Another forty tons by canal

[twbm]

The NBT Boats Nuneaton and Brighton, crewed by four of our amateur enthusiasts using their holidays, loaded with 40 tons of mixed solid fuels at John Jacksons in late September and have been moving steadily towards the Thames at Oxford since then. With 18 tons on the motor and 22 on the butty, this has been the most ambitious load we have tried for some time. The summit of the Oxford has presented a few problems, mostly in bridge holes, but the boats have made it to somewhere between Banbury and Oxford if our info / guess is correct. This is our second run this year, delivering to our regular customers on the Thames who we have been supplying every six months for many years.

 

I took a couple of what turned out to be rather poor photos on Thursday:

 

 

 

 

Steering a loaded motor or butty is a very different experience to any residential boat or indeed an empty working boat: as you might have guessed this is an invitation for potential new members to get in touch via our website or pm.

 

Edited to sort out two silly spelling errors.

Edited October 9, 2010 by twbm

[NB Alnwick]

They passed me yesterday afternoon - a fine sight . . .

[alan_fincher]

Just be careful how and where you moor them, there's a good chap!

 

Actually I got a message from one of your people that because of the load they might choose to go to the Thames via the GU route, and if so could I turn out and work some locks.

 

Clearly you have gone the other way after all !

[twbm]

Just be careful how and where you moor them, there's a good chap!

 

Actually I got a message from one of your people that because of the load they might choose to go to the Thames via the GU route, and if so could I turn out and work some locks.

 

Clearly you have gone the other way after all !

 

Lets not do the mooring thing again ....

 

Chose the Oxford a bit reluctantly after much debate: decider was that we have a drop on the Slough Arm, and the boats won't go up there until they're nearly empty. I must try to remember to measure their draft before we unload out of interest.

[David Schweizer]

Just be careful how and where you moor them, there's a good chap!

 

Actually I got a message from one of your people that because of the load they might choose to go to the Thames via the GU route, and if so could I turn out and work some locks.

 

Clearly you have gone the other way after all !

If you go on your bike, don't wear your hat!!

[jeannette smith harrison]

Hello

w

Where & when on the Thames please

[twbm]

Hello

w

Where & when on the Thames please

 

Probably on to the Thames at Oxford tonight or tomorrow am., then off to Reading and up the K&A to Burghfield.

 

Starting from Burghfield on the 16th, and leaving the K&A after a run to just past Newbury and back, so back on the Thames by Tuesday 19th, then off down to Brentford via some deliveries on the River Wey.

[Steilsteven]

Probably on to the Thames at Oxford tonight or tomorrow am., then off to Reading and up the K&A to Burghfield.

 

Starting from Burghfield on the 16th, and leaving the K&A after a run to just past Newbury and back, so back on the Thames by Tuesday 19th, then off down to Brentford via some deliveries on the River Wey.

 

They plan to be at Osney moorings, Oxford for Monday morning.

 

Keith.

[cotswoldsman]

Good to see regulation beard and hat!!

[twbm]

Good to see regulation beard and hat!!

 

The photo does give him a certain rustic charm. He's not going to thank me for that.

[cariad]

bought 5 bags of coal off them on thursday after they had a little problem grounding on bridge No 123. great sight.

[the grinch]

couldn't have been much of a grounding if 5 bags made the difference!!

[ditchcrawler]

I read that the new Barby Marina will be bringing in all the materials in by boat, anyone one knows who is carrying them?

[canaldrifter]

What a wonderful effort. Well done chaps!!

 

Tone

[Bones]

They have just gone past me at 8:35 this morning in Lower Heyford. Looking good... no hat this morning though!

Edited October 10, 2010 by Bones

[cariad]

couldn't have been much of a grounding if 5 bags made the difference!!

 

 

bought just after the grounding but may have made the difference if bought before ????.

anyhow it was great to see boats and how they handled the situation.

[mykaskin]

I read that the new Barby Marina will be bringing in all the materials in by boat, anyone one knows who is carrying them?

 

Myself and Nick Wolfe with any luck. There has been some delay in the process, but we hope to be picking up a good load of bricks at the end of the Ashby only 3 miles from the factory where they are made.

 

Mike

[Athy]

Would those be Ibstock bricks? I lived for many years in Packington, near the end of the Ashby, and Ibstock, a few miles away, was a well-known local brickworks at the time.

When we went past there in August I noticed that Gopsall Wharf, for years a loading point for working boats, now has a gantry fitted which will prevent tall vehicles from reaching the waterside, don't know why unless it may be an anti-fly tipping measure. So where will you load the bricks?

[Daftmare]

Probably on to the Thames at Oxford tonight or tomorrow am., then off to Reading and up the K&A to Burghfield.

 

Starting from Burghfield on the 16th, and leaving the K&A after a run to just past Newbury and back, so back on the Thames by Tuesday 19th, then off down to Brentford via some deliveries on the River Wey.

 

 

When will you be on the R Wey? How far up are you going?

 

Jo.

[mykaskin]

Would those be Ibstock bricks? I lived for many years in Packington, near the end of the Ashby, and Ibstock, a few miles away, was a well-known local brickworks at the time.

When we went past there in August I noticed that Gopsall Wharf, for years a loading point for working boats, now has a gantry fitted which will prevent tall vehicles from reaching the waterside, don't know why unless it may be an anti-fly tipping measure. So where will you load the bricks?

Yep, Ibstock bricks. Not exactly sure where we are loading, probably right at the very end.

 

Mike

[Bones]

When will you be on the R Wey? How far up are you going?

 

Jo.

 

 

I have just had an email from someone (Ray on Stronghold) who saw them at Osney. He said they said they would be on the Wey in about a week.

[Oakie]

When will you be on the R Wey? How far up are you going?

 

Jo.

 

I spoke to them at Osney this morning and asked about the Wey, because that is my home mooring. They are calling at The Pelican, Addlestone and Pyrford. No further as I understand.

 

Oakie.

 

n/b Stronghold

[twbm]

That sounds about right - thanks. When I'm on the boats next week I'll endeavour to update this thread with our progress from my Raspberry.

[Daftmare]

Great, will await to hear your progress. If you make the Wey by Sunday, then we can come down and help you though. If it's not until Monday when w**k gets in the way....

 

 

Jo

[twbm]

Great, will await to hear your progress. If you make the Wey by Sunday, then we can come down and help you though. If it's not until Monday when w**k gets in the way....

 

 

Jo

 

Just off to pick the boats up around Burghfield, hopefully near the Cunning Man - then off towards the Thames either pm today or early tomorrow. So unfortunately the Wey will be in a couple of days time - typically we overnight on it somewhere. If we stop at a sensible time I'll let you know where.