And at long last I will get to see her myself..
I am going to Echuca this weekend to do some work at the Port, should be a lot of fun.
If anyone wants a few photos, just let me know.

I have returned from a weekend at Echuca, and the river was terribly low. In fact I was on the PS Pevensey and Graham couldnt turn her to go downstream, so we just went upstream.
I spent the Sunday working the steam display at the Sawmill, and also went kayaking for a few hours.
The Pride was on a two week annual 'maintenance' cruise and was just cruising up and down the river. I didnt see her once.
Was a great weekend again, will be up for the Steam Rally.

The Pride is out of town as they are working on her hole in the side of her hull, she was supposed to be on the slip, you probebly know why she was up there tho....

Yes, but it took me a couple of hours to realise that the Pride was out of town!
I will be going up for the June Long Weekend for the Steam Rally, and will be working for the Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Queens Birthday Holiday) and the Tuesday (No school   ). If anyone was going up, it would be a fantastic place and time to catch up a bit, and get some snaps!
I am staying, again, in the convenient location of the Steam Packet Inn, so it is only a hop, step and jump to the Port for work.

The day has finally came, PS Hero made her first trip under her own steam today, travelling down to 5mile and return. I was unable to attend but she apparently has some speed about her and the trip went smoothely, however all morning I was teased by hearing her whistle echoing throughout the town. Hopefully she will be doing trips Steam Rally weekend.

I hope she is doing trips on the steam rally weekend.. i really want to see her going.. wow.. i wouldnt be able to take hearing the whistle, knowing she was steaming around.. it would drive me insane. I had word of mouth that she was meant to be a speedy boat, but was unsure on the speed.
I cant wait to see her !

does anyone know if the henry charles is still for sale?

:?:   invitation :birthday    :post    :news  :lol:      Toolleen   Echuca  :party Pevensey      :luck  17.40      in the mud :vacat      :kewl   dinner :gather     onto the bank   parents  :bow  :birthday  :luck Canberra      Mary Ann :boom   Michael
   :clap2         :yeah     grandfather  :kewl  Mel 20.45  

:birthday
Roderick

Today we took PS Canberra down to National Channel and she will continue onto Torrumbarry Weir tomorrow to run trips thru the lock over the weekend before heading back to Echuca Monday carrying passengers from Torrumbarry to Deep Creek Marina.
Crew included Captain and Engineer, but most of the trip I was steering while the 15yo engineer enthusiast stoked the boiler, probebly the first tine Canberra has been operated by a crew all under the age of 21!
PS Britannia has also been out for a cruise for a couple of hours. no major problems, owner seemed very happy.

Oh, well I picked the wrong weekend to go to the lock. I was there a couple of weeks ago, and I wish I was going to be there this one as well!!

Have PV Lady Rae and the stranded houseboat got down through the lock?

When I was at Euston on Sat.14.7, a rise was expected in 7 or 10 days, sufficient to allow PV Kookaburra to cruise through to Wentworth.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Last time I was at Torrumbarry Lock I had a look downstream of the lock and there seemed to be a giant concrete slab completely exposed by the low water levels. Has the level gone up enough to let the Canberra and others through??

I have just phoned the office.
Yesterday's voyage (with Michael steering) was to take 8.00-18.00 for the 82 km.  However, it left late, and terminated at National Channel, completing the final 2 h on Saturday, and then commencing the first cruise late.
The short cruises are going down through the lock.
Sat.21.7: 10.00 & 14.00, 1.5 h.
Sun.22.7: 10.00, 12.30 & 14.30, 1.5 h
Monday grand voyage: 8.00 ex the office in Echuca, by bus to Torumbarry.
~9.00 cast off, to Deep Creek Marina, bus back to Echuca.
It may be possible for true enthusiasts to continue into Echuca, but arrival couldn't be any earlier than 19.00.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

I rode on the 12.30 trip through the lock on Sunday onboard Canberra. Torrumbarry is alot more exciting to Mildura as Mildura only drops 1-2m, Torrumbarry drops 5m. We then cruised downstream 2-3km before turning around and going back up again.
Roderick was there to ride the 2.30pm trip and then the voyage home today(Monday)
The river dropped 8cm Saturday night so Canberra only had 1ft or so of water between her hull and the concrete slab below the lock!
Lady Rae has got through the lock, don't know its where abouts tho.

Hi Michael,

I came across your posts on the PS Adelaide in another thread from earlier in the year, and was wondering if you could post some more Engine Room pics as the ones that I took last October didn't turn out very well.

Thanks,