100 yrs of Paddlesteamers

[Roderick Smith]

How nice to see photos of my own boat in action (even if I am hardly visible; the wheel is on the starboard side of the wheelhouse).
Jessie II looks so large on a trailer, and so small beside any paddlesteamer (particularly Marion).  Yet Marion looks small beside Princess, and I was bigger than James's canoe.

The unnamed new paddlesteamer was mentioned in Peter Christopher's latest book 'under construction at Karoonda'.  IIRC, it is 16.5 m (there are lots of boats in the 13 m and 15 m classes).  It was launched about a year ago, then fitted out to be ready for this voyage.  It is moored at Chukka Bend.  I have been told the name in confidence.  The naming will not take place until the owner regards the vessel as complete.  For this voyage, the toilet was readied, but the shower was not yet in use.  The kitchen was complete.  There is provision in the interior lining for two windows on each side.  These have yet to be cut through the outer walls.  The engine is a four-cylinder diesel from an Isuzu (Mazda?) delivery van.  The boat was the slowest in the fleet: hovering between 7 and 7.5 km/h.  One nice fitting was a pot-belly stove, around which the mosquito fleet skippers and passengers gathered on the first night to share some nice SA red wine.  Later nights were not as chilly.

With this post I enclose a scan of the index map from Baker & Reschke 'Murray River pilot' to help Paddleduckers who are not locals.  Morgan is at the top left of the map.  This voyage (and the commercial cruises) ended at Swan Reach because sandbars prevented deep-draught (900 mm) access to lock 1 (Blanchetown), from which pool levels are good to above Renmark.  I could have got my own boat through, but didn't need to.
Ngaut Ngaut is a significant aboriginal archeological site, just downstream from Nildottie.

I do approve of James's latest avatar image.

Rockford winery is a major sponsor of Marion.  Rockford cruises are crewed by Friends of Marion volunteers, but the catering is by chefs brought from top-end Adelaide restaurants, and the trips are pitched at upmarket food and wine enthusiasts.  Bookings are handled via Rockford, not via the Marion website (see the separate post from James).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Here are seven photos of the festivities in Mannum over Sat.27-Sun.28.9.
On the Saturday, I visited the local museum, which has a lot of paddlesteamer memorabilia.  One photo shows Oscar passing the preserved dry dock, around which the museum was established.  During its static-preservation years, Marion was in the dock.  I also looked for revealed wrecks, but not in the middle of a willow patch where tiger snakes were prowling.  The dinner photo (in Mannum Rowing Club's clubhouse) shows paddlesteamer people and locals.  The man in uniform was Marion's skipper/master for the downriver leg, and for the pre-dinner cruise.
On the Sunday, lots of extra boats arrived. Awhandra was typical of the many restored 1930s cruising launches present.  The houseboat was being cruised by the president of River Murray Boat Owners Association.  'She'll do us' was being cruised by friends from an early Marion cruise which I made.  They were so impressed that they bought their own boat: formerly based at Goolwa, now based near Murray Bridge.  Kingfisher came down from Purnong (or Walker Flat?).  The line up with Kingfisher and Flender Himmel includes MV Pompoota, brought specially from Goolwa.  The owner had taken his earlier boat (Clayton Queen) from Goolwa to Echuca as part of the 2003 Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet.  Pompoota was one of two Lands Department pay boats, now with superstructure expanded in several stages to be a three-berth cruising launch.  I picked the distant view of the paddlesteamer challenge, as it shows the six paddleboats present.  Marion had a head start, as it was returning from a downriver public cruise.  The others rounded up behind it, and Oscar W succeeded in overcoming the handicap and overtaking just before reaching the cross-river vehicular punt.  Since Oscar could also outrun Jessie II, it will be interesting seeing a race between it and PS Industry (reputedly the fastest steamer on the river) in 2011, when the river will rally again to mark Industry's centenary.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I am continuing with a photo selection from the PS Oscar W centenary celebrations.  This set is mainly of Saturday events at Goolwa, leaving just Sunday to cover.
The first few are of the first formal public cruise under survey: 10.00 off Goolwa wharf on Saturday.  I snapped the other paddleboats in the area as we cruised near them, also the engine.  A photo of the preserved beam engine went into the 'Beam engine' thread in the Research forum.

The reason for the Swedish flag (and the presence of the Swedish ambassador on Sunday) was that the builder (Charlie Wallen) was from Sweden; the boat was named after Charlie's son.

A smaller-scale event will be held at Echuca on Sat.18.10: a 3 h cruise on PS Pevensey for Friends of Oscar W people on a visit from Goolwa, followed by a dinner (intended to be at Oscar's Restaurant, on the wharf).  My attendance is uncertain, but Michael may get a photographic coverage.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Here is the selection from Sunday at Goolwa.  I am saving the photos of the revealed wrecks for a post in a different thread.

I kept on studying the techniques for docking and departing with a paddlesteamer, upwind and downwind.  Generally OW reversed against a spring line, bringing the bow out, then went forwards without running the stern onto the wharf.  The wind wasn't strong, and there was plenty of space.

This selection shows what SA does so well: bring together a range of community activities to make a an event which is bigger than the sum of its parts.  Around the port were tents and stands selling souvenirs and food, steam launches on trailers, older cars (mainly 1940s, 50s & 60s).  SteamRanger ran its Southern Encounter train from Mt Barker, hauled by light Pacific 621.  Official guests boarded lounge car Bowmans at Strathalbyn.  They walked from the station to the wharf, with a pipe band accompaniment.  Aboard, they assembled on the upper deck.  Students from a Port Elliot school on the foredeck entertained the onlooking crowd, including renditions of 'Let the Murray run' and 'Advance Australia Fair'.  The speakers included the mayors of Alexandrina and Echuca, the president of Friends of Oscar W, patron Roly Bartlett (owner of William Randell amongst many other river activities), the author of the book being released that day, and a minister.  Thanks were given to the years of service by dedicated volunteers, including those no longer alive to witness the celebrations.  The minister concluded his segment by taking a gumleaf which he had collected on a paddlesteamer voyage up Darling River during one of the earlier fleet voyages, breaking it into four, and scattering the parts in the four compass directions, wishing all future crew and passengers well in whatever direction they may steam.  Oscar then cast off, carrying the official guests, and escorted by about six vintage wooden launches.  I was aboard Pompoota (photographed in the Mannum selection).  Lotus has been restored beautifully by Armfield Slip: it was built as the private launch of the wealthy family owning Chowilla Homestead.  Most photos aboard show it taking well-dressed Edwardian-style people to picnics, but one shows it towing a barge of supplies.  Valda is owned privately.

While James is developing his engineer skills aboard Marion this weekend, I am aboard a weekend steam train to wheatbelt Wycheproof, part of major local festivities to mark the 125 anniversary of the railway there.

19.10 edit: I was told last night that the final cruises for the Monday had to be cancelled.  Because of wind, the water was blown away up the lake, the level dropped at the wharf and there was no longer the depth in which to cruise safely in the channel.  For the morning cruises, the tender boat was acting as a bow thruster to allow Oscar to turn in the reduced channel width.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[lner]

Some lovely photos in that lot.

I only got to see my mothers photos of the event yesterday, and you appear in a couple Roderick .

I will post a couple of her better photos when I can.

[Roderick Smith]

The final part of the centenary celebrations took place on Sat.18.10.
The original concept had been for Oscar W to voyage to Echuca, where it was built.  Over a year ago, the planning was cut to Mildura because of correctly-predicted low water.  The voyage did run in September, cut further: Goolwa to Swan Reach and return (see the earlier posts in this thread).  The Mayor of Shire of Campaspe (Echuca and its regional area) was a guest at the celebrations at Goolwa on Sun.5.10.  In turn, Shire of Campaspe and Port of Echuca hosted a function in Echuca on Sat.18.10: a 2 hour cruise on PS Pevensey, with drinks, a buffet dinner, a cake, short speeches and a plaque presentation.  The two towns are describing themselves jointly as the 'bookends of the Murray', and virtually all of the tourist navigation lies between them.  Above Barmah is lonely territory: banned for hire houseboats, a rugged adventure for private boats, very much tinny and kayak territory through snaggy reaches, and broken at the lockless Yarrawonga Weir.  Coorong Cruises ran Spirit II on public voyages from Echuca to Albury over Nov.07-Feb.08 (not paddle, so I may not have reported that here).  The first Echuca - Mildura cruises have been announced: Nov.08-Feb.09; the three are booked out.

On Saturday, I had a friend drive my car to Echuca, so that I could work on RNV on the laptop in both directions.  We arrived at 17.45, took some photos, and boarded Pevensey at its low-water berth.  To cope with the low and narrow river, Captain Kevin backed the stern into the mud, let the current bring the bow around, eased past the wharf, then made a similar move (bow into the bank) to round up again and dock at the wharf.  My driver went off for dinner at a pub; the invited guests boarded.  Most had been involved directly in the Swan Reach and Goolwa events; others were shire representatives.  Most from SA had made a leisurely drive across, taking a few days and inspecting boats along the way.  Michael, who had been crewing Alexander Arbuthnot on its public cruises that afternoon, was aboard.  From SA came a hand-made flag: the winning entry in a school competition to design one for the centenary.  It combined river-flag elements with a drawing of Oscar.  It had been carried on Oscar at Goolwa.  For this cruise, it was placed on the front handrails of Pevensey.  I neglected to take a photo.  We cast off soon after 18.30, I had a view which included 15 paddleboats: our own, two at low water moorings, two in the wet dock, a long line along the wharves and one on the slip.  Later we would cruise past another.  PS Emmylou was running nearly in tandem, on an overnight charter downriver.  We followed closely during the final stages of our downriver leg.  With daylight saving, we socialised on the decks, enjoyed the meal, had some brief speeches, and sang Happy Birthday around the cake as dusk fell.  The cruise concluded soon after 20.30.  My driver had me home for 23.30.
During the conversation, I mentioned that PS Industry turns 100 in 2011.  Others noted that Pevensey also turns 100 in that year.  Water allowing, I foresee another major river event for that: hopefully a meeting of top-end and bottom-end boats at Renmark, conceivably with passenger voyages by Marion from Mannum, and Ruby from Wentworth.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Here some more photo's from the Pevensey cruise

[Roderick Smith]

All of the photos in this section have vanished irretrievably.
That is a worry: there may be other sections with lost photos.
I can replace mine, as I have all of the originals, but I can't replace those put up by James or by Martin.
I don't know when I'll get to the job.

Missing photos:
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080923Tu-P1040996-PiggyFlat-M-OW-WR-RSmith.JPG (226.07 kB, 800x600 - viewed 66 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080923Tu-P1050028-Purnong-newPV_XN147S-RSmith.JPG (206.51 kB, 800x600 - viewed 42 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080923Tu-P1050036-OW-Mar-WR-Mat-RSmith.JPG (235.21 kB, 800x600 - viewed 35 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080923Tu-P1050067-PV_Matilda-RSmith.JPG (238.71 kB, 600x800 - viewed 37 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080924W-P1050122-SwanReach-JII-OW-RSmith.JPG (206.04 kB, 800x600 - viewed 44 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080924W-P1050128-SwanReach-bigfleet-RSmith.JPG (226.37 kB, 800x600 - viewed 38 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080925Th-P1050224-OW-Mar-RSmith.JPG (192.32 kB, 800x600 - viewed 34 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080926F-P1050239-Purnong-King-launch-RSmith.JPG (215.48 kB, 800x600 - viewed 28 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080926F-P1050252-Bowhill-Mar-OW-RSmith.JPG (217.81 kB, 800x600 - viewed 28 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080926F-P1050265-Mannum-WR-FH-Tar-RSmith.JPG (233.2 kB, 800x600 - viewed 34 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080926F-P1050268-Mannum-FHimmel-Tarella-RSmith.JPG (226.12 kB, 800x600 - viewed 43 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Kingfisher @ White Marina.JPG (96.21 kB, 768x576 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Marion @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (117.16 kB, 768x576 - viewed 25 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Marion @ Ngaut Ngaut 2.JPG (97.5 kB, 768x576 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Marion @ Younghusband.JPG (81.75 kB, 768x576 - viewed 26 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Marion @ Younghusband 2.JPG (65.74 kB, 576x768 - viewed 27 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Marion Oscar William @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (79.85 kB, 768x576 - viewed 29 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Matilda upstream from Mannum.JPG (83.34 kB, 768x576 - viewed 29 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Murray Princess upstream of Mannum.JPG (68.06 kB, 768x576 - viewed 31 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Oscar Princess @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (64.32 kB, 768x576 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Oscar W @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (120.11 kB, 768x576 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Oscar William Murray @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (76.2 kB, 768x576 - viewed 26 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers OscarW @ Younghusband.JPG (74.66 kB, 576x768 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers William Randell @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (110.46 kB, 576x768 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers William Randell @ Younghusband.JPG (85.34 kB, 768x576 - viewed 35 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers William Randell Me (Blue) Sister (Green) @ Ngaut Ngaut.JPG (67.56 kB, 768x576 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Jessie2 @ Younghusband.JPG (87.52 kB, 768x576 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers Jessie2 @ Younghusband w Marion.JPG (74.25 kB, 576x768 - viewed 35 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers NEWPV.JPG (82.52 kB, 768x576 - viewed 38 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers LowerMurray-map-s.jpg (178.8 kB, 1103x1023 - viewed 51 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080927Sa-P1050283-Tran-Awh-SdU-RSmith.JPG (233.04 kB, 800x600 - viewed 40 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080927Sa-P1050284Mannum-punt-dock-OW-RSmith.JPG (253.35 kB, 800x600 - viewed 38 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080927Sa-P1050294-Mannum-rclubdinner-RSmith.JPG (205.1 kB, 800x600 - viewed 43 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080928Su-P1050296-Mannum-Mat-JII-King-RSmith.JPG (236.96 kB, 800x600 - viewed 48 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080928Su-P1050303-Mannum-six-paddle-RSmith.JPG (179.65 kB, 800x600 - viewed 47 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080928Su-P1050314-Mannum-OWcake-RSmith.JPG (211.79 kB, 800x600 - viewed 41 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 080928Su-P1050317-Mannum-King-FH-Pomp-RSmith.JPG (217.05 kB, 800x600 - viewed 47 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081004Sa-P1050481-Goolwa-OW-PV-RSmith.JPG (221.74 kB, 600x800 - viewed 38 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081004Sa-P1050483-Goolwa-OW-Federal-RSmith.JPG (198.12 kB, 800x600 - viewed 42 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081004Sa-P1050485-Goolwa-OW-SWPV_Goolwa-RSmith.JPG (243.91 kB, 800x600 - viewed 44 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081004Sa-P1050488-OWengine-RSmith.JPG (62.58 kB, 800x600 - viewed 42 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050496-Goolwa-OW-WR-RSmith.JPG (212.94 kB, 800x600 - viewed 45 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050498-Goolwa-bargeDart-RSmith.JPG (207.75 kB, 800x600 - viewed 43 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050510-Goolwa-Lotus-Valda-RSmith.JPG (229.81 kB, 800x600 - viewed 43 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050516-Goolwa-SouthernEncounter-RSmith.JPG (240.55 kB, 800x600 - viewed 34 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050518-Goolwa-guests-RSmith.JPG (247.16 kB, 800x600 - viewed 34 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050519-Goolwa-OW-entertainment-RSmith.JPG (234.63 kB, 800x600 - viewed 39 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081005Su-P1050522-Goolwa-OW-speeches-RSmith.JPG (303.85 kB, 800x600 - viewed 44 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081018Sa-P1050648-Echuca-Bunyip-and-T___-RSmith.JPG (240.94 kB, 800x600 - viewed 36 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081018Sa-P1050645-Echuca-Pev-Her-Ad-RSmith.JPG (234.06 kB, 800x600 - viewed 37 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081018Sa-P1050660-Echuca-presentation-RSmith.JPG (170.13 kB, 600x800 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers 081018Sa-P1050661-Echuca-OscarWcake-RSmith.JPG (232.68 kB, 600x800 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers OW100Emmy.JPG (89.24 kB, 922x692 - viewed 32 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers OW100Flag.JPG (76.72 kB, 922x692 - viewed 30 times.)
100 yrs of Paddlesteamers OW100Rod.JPG (113.48 kB, 922x692 - viewed 34 times.)

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Here are all of my replacement photos, plus some extra ones, coming in about four posts.  For content, look back to the earlier posts in the thread.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Friday & Saturday photos now replaced.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & thanks Roderick......

Could 080927Sa....be taken in the Mannum Motel Restaurant?

Could 080926Fc be Marion @ 5 degrees to STDB?

  ....Derek

[Roderick Smith]

The two by James, taken at Younghusband on Fri.26.9.08, show:
* Jessie II cruising by.
* Jessie II pacing Marion (starboard) and William Randell (port).
While the rest of James's photos have gone missing, he had sent me those two by email for my own collection.

The dinner in Mannum was definitely the rowing club, not the motel.  There had been quite a lot of setting up.  Drink stewards were supplied by the club, we did our own queuing to collect the main course, the dessert and the coffee.

I'll try to get the next batch up today (it is 8.40 in Melbourne as I post this).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Today's ten are fresh preparations, not replacements.
In the first set I tried to put up only a key selection.  This set expands on some (particularly Tarella), and adds a couple of local boats which are not paddle.

As ever with my posts, I hope that our glorious river scenery (and weather), and variety of boats, tempts someone to sell a model on eBay, and head to Australia for the March-April 2011 PS Industry centenary.

I have just received the August issues of the magazines from the steam boat and wooden boat clubs, both of which were represented at Wentworth.
Members of these clubs have boats of trailable-launch scale.

Steam Leak devoted its colour front cover to PS James Maiden, and relegated members's vessels to the inside colour pages.  Both articles expressed awe about taking a small boat through a big lock: for nearly all members, it was a first time.

The caption of photo 481 doesn't mention the name of the red boat in the distance: it is PV Alice.
See www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3927.msg20763#msg20763

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.....Roderick....we may be one thousand kilometers away but were there in spirit........Derek 

[Roderick Smith]

Today: three fresh preparations, and six restorations.
The fresh are two views of PV Flender Himmel in action, and one of a River Wren hire boat.
Every major river town has a local hire fleet of modern houseboats: boxes on pontoons, usually single deck with a sundeck on the roof, varying from two to ten passengers.  No boat licence is needed, but the hirer must have a car licence and pass a brief training session provided by the hirer.  There is such a fleet at Renmark.  Most hirers announce a geographical territory beyond which the boat may not be taken.
A River Wren (Murray Bridge) is much smaller, and monohull: almost a caravan.
See www.riverwren.com.au/cruising.asp for a happy log of a cruise right up to the Victorian border, passing through six locks.
See www.riverglen.com.au for the fleet and specifications.  The larger boats are typical of those found in any centre; the Wren is a unique style.

In the recent selection, the significance of the dry dock is that it is part of Mannum history: built by William Randell as a floating dry dock (unsuccessful), it was placed in earth fill, and had a long working life.  For about 30 years it housed PS Marion as a static display.  It is now one of the components of Mannum museum of river history.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor