Echuca news

[michael]

Last night saw another successful Sailpast. Even tho there weren't as many vessels but there was a large crowd turnout for the boats and fireworks. Commercial boats(PS Adelaide, Canberra, Alexander Arbuthnot, Emmylou,PV Pride of the Murray and MV MaryAnn) waited at Moama wharf, where PV Pride of the Murray ammused passengers by doing circlework, then departed downstream past the wharf letting off flares and rounding up at Vic boat ramp while other vessels (PS Pevensey, Perricoota and Barmah departed upstream and moored near the Iron bridge while the first lot of vessels tied up at the wharf where the crowd watch the fireworks, one of the best ones I'v seen.
Vessels that didn't partake in the saipast were: PS F05, Adventurous, Henry Charles and Billy Tea- stranded in wet dock, PS Ranger- just came off the slip, PS Etona and James Maiden- boilers in pieces, PV Amelia Jane, and Barge D:26- PS Adelaide carrying passengers.

[paddlesteamerman1]

I saw in The Old Machinery Magazine that PS Henry Charles is for sale now.. any offer above $100k... it sounds a fair and reasonable price for the boat though...

[michael]

Just a quick note that PS F05 was officially names PS.................................................... Brittania yesterday, will do a article on her next week as I'm currently in Melbourne

[paddlesteamerman1]

Oh... Brittania... well.. not what I expected.. but still a very nice name.. Was there a little "party" or "gathering" or was it just announced??

[paddlesteamerman1]

Talking about names of boats..

I went to the website  

http://www.nangilocps.vic.edu.au/PaddleBoatNews.html

And it states that there is a boat called "Maid of Loch Eille".. I was looking through one of my new books.. and there is a boat called "Cameron of Loch Eille (spelling???).. both being built at Echuca East.. Does anyone know if these are the same boat?

[michael]

yeah same boat we call it PV Cameron for shorter

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks Michael...

Oh.. and Echuca is famous again.. the AA the Pevensey and (Ive forgotten his name [he is skipper of the PS Pevensey reguarly.. John?? I should remember I did work experience with him  :shock: ]) are featuring in the "Telstras Next G Network"

.... Ive been everywhere man!....

[michael]

Graham! And theres a ad in the paper too

[paddlesteamerman1]

Graham!!! I knew I knew it... thanks Michael!!!

Yes, I saw the ad in the paper a few days ago in the Herald Sun.. as well as on TV..

My Comment

"OMG.. I know that person" - it was fun knowing someone on tv   !!

[michael]

The day is getting very close, yesterday PS Hero had its fire lit in the boiler, once it beganm making steam it started escaping through the 'man hole' so the fire was put out, She maybe steamed up tomorrow so they can tick the engines over, no steering chain ran yet so it can't cruise yet.
Note the large pressure gauge, its HUGE.

[paddlesteamerman1]

Wow!! The engine looks brilliant.. I havent seen her since it was just the boiler fitted, even then, it was dusty and grimy... but now all polished up.. very nice!!..

Has the outer appearance of the boat changed much lately??

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....Michael....PS Hero......Parsons quotes...'built by Linkletter 1874....two cylinder.. Atlas Engine Works Melbourne'

Beautiful restoration :no1 ....but what is the content in the second .jpg........I can see.....
1) the cylinder & associated connections
2) is it the lubricator with sight glass in the vertical plane :?: ...volume seems small
3) what is brass sphere & coiled copper tube :?:

[michael]

The brass sphere and copper tube is the lubricator for the cylinder not used on all steamers but I know Pevensey and Adelaide have them.
James: don't know how long 'lately' is but here's her this afternoon... is that smoke I see coming out of the funnel!!

[paddlesteamerman1]

All I can say is WOW!!! The Hero looks amazing, and very much different to the last time I saw her..
I havent gotten this clear yet... Is the Hero going to be used for only private cruising, or will there be some commercial cruises about???
I have had contradicting opinions on this topic.. its confusing me

[thewharfonline]

Beautiful restoration :no1 ....

It's not a restoration Derek, it's a replication. Both boiler and engines are newly built. And the rivets on the boiler aren't real...it's all welded together now. Built modernly to look old.

Safety valve is cast from another of the Echuca engines though....but again, it's replicated not authentic.

That's pretty dark smoke Michael...should we be keepign quiet about it?