HANDY or ANDY
The nearly-interred boiler of
HANDY
(CP
and CR Weaver)
Craft
|
Fleet No
|
Built at |
|
Cost |
Type |
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HANDY
or ANDY
|
|
|
|
|
STEAM TUG
|
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Owners
|
Address
|
Source for
|
First Date |
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Mountsorrel Granite Co |
|
Reg |
3.5.1920 |
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Steamer Registrations
|
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Owner |
Place |
PH No |
As |
Date Inspected |
Date Registered |
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Mountsorrel Granite Co |
Loughborough |
44 |
|
|
3.5.1920 |
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Steamer Gaugings
|
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Owner |
Place |
Gauging Number |
Notes |
Date |
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|
|
|
|
|
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Boiler
|
Clarkson Thimble Tube Boiler Co Ltd [AB/PW]
|
|
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Engine
|
By possible associate company to Clarkson |
|
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Steamer
History
|
Engine and boiler taken out after a very short period See notes below from Steam on Canals p92 |
|
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Fate
|
Note on
registration « Broken up by 31.10.1940 » |
Date |
By 31.10.1940 |
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In October 1955, a chance remark led the authors to Mountsorrel on the River Soar and to the remains of'the Mountsorrel Granite Co's steamer Handy. This was one of the last steam narrow boats, converted from a horse boat in 1928 and outwardly similar to the Fellows, Morton steamers. The power plant was second-hand, having come from a National steam bus made by Thomas Clarkson of Chelmsford. The boiler, shown in this photograph, had a central water drum and coiled water-tubes, being heated by an oil burner. The engine, which had been removed for display in the company's offices, would have been a two-cylinder simple of 4in bore x 4in stroke. Research showed that in fact Handy had been coal-fired, and this doubtless explained why the boiler failed on her first trip. Towed home in disgrace, the boat was abandoned and gradually disappeared from view; before any steps could be taken to salvage the boiler and stern-gear, the site was filled in and built over. Extensive enquiries failed to trace the engine which had long since disappeared from the nearby offices (C. P. Weaver)
Steam on
Canals p 92 pc Photo of remains of craft 10.1955