Medway Queen back on the Medway.

[oldgit]

PS. Medway Queen has arrived back in the Medway today after being towed back from Bristol.Now lying near Queenborough and being moved the final couple of miles up to Gillingham Dock tomorrow morning.ETA 13.00

 

[gravygraham]

All being well, we'll be out on the water to witness those last few miles upstream. We've blagged a place on the 44' Rodman Muse 'Song and Dance'. Will try and post some photo's tomoz.

 

[burgundyben]

An absolute triumph of maritime conservation.

I walked on the decks of a rotting hulk as a kid and have watched the webcam everyday during the consrtruction of the new hull.

 

[gravygraham]

An absolute triumph of maritime conservation.

I walked on the decks of a rotting hulk as a kid and have watched the webcam everyday during the consrtruction of the new hull.

I must confess I've not been following the story. It's not one of those old jobbies like my grandfather's broom is it?

 

[Floating Preferably]

An absolute triumph of maritime conservation.

I walked on the decks of a rotting hulk as a kid and have watched the webcam everyday during the consrtruction of the new hull.

I went on Medway Queen and taken across from Southend Pier and I think we went to Herne Bay, but cant remember if we got off the other end. It must have been about 1953-55. Pity its sister ship got wrecked by Island Harbour. It will sure be telephone numbers to maintain or restore.

 

[mlines]

An absolute triumph of maritime conservation.

Not so sure on the conservation bit, reading the blog it appears to be a new boat built to the original plans.

 

[gravygraham]

Not so sure on the conservation bit, reading the blog it appears to be a new boat built to the original plans.

That's what I was inferring re the broom - three new heads and a new handle.

 

[gravygraham]

Well, it weren't half parky out there today but we stuck it out, up there on the flybridge. Presumably they timed the arrival at Gillingham at slack water so they had half a chance to push and pull her into her berth without the flow of the river complicating things.

Here's the old girl following the lead tug Christine. Nice big tow ropes there, as thick as your wrist.

And here's the handbrake at the rear. Note the much smaller rope.

Looking at the paddles it appears they can be feathered - obviously useful for being towed. There was a local chap on board with us who said that at some point all new paddle steamers were made to change their build so the wheels couldn't be made to go in opposite dierctions at the same time, as would be needed to spin the boat around. Apparently a paddle boat somewhere sank it'self doing such a manouevre, and drowned everyone on board.

It all got rather engrossing and we nearly missed this chap coming the other way!

If you're in the south-east you might have seen today's story on the telly.

This tug joined in the flotilla, and turned back when the Queen was safely docked. Presumably as a back-up. The old water jets made for a good display. Apologies for the grainy pic - I've got an iphone 5 on the way!

And these two chaps were loitering around the show but didn't get a chance to do any nudging or shoving.

But for me, the best part of the day, apart from getting back in the warm, was Bob's joystick control. It's the nuts.

Right then. Dear Santa, this year I've been a good boy and would like a mobo with IPS drives . . .