Blue Tops

[Hyperion 53]

It could well be AXE. I know that EXE is normally tied up down at Aylesbury from our days tied in the canal basin there.

 

I towed ALT from Stretton aqueduct on the shroppie to the Anchor PH at High Offley last year, and that was where it sat there after. I believe it has now been Section 8'd by Waterways. I don't know what ever happened to the owner as i lost his telephone number.

 

We also have ANT tied here.

[Chertsey]

It could well be AXE. I know that EXE is normally tied up down at Aylesbury from our days tied in the canal basin there.

 

I towed ALT from Stretton aqueduct on the shroppie to the Anchor PH at High Offley last year, and that was where it sat there after. I believe it has now been Section 8'd by Waterways. I don't know what ever happened to the owner as i lost his telephone number.

 

 

Was Alt the one with a cabin made of some kind of rigid plastic sheeting on it? If so I saw it when we were there (and you no doubt saw Warrior)

Edited September 11, 2007 by WarriorWoman

[Max Sinclair]

This is getting interesting, as I was subsequently told by the marina owners that the one at Bill Fen (third one down here) is Axe. I will try to post some more pics somewhere later. This one now has a very nicely built trad stern on it. Another distinguishing feature is sections cut out of the hull sides to give lower opening side hatches. It is also irridescent mauve with upvc window units though that might be an even later addition!

 

Any ideas about the one at Rothens (fourth one down)?

 

And do River and Admiralty class have different hull shapes?

 

Some of the 'Blue tops' had removable boatmens cabins which could be craned out as a boat awaited unloading and placed in the return hull. not a popular idea. When Les Allen was 'pleasurising' two boats including Axe he gave me one for my children to play in down my garden. The ButtyBox was very popular as it could be a castle or den, and later I drove my ride-on mower in to it. Eventually I gave all the metal work, lifting straps etc. to Gloucester Museun who were planning a replica. It can be seen in my pic of the Petter Engine from Olive, now in Oak.

[Max Sinclair]

This is getting interesting, as I was subsequently told by the marina owners that the one at Bill Fen (third one down here) is Axe. I will try to post some more pics somewhere later. This one now has a very nicely built trad stern on it. Another distinguishing feature is sections cut out of the hull sides to give lower opening side hatches. It is also irridescent mauve with upvc window units though that might be an even later addition!

 

Any ideas about the one at Rothens (fourth one down)?

 

And do River and Admiralty class have different hull shapes?

 

If you look at my pictures of the restoration of Lady Hatherton in CanalScape BCN Robert, you will see Axe being converted in Les Allens yard, also one of the dreadful B.W. portable cabins. Max

[Hairy-Neil]

My apologies I thought it was for the Westminster work, I remember her travelling on the K&A and also the fact she had her draught reduced to 2'6"

 

I understand the Palace of Westminster is faced with Anston Stone, sourced from NE Nottinghamshire. I seem to recall a news item in WW some years back refering to a narrowboat load of same transported to London via the Chesterfield Canal. Can't remember which historic boat was involved though.

[Chris-B]

So Axe has had a busy life since I first knew it, even though decapitated and otherwise messed about with but that is the lot of old working boats. I feel better now.

 

 

John,

I remember Axe when it was tied up with Ant at the bottom of John Tackleys garden betwen the two tunnels at Barnton, this must have been 20 odd years ago..

[Hobbler]

There are two on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal as far as I know . WYE is at the Waterways Museum in Gloucester and CAM was going to a mooring at Parkend when it left here .

[Tim Lewis]

Been noticing a lot of them lately. Keep meeting Kew coming down from Atherstone, and have seen Dee. Also spotted a converted one at Bill Fen and another (Lee) on the Cam this morning. What I was wondering was if there are any fully restored ones. I know about Anne, which is (or at least was last year) trading, but are there any restored to 'as new' show condition? If not, is it because of some technical difficulty or just because no one can be bothered?

 

Saw Collingwood today at Gast Street Basin

 

Tim

[Hairy-Neil]

Saw Collingwood today at Gast Street Basin

 

Tim

 

Collingwood being an 'Admiralty' rather than a 'River' or Blue Top.

 

The Admiralty class boats started life with canvas cloths but over steel hoops rather than the traditional side and top cloths of earlier designs.

[Paul H]

Collingwood being an 'Admiralty' rather than a 'River' or Blue Top.

 

The Admiralty class boats started life with canvas cloths but over steel hoops rather than the traditional side and top cloths of earlier designs.

 

but the Admiral-class Collingwood has been fitted for many years with blue tops by Birmingham and Midland or whatever they call themselves these days. I presume these make for a better camping boat.

 

Paul H

[IanM]

but the Admiral-class Collingwood has been fitted for many years with blue tops by Birmingham and Midland or whatever they call themselves these days. I presume these make for a better camping boat.

 

Paul H

 

Many apologies for resurrecting this thread.

 

The reason for Collingwood's blue tops is that before it was a camping boat it arrived loaded with coal at a power station (I think at the bottom of Perry Barr locks) which unloaded boats using a grab on a crane. The way that the hoops over the hold on Admiral boats attach is they slot into rings welded to the inside of the gunwales. These rings protruded into the hold and meant that the grab would not fit so they were chiselled off and never replaced. The position of them can be seen on the inside of the gunwales today.

 

The front set of rings were left on and provide handy windless holders as can be seen in this picture...

 

Dudley No1 Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigations by imulford, on Flickr

[Speedwheel]

Does anyone know of any blue tops which may be for sale? I believe that UCC may have some (don't know if they are for sale though).

 

Thanks

[NB Alton]

I've just remembered where I bought some from, I'll PM you the details later. Failing that I have a couple spare that you could borrow & I know of someone who had offered to make me some more if I needed them.

 

Cheers, Brian

[dove]

Does anyone know of any blue tops which may be for sale? I believe that UCC may have some (don't know if they are for sale though).

 

Thanks

 

The people that run "Kew" have a load in their garden on the Birmingham and Fazley.

 

Andrew