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boatboss

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I was wondering if Romford or Coniston were still afloat or around Python used to pull both these as well as Fazeley, which I know is still around and in very fine condition too

We are trying to add to the very limited amount of info that we currently have for Python

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I recall ROMFORD being up for sale no so long ago. Rather a unique conversion to put it gently. That is, if we are talking about the Braithwaite & Kirk ROMFORD, seem to recall it was on a Thames mooring, though I could be wrong.

 

Derek

 

EDIT:

Here it was! ROMFORD 281, as in F281

Edited by Derek R.
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That is an interesting conversion! I actually rather like the idea of having a conservatory (although if I owned it I am sure I would have much better use for the space!)

 

It is great to know it is still around even if it bears little resemblance to it's original design.

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I was wondering if Romford or Coniston were still afloat or around Python used to pull both these as well as Fazeley, which I know is still around and in very fine condition too

We are trying to add to the very limited amount of info that we currently have for Python

 

Following ROMFORD, and under the operation of 'British Waterways' PYTHON was paired with:-

 

exF.M.C. Ltd. DAWLEY (fleet list dated 13 May 1952)

exF.M.C. Ltd. FAZELEY (fleet list dated 01/10/1954)

exG.U.C.C.Co. Ltd. LANGHO (fleet list dated 02 July 1957)

exG.U.C.C.Co. Ltd. CONISTON (fleet list dated 20 May 1958)

no pairing / no steerer (fleet list dated 26 January 1959)

no pairing / no steerer (fleet list dated 15 February 1960)

no pairing / no steerer (fleet list dated November 1960) (transfer to maintenance shortly after this fleet list)

 

These fleet lists also give the steerer's name, but little else.

 

PYTHON was out of service for most if not all of 1951, being docked and returning into service in early 1952. Prior to going out of service (for the fitting of electrics at Uxbridge) PYTHON was in the hands of Tom Boswell, and on returning into service it went to J. Boswell for a couple of years.

 

Clearly there is quite a lot of information available on PYTHON, you just have to know where to look - or who to ask :captain:

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It appears it was a good job you spotted this thread then! Are you the person to ask who knows where to look?

 

What other information is there about Python?

 

I do watch this section of the Forum with interest, and I even contribute to it from time to time. I have done an awful lot of first hand research over the years so in some cases I do know where to look, although there are much more knowledgeable people than me about.

 

There is a huge amount of information available on all 'historic' boats, some of which is in the public domain and some within private collections. In my experience it is the private collections that hold the most interest. Without any doubt the only information that is not worth anything at all is that published on specialist 'historic' narrow boat internet websites, mainly because so little of it is researched and anybody can copy from a book :captain:

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Name one...

 

Well I suppose it all depends on what one wants to know.

 

I have a private collection of information regarding 'historic' boats, mainly narrow boats - sourced from my own research in archives and other private collections. I also have the benefit of formally being a professional boatman (camping pairs and some carrying) for 6 years so I understand what is right and what is wrong when 'traditional' boating. This also helps a lot when listening to boatman's tales, whether proper family boaters or the current crop of 'boatmen'. I was fortunate in being taught how to boat by family boaters shortly after trade finished, and so fully appreciate there is much more to boating than moving a boat along the canal and that boating is easy but requires total understanding.

 

Now, ask me about general or specific canal history and I have not got a clue, and I am not interested. This is pretty much the same with engines, from a technical point of view anyway.

 

Two people I hold in very high esteem are Alan H. Faulkner and Malcolm Braine, the former for his personal research and willingness to publish (as well as being a really nice bloke) whilst the latter has such an understanding and knowledge of boats ('historic' and modern) that he can easily put most people to shame (and is also a really nice bloke). Of course there are others but there is two for starters.

Edited by pete harrison
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