Source to Sea (Murray River, Australia, 2001)

[Roderick Smith]

These were amongst my earliest scans, and predated my joining Paddleducks.  I have hunted hard, and it seems that I have never posted them.  I am currently retoning them for various groups, and will post into an expanding thread as I do them.
010923Su Murray River, Mannum (SA): Part of the 'Source to Sea' fleet (in this view, seven paddleboats, steam & diesel, plus assorted launches). (Roderick Smith).
This event was to mark the centenary of Australian federation, from which one outcome was the weir & lock scheme which we enjoy today. Tinnies from Khancoban, then an accumulating fleet from Echuca. Low water knocked that: the tinnies were trailed, and the main fleet started at Mildura. One or two brave Echuca boats did get through.
010923Su-04-Mannum-seven-paddleboats-RSmith.jpg
left to right:
SWPV Murray Princess
PS William Randall
PS Oscar W
PS Industry
SWPV Goolwa (blocking PV Kingfisher)
PV Matilda (just a glimpse)
PV Flender Himmel
PV Mayflower

Edited to take in more of the effect of a fleet in port.
010923Su- 01: self captioned.
010923Su- 02: self captioned.
010923Su- 05: self captioned.

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

010923Su Murray River at Mannum (SA).  Source to Sea.  Roderick Smith:
PV Kulkyne, PV Akuna Amphibious, PV Impulse, QWPV Tamara Rae.
closer view.
PV Kulkyne, PV Canally.
PV Eliza Ann.
Even with the lower deck recessed into the hull, there are floats under the sponsons to provide stability.

Roderick

[Delaunay]

  Bien l'bonsoir ou bonjour;
Sympa ces bateaux à roues ... mais le dernier a des flotteurs additionnels, une sage décision 
Cordialement
François

Well the good evening or good morning;
Nice these boats with wheels ...: - \ but the latter has additional floats, a wise decision;)
cordially
François

[kiwimodeller]

Hi Roderick, was this a once only trip or is it an annual event? If so when? It would be worth a trip to Aus to see something like that. Of course the reason for the trip would to be to see kids and grandson but I am sure some paddler time could be scheduled in. If not for the source to Sea can you suggest any other events? Thanks, Ian.

[Roderick Smith]

This was a once only, celebrating the centenary of Australian federation.  The aim was tinnies from Khancoban to Echuca, then paddlesteamers to Goolwa.  Low water resulted in the tinnies being trailered, and only two Echuca boats getting through; the main fleet ran from Mildura to Goolwa, with various mix & match participants along the way.  In 2003, the river rallied again, this time for the 150th anniversary of the pioneering commercial paddlesteamers.  The fleet ran from Goolwa to Echuca, but on uncertain water, not every boat went the whole way.
The river loves to rally, but water levels are not always favourable.
Other big rallies have been for the centenaries of PS Oscar W (just to Swan Reach), PS Industry (at Renmark), PS Melbourne (at Mildura), and the 150th anniversary of Chowilla Station (above Renmark).
This year's big one will be for the 150th anniversary of PS Adelaide (Echuca, September).  That may well link neatly with PS Marion voyaging from Mannum to the Victorian border: a grander voyage than its usual Berri one (for survey slipping, every 2 years).
www.psmarion.com/cruises
August 26 – September 4 Mannum – Border Cliffs – Renmark Overnight Cruise  2016 Mannum to Border Cliffs to Renmark FINAL
October 7 – 13 Berri – Mannum 7 day Overnight Cruise  2016 Berri to Mannum
AFAIK Echuca is 23-25.9.  It is easy to fill the extra days calling at Murray ports with paddleboats: Yarrawonga, Cobram, Swan Hill, Goolwa.

Roderick

[kiwimodeller]

Thanks for that, the Marion website looks interesting, will peruse it thoroughly. The original plan was to visit around Xmas but kids and grandson are now coming here so it seems we will not be coming to Aus until sometime next year, probably between April and August. Look forward to seeing some real paddlers in action. Cheers, Ian.

[Roderick Smith]

More of the fleet at Mannum on Sun.23.9.01.
- PV Mayflower.
- PV Flender Himmel, with a glimpse of SWPV Goolwa rhs.
- PV Matilda.
- PV Black Shag (IIRC 45 cm draft) and PS Etona.  These were the only two Echuca paddleboats to get through, and did so on a sudden short-lived rise after rain.

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

010923Su Murray River at Mannum (SA), Source to Sea (Roderick Smith):
- SWPV Goolwa, PV Kingfisher, MV Pelican.
- PV Matilda, SWPV Goolwa, PV Kingfisher.
- MV Progress (a former milk boat), PS William Randell, PS Marion.
- PS Marion, PS Oscar W, a glimpse of SWPV Murray Princess.

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

More Sun.23.9.01 with the Source to Sea fleet at Mannum (SA), all from me:
* MV Progress, PS William Randell, PS Oscar W, SWPV Murray Princess, barge Dart.
* PS Oscar W, PS William Randell, MV Progress.
* SWPV Murray Princess.
* PS Marion, operating short cruises.

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

More Sun.23.9.01 with the Source to Sea fleet at Mannum (SA), all from me:
* MV Progress, PS William Randell, PS Oscar W.
* PS Industry.
* PS Industry.
* PS Marion.

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

More of the Source to See fleet on Murray River at Mannum (SA).  Sun.23.9.01.  (Roderick Smith)
 - 25 Marion, Industry.
 - 27 Marion, Industry, Murray Princess.
 - 28 Industry.
 - 29 Industry.

Roderick

 

[Roderick Smith]

More of the Source to See fleet on Murray River at Mannum (SA).  Sun.23.9.01.  (Roderick Smith)
- PS Industry, PS Marion, dinghies.
- Marion, Industry, dinghy, MV Progress.
- PS Marion (2).
- PS Marion firebox (2).

Roderick

[Delaunay]

Hello 
Une question sur les machines à vapeur utilisées; Sont elles prévues au départ pour le naval ou une autre activité ?
Je me demande comment ils ce comportement par vent de travers, avec des superstructure aussi importantes ?
Beau, très beau ^reportage photos, manque les odeur de vapeur et le bruit 
Cordialement


A question about steam engines used; They are originally intended for naval or other activity?
I wonder how they conduct this cross-wind, with such important superstructure?
Beautiful, beautiful ^ photo report, lack of steam smell and sound: whistle
cordially
François

[derekwarner_decoy]

François.....the answer to your question is complex, however if I may try to explain a little

1. most of the original paddlewheel engines [and boilers] were imported from UK and installed hulls built in Australia
2. these were mostly twin cylinder, double acting, non condensing and horizontal axis driving the paddle wheel shaft
3. some were direct engine to paddle drive axis, whilst many had substantial sized straight cut gear reductions to the paddle drive 
4. within a few years, many engines and boilers were constructed in Australia, however from accepted designs from the UK
5. the engines are often termed as portable, where as it should be spelt as potable, being that the water used is suitable for use

Of course there were exceptions to the rule here....some hulls were constructed in UK, knocked down and reassembled in Australia....a small number of engines were single cylinder, a small number of vessels had vertical boilers and 1 or 2 vessels to my understanding were listed as SC....which is surface condensing

The image posted by Roderick of PS Marion is typical of paddle steam plants with the twin cylinder horizontal engine mounted above the horizontal boiler

The question you ask about superstructure and windage is still an issue.......in a video of PS Marion [3 decks] the skipper suggests the deck structure is similar to a sailing yacht and difficult to handle in the wind

However we must remember the vessels were used on our inland rivers and not the open ocean

Derek

[Delaunay]

Bonsoir ;
Merci Derek pour ces renseignements.
Oui, sur rivière, le déplacement doit être  conjugué avec le vent mais aussi le courent .
Pour les machine à vapeur, peut-être certaines viennent du utilisation prévue au départ pour les locomobiles ?
Cordialement
François

Good evening;
Derek thank you for that information.
Yes, on river, moving must be combined with the wind but also at the.
For the steam engine, maybe some come from the use originally intended for the locomobiles [/ b]?
cordially
François