dredgerman

i joined the crew uphill of crookham wharf,ian edwards i blame! pledge & sparkle the tugs i started with to the r. b on the unload site on the embankment.saturday was clean the firebars,rod the tubes,clean the smokebox & light the fire very gently,cast iron needs gentle heat & spread the fire gently over the bars.the procedure took over 2 hrs to produce steam,a contrast to modern hydraulic machines,5 mins.and dig dig!good memories of a bygone age,tug skipper,fireman,steam crane driver,not many of us left & need to pass the knowledge on. dredgerman [chaz]

hamsterfan, thanks for the info,it makes sense as the casting is large.i have infilled the triangular shape with a piece of elm [ex.wey nav. sluice board] the cill theory may have some cred. it is probably the only small woolwich with a part no. engraved. i.e.2012 chaz! hope clive & rosie are doing o.k.will come down & check them out! chaz.[dredgerman]

have got a picture,how do i send it to you?

can anyone explain the reason for a triangular shaped hole in the skeg? this was infilled a piece of elm a 1 1/2" thick.i have replaced the article as it may have some effect on the rudder whilst running light.maybee the shape was hollow to assist steering but the fragile nature of the cast iron,if caught on a cill,could cause it to fracture? by filling the shape would alieviate this possibility as the wood was compressed in this situation. dredgermaster

can anyone explain the reason for a triangular shaped hole in the skeg? this was infilled a piece of elm a 1 1/2" thick.i have replaced the article as it may have some effect on the rudder whilst running light.maybee the shape was hollow to assist steering but the fragile nature of the cast iron,if caught on a cill,could cause it to fracture? by filling the shape would alieviate this possibility as the wood was compressed in this situation. dredgermaster.