John H Amos

[David Allinson]

Hi there.
Has anyone any news concerning the rescue of the last paddle tug this side of the Atlantic? Sometime around April/may last year she had her funnel removed and was reported to be going to be moved to have a full survey before submitting a request to the Heritage Lottery Fund for some money. Does anyone know if this ever happened?
Any news anyone??

All the best
David

[lenknight]

After the third go, think I have made it.

  The ‘John H Amos Paddle tug’ had received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2003/04, for the purpose of surveying and conservation plan, some £50.000. As far as I know some initial work has been carried out, the main objective to get into a covered slip to complete the survey failed, owing to a better offer to the Chatham Historic Dockyard for the use of the slip. The Tug still lays on a slip nearby. It is not easy to get any info on this project at any time, no website, and controlled by a trust, not to forth coming. Thereby the tug is deteriorating by the day, wish I could give better news for you.

[mjt60a]

This is how it looked last summer...


 

[David Allinson]

Many thanks for the pictures.
Just acts as a reminder of how urgent it is that she gets some attention. Being without her funnel makes her look particularly forlorn.

My brother-in-law recently sent me a picture of the PS Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. She looks better from a distance, due to having her funnel still in place, but is actually in an even worse condition overall.

In May last year OLD GLORY magazine ran an article comcerning the restoration of the steam tug Challenge (screw propulsion) and at the end of the article mentioned the John H Amos. I have written to the magazine to ask if they can follow up with the latest news of JHA.

If anyone hears any news please post it here.
All the best
David

[mjt60a]

I took those photos (John H Amos) from Kingswear Castle so couldn't really tell but, other than the mud and green algae, the hull doesn't look too bad to me, the lack of a funnel doesn't help the overall appearance and the sponsons do look seriously corroded but all that could be replaced... Ryde, on the other hand.... I've never visited but in a photo in the book 'Glory Days - Paddlesteamers' by David L Williams there's a photo showing Rydes hull close up and I don't know if it's the peeling, flaky paint but it looks worse  - and the book was published three years ago...

[lenknight]

After 30 years of ownership by Martin Stevens, in 2001 the ownership of the John H. Amos was transferred to a
Charitable Trust, the Medway Maritime Trust, and funding is being sought for total restoration to steaming condition.
The first funding has come from the PRISM Fund at the Science Museum and Martin Stevens on the transfer of
ownership.
In March 2003 an application for a Project Planning Grant was accepted by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This £50,000
grant paid for:
 A full Conservation Plan to be prepared by the Scottish Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of St.Andrews,
 Preparation of the vessel to enable the appropriate surveys to be carried out.
 Preparation of a full restoration specification,
 The obtaining of quotations for the full restoration of the vessel,
Preparation of the business plan to support the future operation and use of the vessel.
Project Manager, Chris Jones, was appointed for a year.
LATEST NEWS.
D September 2003. Project Leader Chris Jones, and Martin Stevens stabilised the funnel that had become detached
from its base, and cut up the collapsed remains of the smoke box. The funnel was later removed completely.
D Anglia Waterblast Ltd. have removed the mud.
D Multiple patches have been welded both by Anglia Waterblast Ltd and Paul Armstrong Welding Ltd.
D Metal thickness has been tested by Spree Engineering and Testing Ltd.
D A report on a full structural survey has been produced by Mr. Wyn Davis.
D A full Restoration Specification has been produced by the Project Leader.
Len Knight  

[David Allinson]

Len.
Very many thanks for getting all that data together. I am delighted that so much has actually been done already. I was under the impression that everything was at a standstill until she got onto the Chatham Dockyard covered berth. All that for Pds50,000, sounds like they did very well. Glad that she has had some holes closed.
All we need now is a few million to put her back into action, from somewhere. Any idea what they will be asking for?
Thanks again and all the best
David

[lenknight]

A visit to Teesside by Martin Stevens, Chris Jones and Jim Gascoyne in February 2004 revealed much more
Information on the John H Amos than was expected.
Teesside Archives allowed studying and photographing of towage records and other documents, including photographs
of Commissioner John Hetherington Amos himself. Ron Lowes, who works for the present Port Authority, PD
Teesport Ltd, facilitated access to minutes of the Tees Conservancy Commissioners' meetings which included the
Discussions on the controversy of the tug not being accepted for two years.
Ron Young, chief engineer, was tracked down and interviewed on video.
Two barges of the type used by the John H Amos were found, and were kindly donated to the Medway Maritime Trust
By Bob Reeves, General Manager of River Tees Engineering and Welding Ltd. Subsequently the offer was withdrawn.
The John H Amos was due to be slipped in early April 2004 and dried out. This was to be done in No.7 slip at
Chatham Historic Dockyard.
However, due to a delay concerning the lawyers of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and those of Turk's
Shipyard, (the proposed tenant), and the date for slipping came and went. This turned out to be a very expensive episode
for the Medway Maritime Trust as contractors had to be paid cancellation fees.
Quotations for the full restoration have indicated that the cost will be around £4 million.
Because the entire plating of the hull has to be replaced, it is hoped that an economical way can be found for the work
to be done to original specification; that is all riveted, not welded. It seems that these traditional skills have all but
disappeared in Great Britain, and where they can be found the cost is excessive.
 A considerable amount of time has been put into the project and so has Dr. Robert Prescott (he who drew up the NHSC
Lists) and fellow Trustee in the Medway Maritime Trust.

Len Knight  

[lenknight]

Update re the John Amos, it seems that a ‘floating platform’ has been moored in the River Medway, from a reliable source I am told this is for the Amos. So it seems your info was right David.
What sort of platform it maybe, have no idea at present. I will keep you informed as I can,
Regards Len Knight.

[lenknight]

Update re John H Amos:
A Website is now up and running, albeit just basic at present. This is on behalf of the Medway Maritime Trust,that are the owners of her.
Try:
www.johnhamos.org  
Hope to now keep all more informed from now on.
Regards Len Knight

[David Allinson]

Len.
Great to see the website up and running. Congratulations.
 Hope that things can move along for her.
What happend to the idea to get her onto a pontoon? I understood that at
one time the pontoon had arrived and was moored nearby.
All the best
David A




  Update re John H Amos:

A Website is now up and running, albeit just basic at present. This is on
 behalf of the Medway Maritime Trust,that are the owners of her.
 Try:
 www.johnhamos.org
 Hope to now keep all more informed from now on.
 Regards Len Knight>

 

[David Allinson]

I read recently of the disturbing news regarding the Medway Queen and was wondering what is the present status of the poor John H Amos?
Any news more than welcome.
All the best
David

[lenknight]

Hello David,
Re the Medway Queen, I think her survival now is in the hands of our latest lottery bid possible to be launched in the next few weeks. I think It will not be possible to re float ship without outside help. We can only hope the lottery will take this in consideration. The damage is more than our capacity to repair. The worst is that she may have to be dismantled on site, however early days yet. Still in with a hope.
Re John H Amos, No more news other than on her website at present:
  www.johnhamos.org
Regards Len Knight.

[David Allinson]

Len.  
Very many thanks for the update. As usual I found the John H Amos site just after I sent the mail. We were so long without it that it is really great to have it and get all the news. Things really seem to be moving along at long last.  
Hope that something comes through soon for the Medway Queen.  
All the best  
David  
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  
-----Original Message-----
 From: lenknight [mailto:preserved@paddleducks.co.uk]
 Sent: domingo, 19 de marzo de 2006 10:56
 To: preserved@paddleducks.co.uk
 Subject: RE: John H Amos  
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  
Hello David,
 Re the Medway Queen, I think her survival now is in the hands of our latest lottery bid possible to be launched in the next few weeks. I think It will not be possible to re float ship without outside help. We can only hope the lottery will take this in consideration. The damage is more than our capacity to repair. The worst is that she may have to be dismantled on site, however early days yet. Still in with a hope.
 Re John H Amos, No more news other than on her website at present:
 www.johnhamos.org
 Regards Len Knight.
 
 
 
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