UK sternwheelers.

[Walter Snowdon]

I have been wracking (wrecking?) my brain trying to come up with sternwheelers which sailed in service (not export models) in the British Isles  and can only come up with one which sailed on the Clyde for only 3 weeks in the mid 19th century. this was supposed to have sailed in service on the severn or trent prior to that but I cant find any references. Anyone come up with any details of others, especialy with references to ilustrations or dimensions?. I dont think there will be many!!! regards, walter

[mjt60a]

Many many years ago in the early 1960s, when I was still very young, I vaguely remember there was an operational sternwheeler in Barking Park, Essex - on the duckpond!!! (OK, not really a duckpond, it had small 4 seat motor boats for hire which are still there today...) I don't remember much about it except that it had 2 decks and was a sternwheeler. Looking in 'Paddle steamers' by Bernard Cox, I imagine it was most likely a 'Yarrow' boat, much like the one on page 107 in that book. I believe it was called Phoenix.
I've only found one online reference to it here - http://apps.newham.gov.uk/Forums/localhistory/start.pl?noframes;read=4156
Seems that at least one picture exists so it might be interesting to follow up that post with a request to see it  

[Channel]

There is a sternwheeler under construction in Kent and will enter service next season. She is around 26ft long and driven by a diesel hydraulic stern wheel . .

She is due to replace Monarch at Grove Ferry next season.

Monarch is now for sale and with any luck I will be making a offer on her very shortly . . . .

Chris

[Waverley]

Walter - there was a discussion here on the Paddleducks some time ago about your Scottish sternwheeler (which came from the Severn IIRC) - I can't remember her name,  so I couldn't find anything with a search but it's in here somewhere - possibly in the Yahoo archive.   I do remember that Alistair Deayton contributed to the thread but that's as far as it goes.

I also have a very vague (and possibly totally inaccurate) memory of reading about a small stern wheeler on the Bristol Avon or Kennet & Avon canal, probably in the 1960's. Vessel was named CHARLOTTE DUNDAS, but google wasn't helpful with a photo.

However, here is a brief reference to an un-named stern wheeler "built locally" at Ross on Wye

http://www.igreens.org.uk/paddling_the_wye_in_1916.htm

This is a chapter from a book published 1916 which describes a cruise by rowing boat on the River Wye - the paddler reference is about two thirds of the way through the chapter.

I've never seen a reference to this vessel before - but this time google was rather more effective and it appears this may be a reference to WILTON CASTLE, built Ross about 1902.  

And then I discovered plans are available from a company called "The Model Dockyard" - which may well be familiar to the modellers out there

http://www.model-dockyard.com/default.htm

Do a search for "WILTON CASTLE" and the description (no picture, so I can't tell if its really a stern wheeler or not) describes the vessel as "unique".

Regards

David

[Walter Snowdon]

Thanks David. That has opened a completely new thread for me!. Actualy the plan of PS WILTON CASTLE is published by TRAPLET in England and is from an article which appeered in MARINE MODELING INTERNATIONAL for a quarter wheel paddler, The article has very little information on the origins of the design and at first I thought it was a spoof to introduce a rather intrigueing model!!. Your input has put me in my place !!!. I now need to re-look at it in a new light.  Thanks again, Walter.

If any other PD can come up with further information especialy a photo source on the WILTON CASTLE I will be most gratefull. Walter

[Waverley]

Glad it was useful, Walter.   Sometimes google throws up interesting titbits - I think its a question of having plenty of time and being very lucky with the search keywords.  I actually found the extract from the 1916 book while (I think) trying to find something about CHARLOTTE DUNDAS on the Kennet & Avon canal.

Was the freak vessel on the Clyde you mentioned in your first post named KINGSTON or PROPELLOR (or PROPELLER) or ROTARY?  I'm still sure it was discussed here, but still can't find anything with a search.

Regards

David

[Waverley]

And, of course, the WILTON CASTLE is in the Paddleducks forum already!

Check out this thread


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1963&highlight=

(And I was looking for something else this time, as well   )

Regards

David

[Channel]

Re - CHARLOTTE DUNDAS on the Kennet & Avon canal.

She was a side wheel paddler. She was double ended and the rudder was moved from one end to another to save turning around.

She features on a Paddle Steamer video I think.

Chris

[mjt60a]

....She was a side wheel paddler....

Not the one I'm thinking of then  :?  - http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfamtransport.htm

[AlistairD]

Was the freak vessel on the Clyde you mentioned in your first post  named KINGSTON or PROPELLOR (or PROPELLER) or ROTARY? I'm still sure it was  discussed here, but still can't find anything with a search.

She was named KILMUN, built at Worcester in 1859 by David Napier with an  iron hull and four funnels
 
 Alistair