John H Amos

[Dallinson]

Alistair and Gentlemen Paddlers
John H Amos
Ordered by the Tees Commissioners in 1930 for towing dredging equipment,
delivered in 1931.
In my book "Paddle Steamers" it says on page 209 that " ......the National
Maritime Museum has shown little interest in preserving an example of the
once numerous excursion steamers, although it is to their credit that they
have preserved the ex-tug John H. Amos in a static capacity"
So one asks the question, why is it rusting in the Medway, is my book wrong
or what??? Perhaps as it seems to be the responsibility of the NMM, they
should be contacted for an update???

P.N.Thomas's book really goes to town on this tug. There are two full pages
of plans plus much else. Plenty of info to make a model from.
Incidentally she has twin engines, so would be great fun to drive!! Hope she
still has them?
Anyone in the area could possibly have a look and see her present condition?
Post a photos perhaps?
If anyone would like more details then just let me know.

Best regards for a happy and prosperous New Year. Here we are about to
switch to the Euro!!

David

[Alistair Deayton]

I think they mean RELIANT, which was preserved by the NMM, but is now in
storage since they rejigged theor displays. JOHN H AMOS is, I believe,
priuvately owned, and is at Chatham. Little has been done for her for 20
years or more.

Alistair

[Dallinson]

Alistair et al.
What a shame that nothing is being done for the John H Amos.
If it is privately owned, then perhaps a "Save the John H Amos Campaign"
could get something done and at least stop her from rusting to death, where
she sits. I guess the person who took her into ownership 20 years ago has
forgotten about her by now??
Can we find out who owns her and then all write, to see if they would do
anything if there is enough interest.
Perhaps one of the existing paddle-ship restoration groups would take her
under their wing??
At the very least, for future model makers and the record, it would be nice
to get some decent photos to complement the excellent plans P.N.Thomas book.
Anyone else any ideas?
Regards
David

[Paulrjordan]

Hi David:

Well..at your instigation I decided to do a little research on the
owner...I don't think he's forgotten about her and you may be
interested in this posting I dug up from an obscure Group called
"historic-vessels" on the Mailbase Server.
*********************************************************************

Subject: Introduction. Martin Stevens. (2nd attempt ! )
Medwaymaritime@aol.com
Date: 2 Jan 2001 - 11:59 GMT

I am the owner of the steam paddle tug John H.Amos and the steam tug
TID 164. They are listed on the NHSR Core Collection and Designated
List respectively. I have owned these vessels for 25 years.

In 1972 I formed the Medway Maritime Museum with a friend and between
us we acquired the Empire Class steam tug Cervia and the last coal
fired TID tug Biddick. The latter was judged to be too rotten for long
term preservation and was sold on for someone else to try.

(SNIP)

When local councils were reorganised in 1974 the new regime in
Stockton-on-Tees did not want to continue the youth training
project which had been started on the John H.Amos. £19,000 of
ratepayers money had been spent on the hull alone. The sale of their
white elephant to the Medway Maritime Museum avoided the embarrassment
of sending her for scrap. The Council attended and organised her
send-off complete with brass band and maximum publicity. Cervia towed
the John H.Amos to Chatham.

We knew from the start that this was a very special project and would
take more money than most others that we had considered. To save her
from the scrap yard would be difficult enough.

(SNIP)

TID 164 and John H.Amos remain with the Medway Maritime Museum at
Chatham.

Keeping the John H.Amos has been a nightmare !
She has never been welcome anywhere. She has sunk twice and is still
not watertight. Never-the-less things look more positive now than at
any time in the last two decades. After the listing in the Core
Collection I have been encouraged by a high-level delegation from the
Heritage Lottery Fund. They will not deal with an individual so I am
forming a Trust and will then transfer ownership.
The value of the vessel has been established after I refused a
substantial offer from a Dutch company who wanted to use the engines
in another vessel. I have not been through 25 years of difficulty not
to see the tug restored.

This introduction has been far too long and boring, but to those who
have thought that this "worse for wear and uncared for" paddle tug is
doomed, at least they now know who brought it this far.

I need help with every aspect of the restoration. At this moment, if
you know a tame (ie.free) lawyer, accountant, etc. who is an expert on
forming a trust please e-mail me at
medwaymaritime@aol.com

Yours sincerely,
Martin Stevens,
Medway Maritime Museum.

You can read the full text message (along with replies)at:
http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/historic-vessels/2001-01/0001.html

So, David, that's the skinny a year ago on "John H Amos" and her
owner, Mr. Martin Stevens. I have a couple of "very sorry" looking
pictures of her languishing at her wharf on the Medway.
She's the last remaining hope for a working British Steam Paddle Tug
this side of the Atlantic. I'm pretty sure that "Reliant/Old
Trafford" (once the centrepiece exhibit) has now been shamefully
broken up by the National Maritime museum at Greenwich. I think a
boiler might still have been preserved as a "walk-in" exhibit, but as
to the whereabouts of thew rest of her I have no idea.

So where do we go from here?

PJ

[Dallinson]

Sorry guys.... I made a small mistake in the address to the pictures of John
H Amos:-
Should read:-

www.teesships.freeuk.com/2johnhamos.htm

There is also reference to her on the Heritage Trail, plus a picture of her
on the slip way.

My sincere apologies.
David

[Dallinson]

Hi there.
I was just wondering if anyone had heard any recent news of the fate of the
John H Amos? I last heard that an application had possibly been made, or was
going to be made) to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Did this happen and if so
was it successful?
As the last surviving (just) paddle tug in the UK it will be huge loss if
she is just allowed to rot away where she lies.

Any news??

David Allinson

[Dallinson]

Gentlemen
in my previous note to the group in my previous note to the group, I briefly
touched on the subject of the sad situation concerning the John H Amos.
Paul has suggested that we, as a group, try to see what is happening to her
and what progress has been made towards her restoration. We should try and
see if there is anything that can possibly be done to improve her chances of
survival? Lobbying, showing interest and support etc etc...

Here is a rather poor picture of her
http://www.tugphotos.co.uk/pages/johnhamos.htm

Here is another report and later picture of her
http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/maritime/johnhamos.htm

Firstly is there anyone who has seen her recently at Chatham?
Does it appear that anything has been done to her recently?
Does the seawater enter and drain from her hull, each tide?
Does anyone at The Chatham Dockyard complex know anything about her and what
the future may hold?

Any news is very welcome.

All the best
David

[len knight]

Regards the interest in the John H Amos paddle tug, now minus its
funnel, will be moved from its present position to the No 7 covered
slipway in the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, on the 7th April 2004.
This is to assess its condition relating to possible restoration.
Lack of website is not helpful on such projects.
At the same time please do not forget about the Medway Queen at
www.medwayqueen.co.uk
Regards Len Knight MQPS.

[Dallinson]

Paul
Very interesting news indeed about the John H Amos and the Medway Trust. How
do you find these sites?
As a tug enthusiast, I am absolutely delighted to hear that she is
definitely not forgotten.

I wish that I was a lawyer or an accountant and could help them in some way.
Unfortunately, I am neither and I would be probably be much better off down
the engine room, with a spanner in my hand. ( Being an ex marine engineer)
However, living as I now do in Spain, even that possibility is pretty
remote.

Martin Stevens is certainly to be given every encouragement in his
endeavours. Now that he has the Heritage Lottery Fund interested, it would
seem that something can hopefully be done to get her restored and properly
looked after. Great news.

I will certainly write to Martin and encourage him in is endeavours. It
would be extremely sad to see her lost now, after all he has been through
with her. Anyone else feel like dropping him a line??

Thanks Paul for your searching.
David

[Dallinson]

Hi there.

GOOD NEWS

In the April issue OLD GLORY magazine there is an article about the
restoration of the steam tug " Challenge".
It then goes on to say that the gentleman who was in charge of her
restoration (Chris Jones) is now turning his hand to try and save the John H
Amos.
She is due to have her funnel removed and then be moved onto another slipway
(No 7) to allow a full survey and costed report to be prepared. This report
will then be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund to request the funds to
cover the restoration.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has already awarded the necessary funds to cover
the cost of the survey and preparation of the reports and later submission.

An application has also been made for Pds6,709,053 to the Heritage Lottery
Fund to cover the restoration of the Medway Queen.

Things are moving along nicely for the preservation of paddle-ships in the
UK. However with this latest MQ application, I fear for the future of the
Ryde.

I have asked if plans are available for model builders but to date have had
no response.

I will keep you posted as I hear any news.

All the best
David

[wsnowdon]

Thats great news about the Amos David. Hope it works out. I was
involved in the first attempt at restoration at Stockton On Tees in
the early 70s before the Council pulled the plug on the endeavour,
and she was passed to a preservation group on the River Medway. I
remember her being towed out after a complete repaint, towed by
another famous preserved tug, the CERVIA. A little known fact is that
the Amos was renamed HERO for the journey, why, I dont know. What
plans are you after?. there is a pretty good plan of the AMOS in
British Steam Tugs by P N THOMAS, published by Waine Research and
still in print. The Medway Queen Preservation Society do a good (2
sheet) set of plans of Medway queen for around £10 pounds. I have a
small 1/250 scale set of plans of RYDE, taken from a 1960s model boat
magazine if they are any use, I can copy them and send you them.
Cheers for now, Walter Snowdon.

[Dallinson]

Walter.
Glad to have your input. Nice to be involved in something which looks as if
it will have a happy ending. Let's hope anyway. Begins to bring the whole
project to life.
I would just like to correct one small item. As I understand it, she was in
fact bought by a gentleman by the name of Martin Stevens for Pd1. He
actually tried to use her commercially for a while. He had an offer for the
engines from a Dutch Company but would not sell to them. He then tried to
get some support for restoring her, but apparently nothing much has happened
until now. I have not been able to find out who legally owns her, at
present,
I am in contact with Medway Maritime, the name of the group doing the
restoration, and will report any news as soon I get it.
Thanks for the reminder of the plans in the Thomas book. Good point.
All the best
David

[Paulrjordan]

I pulled this bit of info from the Heritage trail Web site.
************************************************************
"Details of her working life are somewhat sketchy, but it is known
that the newly formed Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority acquired her
in January 1967. However, the John H Amos never even had the
opportunity of being refurbished in the Authority's new livery as she
was withdrawn from service almost immediately.

Donated to the Middlesborough Museum Service in 1968 she was moved up
river to Stockton Quay, where she was maintained for a time by a
group of volunteers. Plans for the vessel's future faltered once
again, and she remained laid up at Stockton Quay for the next eight
years. Her fortunes looked as though they were about to change when,
on 4th March 1976 having been re-painted and re-named `Hero',
she was towed to the River Medway in Kent by the tug `Cervia'."

*************************************************************
The Maritime Britain Web site echoes the same information but adds
another paragraph.

"A year later the 'Hero' was returned to her original Tees
Conservancy Commissioners colour scheme, and could be found moored,
but apparently unused, at Chatham. Re-registered for the second time
as the 'John H Amos', she is now privately owned and awaiting
restoration. Meanwhile, she lies in a poor condition on a slipway at
the Chatham Historic Dockyard (now known as the World Naval Base)"

******************************************************************

This piece is undated but must have been written fairly recently.
Three years ago we were in contact with the owner, Martin Stevens,
who said he was trying to raise funds to restore the tug.

Walter is right, there's a very good (if not small) set of plans
including LINES (hallelujah!!)in Phil Thomas' classic book on British
Steam Tugs. I just re-scaled them accurately up to 1:48 and
they're perfect for model building.

Regarding "Eppleton Hall" in California, there was talk of restoring
her to full steam and the Parks Service had solicited tenders. Do
any of our colleagues on the West Coast USA know anything of this or
what her current condition is?

You can take a virtual tour around "Eppie" at:
http://www.techprose.com/Samples/SFMaritime/vrmovies/epvr1.htm

I don't know when the pictures were taken but she appears to be in
pretty good cosmetic shape.

Regards

PJ
Victoria, BC Canada

[markyoung]

Hi Walter,
Have been meaning to join your group for ages, as I have kept
looking at the messages, and not participating.

A quick request. I have Rydes full plans from the NMM (although not
the machinary ones), and would be very interested in seeing a copy
of the scale ones you have.

It is all still very hard work at the moment getting Ryde's owner to
agree to letting us do something with her, but we seem to be making
slow progress so will keep you posted.

Regards

Mark.

[wsnowdon]

From being built the John H Amos (named after a director of The
River Tees Commisioners) had a very chequered career. While being
built the shipyard got into financial difficulties and the Official
recievers said she could be finished for the Tees Commisioners but
that no extra materials could be purchased for the job! So, she got
an engine that was ordered for a smaller tug and most of her deck
fittings had been stocked for a small cargo liner which was never
finished! The best part is that her interior was superbly finished in
timbers intended for the cargo liner. I can vouch for the quality as
I cleaned and varnished a lot of it in the early 70s. So, she
entered service underpowered but finished like a yacht. As one of her
roles was intended to be a commissioners tender, this suited her
perfectly. She spent most of her life running river commissioners on
inspections of dockyards and other vessels owned by them. She did
very little towing other than dredgers and barges and of course the
weekly run around all the facilities delivering the weekly pay
packets to all the employees of the Tees commissioners. I remember
her being towed out of the Tees in a fresh paint job with the name
HERO painted in white on her bow and stern. I was very sad to see her
go. So much for local Authority forsight and planning!. Hope this
fills a gap in Paddleducks knowledge of this survivor from a more
elegant age. May you funnels never blister. Walter