PS Henry Charles (Echuca, Vic.)

[Roderick Smith]

This vessel was built in the late 1990s.  It has had mentions in lots of threads before (use the search function), but never has had its own.


Fire destroys paddlesteamer Henry Charles.
Emergency services flooded Murray Esplanade this morning after a fire engulfed the PS Henry Charles.
Sun.9.3.15, 7.06.
Echuca paddlesteamer Henry Charles was destroyed in a fire early this morning.
Echuca CFA was called to the scene just after 5am, with the boat well alight at its mooring at the back of the Port of Echuca Discovery Centre.
With support from Echuca-Moama Search and Rescue, Moama Fire Brigade and Moama SES, the fire was controlled in about 20 minutes, with crews still at the scene mopping up.
CFA Region 17 operations officer John Cutting said the cause of the fire was not yet known.
<www.mmg.com.au/local-news/echuca/fire-destroys-paddlesteamer-henry-charles-1.89249>

Before: <www.facebook.com/RiverineHerald/photos/pcb.840334979357299/840333589357438/?type=1&theater>
After: <www.facebook.com/RiverineHerald/photos/pcb.840334979357299/840333306024133/?type=1&theater>

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Here is everything which I can find on open-access sites, with some duplication.

PS Henry Charles
before:
https://www.facebook.com/RiverineHerald/photos/pcb.840334979357299/840333589357438/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=677760575665661&set=p.677760575665661&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=681482855307702&set=gm.365873716949403&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1789425154615017&set=gm.366150713588370&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/325824597564261/photos/pcb.649451335201584/649447701868614/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/325824597564261/photos/pcb.649451335201584/649447758535275/?type=1&theater

before, during & after as a trio:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153226623486042&set=p.10153226623486042&type=1&theater

during:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153224355866042&set=gm.366716526865122&type=1&theater

after:
https://www.facebook.com/325824597564261/photos/a.325866364226751.1073741828.325824597564261/649447718535279/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/RiverineHerald/photos/pcb.840334979357299/840333306024133/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/325824597564261/photos/pcb.649451335201584/649447605201957/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/325824597564261/photos/pcb.649451335201584/649447718535279/?type=1&theater

Notes:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/PS-Industry/325824597564261
Mon.9.3.15.  PS Henry Charles has been destroyed by fire at about 5.00. Echuca CFA, Echuca-Moama Search and Rescue, Moama fire brigade and SES are all on the scene now. the fire was controlled within 20 min, but the cause is still unknown. Henry Charles was built in 1999, the last paddle steamer to be built in the 20th century. It was powered by a 10 hp Ruston & Proctor steam engine.

Enclosed are four photos from Michael, showing the aftermath.  So far there is no gossip re the cause, or the possible rebuilding.  These were taken on Tues.17.3, 8 days after the fire.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor