August 2022

Whilst there is never any real let-up in the work needed to keep a 109 year old steam tug in active condition, there is nothing like the a fast approaching trip to speed things up and August has been no exception. The outstanding welding to the new bunker cross deck continued apace, the main welding being pretty much complete and the square apertures for the bunker lids cut out and the surrounding lips formed. In order to make the tug presentable, areas to be finished off have been masked before primer and 2-pack black top coat was applied across the deck. The letter ‘K’ of Kerne that was lost when the corroded upper sections of the bunker were cut away has thankfully been reinstated, as it had been suggested that if the port side of the bunkers appeared to be called ‘Erne’ we should name the starboard side ‘Eric’!! The suggestion was not adopted. Work continued over six work sessions to repaint white band beneath the rail. This entailed flap wheel grinder preparation, water wash off, rust convertor application, and finally the repainting with 2-pack white. Whilst this may not sound difficult, it requires the painter to lean over the rail to do the job with your head below your hips which make you feel very nauseous. Great job Paul! After fitting a new joint to the boiler bottom door the boiler, aft peak and domestic tanks were filled, Engine Room bilges pumped out to our onshore slop tank and coal loaded into the bunkers all ready for lighting up on Tuesday 23rd August for our Friday 26th August sailing across the Mersey, up the Manchester Ship Canal to Marsh Locks, and up the Weaver Navigation to Acton Bridge. Friday started well with bright sunshine, calm conditions with the Liverpool and MSC locks all in our favour as booked. It was at that stage that things went wrong. Apparently Customer Services of The Canal & River Trust to whom we had paid our licence fee and booked our passage by phone and e-mail had not advised their lock and bridge operators on the Weaver Navigation. The upshot was that Marsh Lock and Sutton Weaver Bridge had no staff available on Friday as booked and as a consequence our one day trip became two days with an early stop over at Ellesmere Port. This meant a 5.00am start for the stoker (who had to spend the night in a hotel) for an 8.15am start on Saturday, only then to have a 5 hour wait below Sutton Weaver for the bridge to be swung. Apart from the frustrations, the delays resulted in us burning an additional ¾ tonne of coat plus the hotel costs. All very galling and expensive. The good news is that we are there alongside at Acton Bridge and ready for our next planned trip, a Member’s Sailing on Sunday 11th September. Thereafter we will remain in public view at Acton Bridge to participate in the annual Leigh Arms Steam Party on 1st and 2nd October. Hope you can come and see us.