On Wed, 23 May 2007 14:16:50 +0100, Doc Savage
wrote:
On Tue 22 May 2007 04:14:15a Frank Clarke
wrote in news
On Mon, 21 May 2007 07:29:59 GMT,
(BoilerBill) wrote:
Thanks, Keith. I missed this when I was in London in '96 and told
myself then "...next time...".
(change Arabic number to Roman numeral to email)
I was fortunate enough to see her in 99, but not fortunate enough to have a
camera with me.
Let's just hope her wrought iron frames have survived. According to the
news bulletins, they appear to be more difficult to replace than the teak.
They are, the last wrought iron foundry in England was in Bolton (I
'did' the Rastrick boilers there for the last time before they closed
down at least 26years ago)
The kit is lying made up into a supposedly workable foundry at Blits
Hill now. When I was last there I chatted to one of the staff and they
tell me they tried to work it. Not surprised that there were problems,
since the boilers at least were incorrectly installed, from what I can
remember of them. So materials can be a problem.
Then there is the sad way that all the governments through the last
fifty years have let the Merchant Navy die along with the ship yards
so that there are not many ships smiths like my Grandfather left who
can set a CONTROLLED fire in the dry dock to heat the ribs then use
the cranage to pull them back into line.
Once not too unusual a job, now though...............
Keith J Chesworth
www.unseenlondon.co.uk
www.blackpooltram.co.uk
www.amerseyferry.co.uk - updated 11/06