler, or is the wheel a dummy,    moving in the wake of screws?

The vessel may be seen on the    Turks web-page - http://www.turks.co.uk/tl/nsbpic.html. The boat-builders    Turks have had a long history linked to London and the River Thames. Indeed    one of the Turk family had been Lord Mayor of the City of London, long before    Dick Whittington (of Nursery Rhyme fame).

Turks run several vessels on    scheduled services, Their fleet also includes the Victorian Side-Wheel Paddle    Steamer "Yarmouth Belle", originally built in    1892, but she since then been rebuilt.

   
Yarmouth Belle    was built as a screw steamer, was a screw motor vessel for many years, and the    paddles are a recent edition, and I think are fake  
Alistair

[mjt60a]

Yarmouth Belle    was built as a screw steamer, was a screw motor vessel for many years, and the    paddles are a recent edition, and I think are fake  
Alistair

Yes, I believe that's correct. Certainly the paddles are not 'functional' as such, I've seen the vessel several times and, though the wheels turn they're noticeably 'too slow' to be propelling the boat (they're also only a few inches wide!)
The sternwheelers are also all diesel powered and screw driven (you didn't mention the 'Elizabethan' usually to be seen cruising through central London or moored next to Dixie Queen)
See them all here - http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/models/fakesteamers01.html