Unidentified British Paddle Ferry

[paulmeara]

Hi everyone

I've attached a copy of a photo that came to us with a donation of mostly local photographs.  Although his is not discernable in the attached photo, there is a good chance that the boat is called Neptune.

Does anyone have any ideas about the location?  Any help would be most appreciated.


Paul Meara
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

[AlistairD]

Can you read the name on the board over the  entrance to the pontoon in the original with a magnifier.
 Â 
 Blowing up the digital image makes it too  pixellated to read.
 Â 
 You say local, where is local for you?
 Â 
 Alistair
 

  ----- Original Message -----
   From:    paulmeara (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: research@paddleducks.co.uk (research@paddleducks.co.uk)
   Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 11:26    AM
   Subject: Unidentified British Paddle    Ferry
   

   
Hi everyone

I've attached a copy of a photo    that came to us with a donation of mostly local photographs. Although his is    not discernable in the attached photo, there is a good chance that the boat is    called Neptune.

Does anyone have any ideas about the location? Any help    would be most appreciated.


Paul Meara
Catalyst Science Discovery    Centre



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[Brian]

Upon clicking on the picture, my PC opened up the picture in a new tab within Windows Internet Explorer.

It was then possible to read the signs above all three walkways (brows) to the pontoon.

The Left Hand Sign reads "WAY OFF ONLY" and -
the Central Sign reads "WAY ON ONLY", but -
the  Right Hand Sign is not so easily read, perhaps it may be "NO ENTRY".

BUT it does appear that there is another "Paddler" in the distance mid-stream and on the far bank is it a pontoon only or is there another vessel moored during loading/unloading

It is unfortunate that these signs did not provide any specific help in identifying the actual location. However it does seem that it is a cross-river ferry operated by "Paddler Steamers".

As to the identity of vessel moored at the pontoon this is not easily seen from the picture, but maybe the experts on Paddleducks could use some of the clues. (1) She has a single central funnel, (2) There are NO masts apparent, (3) The "control/bridge position" is on the upper deck, without any form of bulkhead to separate it from the passenger area.
.

[PJ]

Definitely not a seagoing ship, so that leaves rivers and estuaries.  Looks like a pretty wide stretch of river/estuary.  Width of channel and topography shows some low hills and fair building development without dense forestation so not so likely the upper reaches of a river.  Because of the signs Brian identified it's a landing for a ferry or commuter service which handles fairly heavy foot passenger traffic. Positioning and amount of liferings suggests a commuter/ferry.  Hull profile reminiscent of early Thames (LCC) paddlers.  So, an unispired guess, lower Thames/Medway area, early 1880's?

[paulmeara]

You say local, where is local for you?

 
Local for us is Widnes in Cheshire.  My only thoughts are that it might be the River Dee with the Clwyd Hills in the background?


Paul