PS HERO UPDATES (previously A simple yes or no question!)

[thewharfonline]

Ok heres the question and I would appreciate an answer...so post...I'm watching you!

The PS Hero, a paddler undergo full restoration in Australia is lying "wheel less" it's actual wheels are located a few metres downstream on what is now another tourist steamer, this steamer used to be a barge before being turned into a tourist steamer. Basically this tourist steamer doesn't have the most exciting history and doesn't run on steam. Here's the question: Should the originl wheels of the PS hero be returned to her and taken of the tourist steamer?
(Oh and I belive the tourist steamer is owned by a different company to the hero!)

[Waverley]

That's an unfortunate situation to be in, and a difficult question to answer as, whatever happens, the solution will not satisfy all parties.
As I am not familiar with the details, I have to make a couiple of assumptions:

    The current owners of the wheels acquired them legally.

    The resoration of PS Hero will take longer, and be more expensive, if  
    it requires new wheels.


The current owners of the wheels have no obligation and a great dis-incentive to give them up. If they do, they will have rendered their own vessel unusable. You don't say this, but I assume it is a commercial operation, and provides employment, as well as being one of your area's visitor attractions.  The operation of any excursion vessel is a precarious business from a financial point of view, and replacement of the wheels may well be beyond its means. I would not expect the owners of the vessel to destroy their buisness for the benefit of PS Hero.

The history and power of their vessel do not affect my views on this matter.   Most (non-enthusiast) passengers on Waverley have only a slight interest in her history (and the motor vessel Balmoral is also popular), while there are other, successful, diesel operated paddlers. "Joe Punter", on whom all operators rely, is usually more interested in the scenery, the destination, the catering or the overall "ambience".

PS Hero will eventually be restored. Preservationists normally get there in the end but while it always takes longer than anticipated,  setbacks are usually overcome.  I hope those restoring PS Hero didn't expect to be given the wheels back - that would have been naive. No operational paddle steamer retains all her original components - Waverley has had three replacement boilers and her covered accomodation is now totally different from (and much better than) the saloons I knew back in the 1970's.

Once PS Hero is working, nobody, except for a few rivet counters,  will really care about the origin of the wheels.  They will just see another fine example of a working paddle steamer.

Regards.

David,  ex Clyde

[mjt60a]

If I was somehow able to buy and restore eg. Tattershall Castle (which now has no wheels) I wouldn't be too worried about not having the original set, providing new ones could be built that looked right I think they'd probably be better and last longer.  
Couldn't someone build replicas or have some built? I'm sure they must become corroded eventually and need replacing so I wouldn't have thought it too important to use the originals. Maybe, if anyone's that concerned, and the owners of Hero are on good terms with the present owners of the wheels they could be persuaded to exchange them for the replica wheels at some future time...
By the way, what is the tourist boat's name? just curious...

[thewharfonline]

The name of the Tourist vessel is Pride of the Murray (it gets annoying to write again and again and again so I said Tourist boat.)

And yes the POTM is a employing business (allowing kids to drive a steamer 'i've done that!") But I see your point. I think it could be however the wheels they are waiting for to continue the restoration.

Now I don't know the full situation and if they are or aren't interested in the wheels, but as the POTM is just down the road I thought they might change the wheels.

The Hero also has a restored boiler, or it could be a replica I can't remember.

They may be waiting for a down period (like when the swarms of locusts decide to fly in to the state) and then remove the wheels. Or they could be waiting for the POTM annual repairs and recaulking etc.

I would say that knowing the people up in Echuca (where the hero and POTM are) that they would try to get the wheels, and the company that owns the POTM would be happy to replace them.

I was just wondering what everyone thought!

[Red_Hamish]

Hello all, I am all for preservation of things historic. However as David ( Waverley) points out being in a position to replace with a decent replica with modern engineering paractices providing a better product than the original. It is often the more wise route to go down. I would think that the owners of PotM would be delighted to get a new replacement set of padlles for a pair that are no doubt in need of major surgery (to extend their useful life) for little or no cost to themselves albeit with a major downtime for the actual exchange. My suggestion is to go witht he new ones for P.S. Hero and get used to seeing something working at its optimum.

cheers

Jim

[uppergully26]

Anyone have any further news on the Hero? I have watched its restoration each time I go to Echuca but it had seemed to come to a bit of a standstill last time I was there in July last year.

The Port of Echuca only updated their website once with the restoration efforts which is a bit disappointing as I think it's a great medium to get news and support for the various restorations - look at the PS Ruby. They update virtually monthly on the local council website http://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/ruby/  (although their own: http://www.psruby.com/ is a bit less than what it could be, as far as updates go).

I'd love to see the Hero finally paddling again, hopefully in the not to distant future.

Cheers,
Chris

[AlistairD]

Anyone have any further news on the Hero?  
 Â 
 Was it here or somewhere else that I read that there  was a dispute about the engine, which was currently in another boat or museum or  private collection?
 Â 
 Alistair

[thewharfonline]

Last time I was in Echuca the hero had changed from its nice pink colour to a nice pink colour lol. they're weather proofing the wood again...I spoke to Frank Ryan port manager and I'm sure he said somehting about it being finsihed for the steam festival...then again thats what they said three years ago! Don't know about the engine issue...I was prettysure it had it already...it has it's boiler.

[thewharfonline]

Hey I just contacted the Port through my work experience and also asked about them updating their website and the Hero.

The website is being updated and should be updated by the time of the Steam Festival.

He's getting back to me on the Hero, I'll give you more details when they arrive in my inbox!

For the last few years nothing really has seemed to change except for the layer of dust on the boiler and the pink colour instead of blue! (it still has no wheels..I think) I have some :kewl lying around if ya want to see them!

OK this is a few hours later (this is now another of my edited posts,) and I ahve received the email. The Hero is currently on hold because the pev just got a new set of gears and other touh ups, but spprently it should be finished by x-mas...I rememebr when they said it would be finished by centenary of federation...that was 2001

[thewharfonline]

Well there's been progress since October when I was in Echuca last.

Just yesterday I was in Echuca for a spontaneous holiday and thanks to me having some contacts at the Port I got a tour of the Hero. Currently they are working on her again.

Painting and finishing touches are being applied to both decks. The engines and wheels still have to be installed though.

Embossed metal is on the ceiling of each room and each room is a different colour. Coloured glass frames the windows.

The biggest difference I suppose is the large brand spanking new name plate on the front of the boat.

photo soon...I don't have time today! Sorry