transportation – Blogging while allatsea

Tugboat Canning in Swansea

10/10/2018

Heritage, Outside RSA, Personal, ships and shipping, transportation, United Kingdom

The preserved tug Canning, is permanently berthed in Swansea at the Swansea Maritime and Industrial Museum. She was built in 1954 and built by Cochrane & Sons of Selby for the Alexandra Towing Company and was based at Liverpool until being transferred to Swansea in 1966. She became the last steam tug to operate in the Bristol Channel, serving until 1974. She was retired to the Museum in 1975. (https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/4/canning)

She is a oil burner with a triple expansion engine by C D Holmes & Co. Ltd., Hull. Unusually there is even a builders plate for her engine makers on board.

She was not in a perfect condition and really needed some paint and derusting. I was unable to get onto the pontoon to see what she is like on the other side, and photographic positions were limited by the fence. Berthed ahead of her was the preserved light vessel “Lightship 91”, known as ‘Helwick’, and she too was very difficult to photograph.

To the best of my knowledge neither ships are open to the public.

Swindon Railway Works Plaques

allatsea

27/08/2018

Heritage, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Trains & railways, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1, World War 2

The plaques in this post were photographed at Steam. Museum of the Great Western Railroad that I visited in 2015. Unfortunately my images did not come out well, it really has to do with camera shake and long exposures associated with not using a flash. I have sharpened them as much as possible.

The Great Western Railway had it’s engine works in this railway town, and even built housing for its workers there, it was the biggest employer too and the Museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway. In wartime the works would have played a major part in maintaining the steam engines and in some cases using their heavy industrial facilities for wartime production. The labour force of men would have been affected by volunteering and conscription, and women began to play a role in keeping the works running. The carnage of the Western Front would have also affected the men who worked here, and a number of plaques have survived, commemorating those who never returned.

Liverpool Pals Memorial

JA

11/06/2018

Heritage, Liverpool, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Trains & railways, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1

Lime Street Station in Liverpool has seen a lot in the years that it has served Liverpool since it officially opened in August 1836. It also saw many men leave for war, and probably many returning victorious years later. When I saw it in May 2018 it was somewhat of a mess, with ongoing renovations and the station due to be closed for 2 months.

Naturally my 2nd question was: where is the War Memorial? and somebody who worked there said that it had been removed to the railway museum at York, which did not help me much. However, there are two memorials if you look for them. The first is a reasonably new addition and was unveiled by HRH The Earl of Wessex on Sunday 31 August 2014.

The Liverpool Pals Memorial is in the form of two large friezes stuck high up on a wall where you are not likely to see them. The £85,000 artwork was designed by Liverpool sculptor Tom Murphy and was funded through donations, I am not sure whether the place where they are sited is the original site or final site.

The Friezes are entitled:
‘Recruitment and Farewell.’

Recruitment and Farewell (1500 x 569)

‘Time to go home.’

Time to go home. (1500 x 574)

There is an explanation of the friezes by the artist at http://www.liverpoolsculptures.com.

More than 1,000 men were recruited on August 31 1914 alone. Over 6,000 men were initially signed up in 1914 – enough soldiers to serve in four battalions and for two reserve battalions. Unfortunately many would never walk through Lime Street Station again.

The second memorial that I spotted was quite odd, it almost felt like a reminder, or an apology.

I hope that once the huge renovation has completed the original war memorial will be restored to where it should be and that the Pals Battalions gets placed in a better spot so that they can be seen better. They are amazing pieces of work.

Oh, as an afterthought, just image what the inside of that glass cathedral must have looked like during the age of the steam engine.

Merchant Navy Memorials, Liverpool

JA

05/06/2018

Belgium, Heritage, Liverpool, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Personal, ships and shipping, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1, World War 2

The Merchant Navy Memorials in Liverpool are situated on the waterfront facing the Mersey and the Birkenhead side of the river bank. The city played an important role in the Battle of the Atlantic as Western Approaches Command was based in the city, and many of the men and ships that sailed in the convoys came from this port.

A few metres further is a raised block with a number of relevant dedications. The two memorials are between Google Earth co-ordinates: 53.403829° -2.996822°

Of particular relevance was this plaque that does not really make up for the lack of recognition of men and women from so many other countries that lost their lives in the Merchant Navy during both wars.

There was also an Arandora Star Plaque which served as a reminder that all ships were in danger of being sunk, whether combatant or non-combatant.

Norwegians, Poles and Belgians are also commemorated on this block.

Unfortunately these plaques are mounted on what appears to be some sort of housing for some unidentified machinery/access chamber and really do not connect too well with the Merchant Navy Memorial close by. I would have thought that a unified MN memorial would have meant much more instead of having these two distinct groupings that appear as an afterthought.

The Maritime Museum also had a very good Merchant Navy exhibition on while I was visiting.

A few steps away is the Liverpool Naval War Memorial which I will cover separately.

Waterline Ships Master List

JA

05/02/2018

Cruise ships, Personal, ships and shipping, Titanic, transportation

Master list of ships in my collection.

Ship	Maker	Ship	Maker
Cunard Line
Queen Elizabeth	Triang Minic	HMS Turmoil x 2	Triang Minic
Queen Mary	Triang Minic	HMS Vanguard	Triang Minic
Carinthia	Triang Minic	KD Bismarck	Triang Minic
Ivernia	Triang Minic	KD Scharnhorst	Triang Minic
Caronia	Triang Minic	HMS Gloucester (D96)	Triang Minic
RMS Aquitania	Triang Minic	USS Spruance	Triang Minic
2nd Mauretania	Resin	Steam tugs 8	Triang Minic
QE2	Revell	HMS Vigilant (M787)	Triang Minic
		HMS Bulwark	Triang Minic
United States	Triang Minic	HMS Ark Royal (R07)	Triang Minic
NS Savannah	Triang Minic	IJN Yamato	Triang Minic
Varicella	Triang Minic	USS Missouri	Triang Minic
Britannia	Triang Minic	HMS Swiftsure	Triang Minic
Canberra	Triang Minic	HMS Repton	Triang Minic
Vikingen	Triang Minic	HMS Sutherland	Triang Minic
Isle of Sark	Triang Minic	USS Bunker Hill	Triang Minic
City of Durban	Triang Minic	USS Guardian	Triang Minic
China bulker	Triang Minic	HMS Bangor (M1099)	Triang Minic
C2 Cargo x 4	Triang Minic	HMS Brockleberry	Triang Minic
Aragon	Triang Minic	HMS Whitby (M791)	Triang Minic
Nieuw Amsterdam	Triang Minic	HMS Daring (M77)	Triang Minic
Flandre	Triang Minic	HMS Daring (D32)	Triang Minic
The Victoria	Mercury	HMS York (D98)	Triang Minic
Oriana	Mercator	HMS Chatham (F87)	Triang Minic
France	Triang Minic	HMS Whitby (M798)	Triang Minic
Union-Castle Line		HMS Alamein (M799)	Triang Minic
CT Castle rebuild	Hein Muck Resin	HMS Dainty (M773)	Triang Minic
Carnarvon Castle	Albatros	Pilot boat	Triang Minic
Capetown Castle	Hein Muck Resin	Ferry	Triang Minic
Athlone Castle	Len Jordan Resin	Diesel tugs 2	Triang Minic
Stirling Castle	Len Jordan Resin	Floating crane	Triang Minic
Pendennis Castle	CM
Pretoria Castle	Albatros	HMS Begonia x 2	Navis Neptune
Dunottar Castle	Hein Muck Resin	HMCS Snowberry	Navis Neptune
Llandaff Castle	Len Jordan Resin	HMS Tulip	Ensign
Reina Del Mar	Len Jordan Resin	HMS Bangor	Neptune
Rochester Castle	Resin	HM Submarine K26	MB Models
Durban Castle	Hein Muck Resin	HM Submarine K5	MB Models
Windsor Castle	Albatros	HM Submarine X-1	MB Models
Transvaal Castle	CM	HM Submarine M-2	MB Models
Deutschland	CM	Submarine tender Saar	Mercator
SS Ohio	Len Jordan Resin	5 x unbranded corvettes	Oceanic
Australis	Resin	HMS Tiger	Mountford
Liberty ship	Len Jordan Resin	HM Castle class trawler	MB Models
Rapana	Len Jordan Resin	River Class Frigate	Neptun
City of Durham	Len Jordan Resin	HMS Achilles (F12)	Mountford
City of Durban	Len Jordan Resin
Victoria	Len Jordan Resin	HMS Warspite	Atlas Editions
Arcadia	Len Jordan Resin	HMS Nelson	Atlas Editions
Reina Del Pacifico	Hein Muck Resin	USS Essex	Atlas Editions
Andes	Hein Muck Resin	HMS Hood	Atlas Editions
Marco Polo	Resin	HMS Prince of Wales	Atlas Editions
Ocean Terminal	Triang Minic	HMS Renown	Atlas Editions
Floating dock	Triang Minic	SS TItanic	Atlas Editions
Empire Day	Len Jordan Resin	RMS Lusitania	Atlas Editions
Leda	CM
RMS St Helena x 2	Oceanic	SA John Ross	3D print
RMS St Helena (1)	3D print	SA Wolraad Woltemade	3D print

4-8-2T NBL Tank Loco 24386

JA

28/03/2017

Heritage, Personal, South Africa, Trains & railways, transportation, West Rand

One of the plinthed locomotives that has been on display for many years may be found at Florida Junction out on the West Rand. Listed as 4-8-2T North British Tank Loco 24386, I have seen this loco for the many years that I lived out on the West Rand and was able to photograph her in a number of liveries, in fact, shortly after she was plinthed you could still climb up into her cab. In 2011 I took the following image (more images to be added at a later date) shortly after she had been painted.

Piet Conradie has a page on this loco, and my images are on that page.

This is what she looked like in 2009

Towards the end of March 2017, I photographed her once again and her paint was fading and she was definitely looking the worse for wear. It also appears as if at some point the Florida Junction sign on her tank was redone.

She was built in 1937 in Glasgow by North British Locomotive Co. as works number 24386 and was one of the many standard NBL locomotives that were delivered for service at South African mines. This one first saw service as No 1 at Witbank Colliery Ltd and later at Vanwyksdrift as part of the Douglas Colliery Ltd rolling stock. By some strange quirk, there is a Witbank Colliery No 1 loco plinthed close by. It is possible that this loco replaced that loco at some point.

Of course with the demise of Sanrasm I do not know who owns the steamer now, or who is responsible for keeping her painted and vandalism free. It may be a good idea to watch her because at some point she may end up being redundant.

19D – 3328 at Coligny

JA

12/02/2017

Heritage, South Africa, Trains & railways, transportation

Class 19D 3328 is plinthed in Coligny and is well looked after by a local businessman who uses the plot as an advertisement for a local garden centre, it is even been adorned with cherubs and garden gnomes! However the important thing is that the loco is in a good condition. More about this loco (and others) may be found at Old Steam Locomotives of South Africa.

Surprisingly enough her cabside plate is till present. Unfortunately the local idiots have left their mark.

She is looking much better than most of the plinthed loco’s though, which is a good thing. So thanks to all those who are ensuring her survival. I wish that was true of all the other plinthed steamers from the past.

Virgel

JA

18/12/2016

Natal, Personal, shipbio, shipbook, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation

Our visit to Virgel is also undated, so I can only hazard a guess. Suffice to say that by the time we undertook this visit her sisters were no longer, and she was the only one of the three left behind. (Vergelegen, Constantia, Morgenster). She carried the name Virgel from May 1988 till May 1991 which places my visit somewhere during that period

Virgel

S.A. VERGELEGEN/VERGELEGEN/VIRGEL (1969 – 1991) Affectionately known as the ‘VIRGIE’ within the fleet.

O.N. 350612 / IMO No. 6924375 Call Sign : ZSZV Port of Registry: Cape Town/South Africa Tonnage: 1969 – OSD. : 1969 – CSD 10608g/6182n/13156 S.Dwt : 1975 – OSD 8808g/4435 n/ : 1975 – CSD 12337g/6982n/15072 S.Dwt

Dim: 1969 – 168,2 x 22,8 x 12,8 m / Draught Maximum 9,15 / 9,55 m 1975 – 182,6 x 22,8 x 12,8 m / Draught Maximum 9,15 / 9,55 m

Eng: Two stroke single acting – 6 cylinder 900 x 1550 Sulzer 6RD90, MCR 15 000bhp (11 033 kW).x 122 RPM built by Uraga Heavy Industries Ltd., Tamashima/Japan. Fuel 1800.0 t (hvf), 195.0 (do), 51.0 t p/d at 20 knts (Service Output 12 750 BHP x 116 RPM) Fitted with 2 x 440kW/2 x 240kW generators 440V 60Hz a.c.

10/04/1969 Keel laid by Mitsui Zosen Fujinagata, Osaka/Japan (Yard No. 150) for South African Marine Corp. Ltd., Cape Town/South Africa.

02/07/1969 Launched by Mrs J.F.W. Haak as “S.A. VERGELEGEN” (ZAF). Completed 21/10/1969 by Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Osaka/Japan as S.A. VERGELEGEN (ZAF) for South African Marine Corporation Ltd., Cape Town.

Six hold motor general cargo with refrigeration capacity, fitted with 1 x 250 ton Stülcken derrick (fitted in Hamburg/Germany 1970), 1 x 30 ton Stülcken derrick, 18 x 5 ton derricks, with 18 winches. Accommodation for 4 passengers.

12/1969 arrives in Table Bay on maiden voyage.

Late 01/1970 Arrived in Hamburg to have 250 ton Stülcken derrick fitted. 11/05/1975 Lengthened by 14,38m at the Tamano Dockyard Co. Ltd., Tamano/Japan mainly for cellular cargo, with replacement of two 5 ton derricks with two 30 tonne derricks on the aft end of the Stülcken posts port/starboard. Grain Capacity 23 318m³ / Bale Capacity 21 413m³ / Insulated capacity 425m³.

21/05/1985 Transferred by South African Marine Corp. Ltd/ (Safmarine) Cape Town to Consolidated Operations Ltd. Kingstown / St Vincent and The Grenadines (ownership Capesal Co. Inc., Panama) (Safmarine Cape Town management) renamed VERGELEGEN (VCT) in Durban. Port of registry Kingstown, O.N. 2110 / Call Sign J8FF

16/05/1988 Renamed VIRGEL (VCT) by Capesal Co. Inc., in Cape Town and transferred to Rondeau Holdings A.G. Wollerau/Switzerland (Oriel Bulk Transport A.G) Sounion Management Ltd. St.Vincent (Safmarine Cape Town).

16/05/1991 Arrived Alang/India to be scrapped, having been sold to Indian breakers at $ 200/ldt by Oriel Bulk Transport A.G. St Vincent (Rondeau Holding A.G./Safmarine Cape Town).

28/05/1991 Dismantling commenced by Amar Shipbreaking Corp., Alang/India.

The image of Constantia below was taken very close to the end of her life too, while Morgenster was photographed in December 1986.

Constantia

Morgenster

The Ross and the Woltemade

JA

30/09/2016

Cruises, Personal, shipbio, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation

When it comes to talking about salvage tugs two names really stand out: the John Ross and the Wolraad Woltemade.

The John Ross was built in Durban in at the James Brown & Hamer yard in 1976 and was named after Charles Rawden Maclean. Her principle dimensions are: overall length of 94,60m, breadth: 15,80m, depth: 8,60m, draft: 7,50m. She is of 2.918 Tons GRT and 875 Tons NRT.

I was fortunate enough to see her in East London in 1990, and I was very impressed. Unfortunately I was limited in how many pics I could take of her.

She was renamed Smit Amandla (callsign ZTUG) from December 2003.

The Wolraad Woltemade was built at the Henry Robb shipyards in Leith for Safmarine. She was handed over to her new owners in 1976 and was named after Wolraad Woltemade

Wolraad Woltemade

I saw her in Cape Town in 1990, although the images I took were not great due to the ealy morning gloom.

Sadly she was broken up in 2010.

The Ross and Woltemade were the most powerful salvage tugs in the world when they were built and were involved in a number of marine casualties. They are true South African marine icons.

Tugs of my past (2) 1980’s builds

JA

26/09/2016

Heritage, Natal, Personal, shipbio, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation

Continuing where we left off from page 1

This page deals with the 1980’s built tugs, and once again I may not have images of all of the vessels as I was in Durban more than elsewhere.

The first group are the 1980 built Voith Schneider tractor tugs.

Name	Built	Bollard pull	Length	Breadth	Draft
Ben Schoeman (Shiraz)	1980	43 ton	35,6	11,0	5,69
W.H. Andrag (Chardonnay)	1980	43 ton	35,6	11,0	5,69
Paul Sauer (Pinotage)	1980	43 ton	35,6	11,0	5,69
Lourens Muller (Merlot)	1980	43 ton	35,6	11,0	5,69

Ben Schoeman

Lourens Muller

The next group are the vessel’s that I saw the most in Durban, all are twin Schottel tractor tugs with the exception of Ibhayi that was a twin Z Peller pusher tug that was bought in Hong Kong due to a shortage of tugs at the time. She has only just recently (mid 2016) been laid up.

Name	Built	Bollard pull	Length	Breadth	Draft
Otto Buhr (Umzumbe)	1982	39 Ton	32,5	9,5	6.07
Jannie Oelofsen (Nononti)	1982	41 ton	32,5	9,5	6,07
Bertie Groenewald (Umvoti)	1983	40 ton	32,5	9,5	6,07
Dupel Erasmus (Umsunduzi)	1983	40 ton	32,5	9,5	6,07
Piet Aucamp (Inyalazi)	1984	34 ton	32,5	9,5	6,07
Bart Grove (Umhlali)	1985	34 ton	32,5	9,5	6,07
Ibhayi	1983	38 ton	28,608		3,70

Otto Buhr

Bertie Groenewald

Jannie Oelofsen

Dupel Erasmus

Piet Aucamp

Bart Grove

Ibhayi (Image courtesy of Dayle at SA Transport)

The PG Joubert and JA Kruger are also worth mentioning because I do have a pic of the Joubert that was taken one night. Unfortunately neither feature on my list and I do not know when they were built. They were subsequently transferred to Namport and renamed Ondjaba (J.A.Kruger) and Omanda (P.G.Joubert).

PG Joubert

There were a series of twin screw workboats that were built by Dorman Long which operated in the ports. The two I am more familiar with were the Blue Jay in Port Elizabeth and the Reier in Durban.

Name	Built	Bollard pull	Length	Breadth	Draft
Reier	1983	11 ton	19,5	5,5	3,0
Blue Jay	1983	11 ton	19,5	5,5	3,0
Strandloper	1983	11 ton	19,5	5,5	3,0
Kestrel	1983	11 ton	19,5	5,5	3,0

Reier (Durban)

Blue Jay: (Port Elizabeth)

The technical data for these posts comes from a 2001 document on craft dispositions.

Measurements are in metres. Ibhayi images courtesy of Dayle Coombe, info on Ibhayi by Greg Stone and George Meyer.

Blogging while allatsea

Category: transportation

Tugboat Canning in Swansea

Swindon Railway Works Plaques

Liverpool Pals Memorial

Merchant Navy Memorials, Liverpool

Waterline Ships Master List

4-8-2T NBL Tank Loco 24386

19D – 3328 at Coligny

Virgel

The Ross and the Woltemade

Tugs of my past (2) 1980’s builds

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