What is a 'trackline'?

[Poignard]

I saw a 'trackline' listed in the inventory of a spritsail barge.

What was that used for?

 

[Transcur]

I think it may have been a misprint.

Tackline is more likley.

 

[tidclacy]

Try this http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk or http://www.dawn-trust.org.uk or http://www.bargetrust.org They may be able to help

 

[Poignard]

Thanks for those links.

 

[tidclacy]

Let us know if you get any answers

 

[Poignard]

Let us know if you get any answers

I decided to email each of the organisations in turn. Unfortunately, the secretary of the first one didn't know and couldn't find anyone who did. Meanwhile I found the answer in an old book

The trackline was a long, small diameter line (e.g. 65 fathoms of 1-1/2" circumference cotton rope) used for warping a barge across a dock basin or for man-hauling along a towpath etc.

They also carried a similar length of 2-1/2" rope for use when being towed by a horse. (Known, not surprisingly, as the horserope)

Now that all barges have engines, and no longer work inside the London docks or go up canals, these lines will have fallen out of use

 

[robertg1]

I didn't know this line was called a trackline but I remember seeing one in use on the barge Kitty before she had an engine and when she was based at Maldon; before she was sold and moved to the Solent.

It was on an early morning tide with hardly any wind. The skipper (a very skilful barge sailor) used the trackline by running it to the furthest point possible on another barge further along the quay. He then raised the topsail and the crew winched hard on the trackline, that was run onto a small drum above the anchor chain drum, in order to gain momentum. The skipper did not call for the line to be released until he was certain he had sufficient steerageway and Kitty left Maldon gracefully in the lightest of breezes.

 

[Poignard]

I didn't know this line was called a trackline but I remember seeing one in use on the barge Kitty before she had an engine and when she was based at Maldon; before she was sold and moved to the Solent.

It was on an early morning tide with hardly any wind. The skipper (a very skilful barge sailor) used the trackline by running it to the furthest point possible on another barge further along the quay. He then raised the topsail and the crew winched hard on the trackline, that was run onto a small drum above the anchor chain drum, in order to gain momentum. The skipper did not call for the line to be released until he was certain he had sufficient steerageway and Kitty left Maldon gracefully in the lightest of breezes.

That would have been worth seeing.