Echuca news

[Dinosaursoupman]

Hey PD's,

Derek, "AA"= Antiaircraft.  PS Man is telling us that a foreign entity was invading and we're seeing the muzzleflash of the AA guns in defence of the homeland.

Randy

[derekwarner_decoy]

OK.... ...I see it all now...just needed to rotate the image 90 degrees clockwise......Derek

[paddlesteamerman1]

Im glad you turned it around
I must of forgotten when loading them all last night, I was in a bad mood with the computer 'cos it wasn't cooperating with me.
Thanks

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's .... & a question from Leith that I had missed .....

'does anyone know the approx. horse power and displacement of the 'Hero' ?  - I'm guessing 28 n.h.p. and 120-130 tons, but I could be wrong'.

Leith....according to Parsons....Hero [Official Number 71798] as built [September 1874] was 137 gross & 108 net tons with a twin cylinder 28 hp steam engine from the Atlas Engine Works in Melbourne....

Not to bad when you consider she is approx 134 years [YOUNG]..... ...Hero.............  ......Derek

PS......I understand James.... ...they can be very unfriendly box's of electrons at times......

[ljhall]

Well, that was a while ago Derek, I always knew the original specs of the 'Hero', but wasn't sure on her latest specs, as the Steam Engine & Boiler are both Replicas of the Original Machinery, judging by what I have heard they were made to fairly exact specs, so I'm assuming approx. 28 n.h.p. would be about right, not sure about the Bore and Stroke measurements though.
I have heard just recently that she now weighs in at 100 tons, actually a little less than I was thinking, but she really sits quite low in the water, even lower than the 'Adelaide'.

Cheers,

Leith

[michael]

I'm not exactly sure on Hero's exact HP as everything was sized up when she was built, except the hull!! Thats why she now draws 4ft and nearly 5ft when loaded with passengers! You can check out her new website www.hero.net.au
This year's Heritage Festival wasn't the best one, for me! The sailpast is usually the highlight for me, I was deckhand on the Pevensey. And Barge master on the D:26 on the Sunday. I also had Bunyip there and cruised up to the Goulburn Junction Monday morning, she is still tied up next to PV Tooraloora so I can use it after work.
PS Hero went out to set a world record of the most wakboarders towed behind a paddlesteamer. During Saturday we cruised down to Campaspe Junction and did a couple of practice runs. (thats me dring in James photo 'Hero from Pev'). She started with 15 wakeboarders but only 8 manage to last the whole trip. World record? I'm not sure Apparently PV Rothbury has towed way more, however she is diesel.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & sorry Leith...........according to their WEB site.....the original machinery was   refurbished .....beautiful snap below from Michael via  http://www.hero.net.au/ of the Atlas .... engine .....Derek

[Roderick Smith]

In an early part of the site, it is announced that there is overnight accommodation for six couples in three double bedrooms: a subtle way of announcing a menage a quatre?
Later in the site, the figure is revised to three couples.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[ljhall]

How I wish that were true Derek, unfortunately it worked out cheaper and easier to build a replica of the original, those of us that spend a fair bit of time in Echuca know these sorts of things. I have seen the Website and well - they stretched the truth a little.
Gary Byford would have the Original Machinery in a shed somewhere on his property, much of which was beyond redemption
He salvaged the Machinery in July 1986 and moved it to his Strathmerton Property, meaning that for approx. 29 years it was basically either below the water line or just above it and exposed to all the elements.
Michael has given a wrap up of the progress of the restoration/re-building of the Hero in much earlier postings from Oct/Nov 2006.
I think the Safety Valves were cast from another Local Steam Engine, don't know which one though.
Oh, and the Boiler has been welded together, there are no rivets or stays in it.

Cheers,

Leith

[paddlesteamerman1]

Some more pictures from the 2008 Heritage Festival,
now the computer is cooperating with me,
hopefully these are okay 

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ....& thanks for the clarification Leith.........here is the BLURB fro the Hero WEB site......

Is the Hero really steam powered? - Yes, the original steam engines and boiler have been re built to exact specifications.

So whats a few words in an English spoken Court of Law  .... .....however I am very pleased the owners at least made the decision to revert back to steam over diesel

& just the .jpg of the boiler is beautiful......Derek

[AlistairD]

So where were Atlas & Co based. Was it a UK or Australian-built engine?

[ljhall]

Hi Alistair,

Atlas Engineering Works were based here in Australia, actually in Melbourne to be specific, at one stage the company was owned by Scott & Young and was known by this name for many years.
Atlas & Co. also built the machinery for some other boats that have long since dissapeared such as the 'Elizabeth'.
Many of the engines over approx. 25 n.h.p. were built here in Oz, but there are not many left these days.
The 'Hero', 'Adelaide', 'Industry', are the only existing boats out here that have Australian-made machinery.
The 'Cumberoona' at Albury, NSW is the other exception she was only built in the 1980's, but AFAIK still has 2 Buffalo Pitts Steam Engines built in Buffalo, NY, USA in the early 1900's.
The 'Gem', located at the entrance to the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement also had locally built machinery, but it was all removed decades ago, now only the Paddle Wheels remain.
All the other steamers have British built machinery, mainly Marshall & Sons. Robey & Co. Ruston Proctor, Beverley Iron Works, Richard R. Hornsby, Ransome Simms & Jeffries & Brown & May.

Talk to you soon,

Regards,
Leith

[Excelsior]

Okay...  Not sure that this is the right thread, but I found the following news report from July this year online;

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/14/2302533.htm

Does anyone know anything about this?  Is the AVOCA for sale?  Was there interest from Echuca?  I haven't been able to find anything else which confirms this.

It'd be interesting if true.  There'd be issues with getting her there, where she would operate from, etc... 

[michael]

Don't know anything about Avoca coming to Echuca, I did hear MRPS were interested in purchasing it as it was up for sale.
I do know the Success is most likely coming to Echuca in the near future for restoration, being donated to the Echuca Council by River and Riverboat Preservation Society.
I think its a half million dollar job, so hopefully the money comes through and it doesn't end up sitting in Echuca like it is in Mildura.