Page 2
Millner
letter re firebox pc 27.12.1905
4.9.1895 …the tug SPIDER is working
much better now Danks has altered the position of the blades by inserting
bevelled washers between the ends of the blades and the boss. The Tug HASTY
is at liberty any time. Millner/G C
Thomas
10.1.1896 I am very glad you have decided
to build a new Tug and that the hull is to be all oak. I have few suggestions to make except that
the length overall should be about 52 ft 7’ 0” beam and draft not over 3’ 8”.
The present style of engine answers our requirements but some little
improvement could be made to the reversing gear for strength and rigidness. I hope you will adopt the
The
only serious fault to find against the present tugs is the amount of smoke they
make and any improvement in this direction would be duly appreciated by the
tugmen and boatpeople and provided such a tug was working at Braunston there
would be no necessity to spend money in opening old shafts.
I
understand there are some powerful tugs working in the Norton Tunnel on the
Worcs and Birm. Canal;s that make no smoke and the tunnel is perfectly clear.
Millner/ G C Thomas NOTED that this is HASTY built 1896 (Were there three Hasty’s ? -
RT) lasted until 1922.
30.9.1896 Tug
HASTY
(973)
24.10.1896 HASTY heater plug
(24)
7.7.1899 After Canvin’s steamer JUBILEE
had been raised in Braunston Tunnel, she got up steam and worked through the
tunnel between 7 and 8 pm and was run into by our tug HASTY
when she was towing the fleet of boats that had been in the stoppage. The
tunnel was smoky at the time and the JUBILEE did not sound the whistle – if she
had been on her wrong side she would probably have been sunk a second time.
I have to report
Messrs Fellows’ boat HOCKLEY Captain I Clarke loaded with explosives for
entering Braunston tunnel north end at 8.45 am on the 3.7.1899 without first
sending the flagman over to warn steamers, after the tug Captain had warned
him.. Millner/Thomas
12.9.1899 I have reports from our tug
captains that your steamers will work through the tunnels at too great a speed
for safety and our men fear there will be another accident if the speed is not
reduced.
GIVE CAPTAINS GENERAL ORDER – Use more care,
slow down, especially when passing the tugs and fleet of boats.
On Friday
evening last (8th September) the three steamers MARQUIS, EMPEROR and EMPRESS
passed through Braunston Tunnel and one or the other broke our tug HASTY’s mooring chain and afterwards cast her loose at
the fore end, and when the men returned to work on Saturday morning she was
near the tunnel entrance. Millner/FMC
8.7.1905 SPIDER and HASTY for inspection Thomas/Millner
24.7.1905 HASTY for inspection
at Bulborne. SPIDER at Braunston and spare tug
Millner/Thomas
11.8.1905 Inspection for HASTY
and SPIDER required Thomas/Millner
21.8.1905 SPIDER at Braunston for inspection Millner/Thomas
5.9.1905 On Sunday last the driver of the tug (SPIDER) had
an accident and broke about3” off the corner of the thrust coupling on the
engine crankshaft……the coupling will require renewing when you can – the HASTY should be sent to Braunston as soon as is
convenient. Millner/Beasley
23.9.1905 SPIDER will not reverse properly, should be sent to
Bulborne – send HASTY at an early date
Millner/Beasley
10.11.1905 HASTY firebox is leaking
– SPIDER is on duty Millner/Beasley
15.12.1905 Patch on HASTY’S
box Beasley/Millner
17.12.1905 L The SPIDER’s boiler has been leaking very bad. I thought I
should have to put the HASTY on again but they
have taken up again. Danks/Millner
27.12.1905
L I should like to know if
Allchin’s have made a satisfactory job of HASTY’s
fire box. If so please send SPIDER up
(to Bulbourne) Beasley/Millner
28.12.1905 Betts is driver of HASTY
12.4.1906 Braunston tug HASTY
needs new set of piston rings
Millner/Beasley
4.5.1906 3 new tubes put in HASTY’s
boiler
22.5.1906 HASTY boiler needs
retubing at Whitsuntide Millner/Beasley
5-7.6.1906 28 new tubes put in HASTY’s
boiler making complete set of 31 Danks/Millner
6.3.1907 SPIDER, HASTY and
PILOT for inspection Thomas/Millner
5.4.1907 Inspect HASTY
Thomas/Millner
20.12.1907 Advisable to wash out the HASTY’s
boiler
H Danks/Millner
23.2.1908 PILOT leaking again.
Have HASTY got ready asap Beasley/Millner
9.4.1908 Tug HASTY
10.4.1908 Tug HASTY will leave
for Gayton Tuesday next Thomas/Millner
19.4.1908
L The tug HASTY arrived on Thursday in working order. Since then
the tubes have leaked. Cryer reported last night that they were leaking
worse. I sent a telegram to Mr Beasley
they required attending to as soon as possible.
8.9.1908 Tug HASTY, this tug
had a collision with one of Messrs Fellows & Co’s steamers in Braunston
Tunnel on Thursday last (3.9.08) and
broke the cast iron feed pipe bend off at the boiler. Temporary repairs were done at Messrs
Fellow’s depot to enable the tug to start work again but it is advisable for
you to come down and take particulars for a new bend as early as convenient. Millner/Beasley
20.9.1908 L HASTY
is alright for work at present time. Danks/Millner
25.9.1908 Tug HASTY due for a
thorough overhaul Beasley/Millner
9.10.1908 Thorough examination of HASTY Millner/Beasley
26.4.1910 L Mr Beasley informs me that the Beedle propeller will not
go on the tug HASTY; Thomas/Millner
6.6.1910 SPIDER sent to Braunston to exchange with HASTY for overhaul
Beasley/Millner
26.9.1910L I am sending the tug HASTY
down to Stoke Bruerne tomorrow morning they should arrive at night. Beasley/Millner
29.2.1911 HASTY repaired at
Allchins Northampton
16.2.1911 HASTY’s boiler retubed
in 1906 Danks/Millner
17.12.1911 L As the safety valve joint was blowing on HASTY’s boiler, I had the boiler blown off and put on
a fresh joint. I shall require
assistance for boiler cleaning; 2 men at least.
Could I have one of the men off the tugs? And if you could find a man to
attend to the locks and Webb assist I should be ready to start on Tuesday
.Danks/Millner
24.5.1912 HASTY repairs for
Whitsun. Let you have the new PILOT back
21.10.1912 Inspect HASTY at
Braunston Vulcan/Thomas
21.8.1913 Braunston tug HASTY
required from Bulbourne. Can send a
driver but need a steerer – we are shorthanded Millner/Beasley
29.8.1913 HASTY broken
down…tubes in boiler unsafe
Danks/Millner
18.3.1914 HASTY requires new
tubes and shoe plate is loose Millner/Beasley
23.3.1914 HASTY to go to dry
dock – use the weighing dock at Braunston
29.5.1914 Repairs to firebox on HASTY
Thomas/Millner
30.5.1914 HASTY patch on boiler
to be replaced by Allchins
9.11.1914 T All three blades of propeller tug HASTY broken off. Cannot work. Wire instructions Betts/Millner
11.11.1914 HASTY has broken
propeller…SPIDER ready to replace
Beasley/Millner
12.11.1914 HASTY has dropped the 3
blades of her propeller on starting the 8.00 pull. Spare tug has been sent down Millner/Thomas
19.1.1915 …let me have HASTY for
Braunston….getting a bit uneasy with the SPIDER on account of her thin
hull” Millner/Beasley
31.3.1915 ½” bend for HASTY
required
14.2.1917 re HASTY
test Yates/Millner
9.10.1918 L I shall be glad to have the tug HASTY
sent down to Bulbourne as soon as
possible, so that we can do what is necessary to protect bows in good time
before the ice appears. Yates/Millner
6.11.1918 As we are docking HASTY. Changing propeller from PILOT No 1 and
exchanging. Rodley/Millner
7.11.1918 I have notified the Boiler Insurance Company
accordingly. I presume the three boilers
on the tugs can all be dealt with on the same day. Yates/Millner
1.4.1919 Glad to receive HASTY as PILOT No 1 is getting very weak in the
hull Millner/Yates
11.7.1919 HASTY
Inspection arrangements Millner/Yates
23.2.1920 Tug PILOT and tug HASTY Millner/Yates
24.2.1920 T I understand you have asked for return of tunnel tug
which has been let on hire to Gardner Locket & Co for a fortnight to enable
them to have their own tug docked . Can
you possibly manage without the HASTY for this
time as if we withdraw her from here the coal supply to Kensal Green Gas Works will
be stopped. Wire or telephone me at once. Bliss/Millner
24.2.1920
L I wired you this afternoon
that I would try and manage without spare tug HASTY
for a fortnight and I hope to be able to
do so if the split tube (on PILOT)gets no worse.
27.4.1920 L The tug HASTY will leave
here tomorrow for Stoke Bruerne having fitted another propeller to the new
shaft with a coarser pitch, she will tow better than before and I should like
Warren to give her a good test before sending PILOT for repairs…Davey Paxman will
supply ferrules for SPIDER
Rodley/Millner
10.5.1920 HASTY’s new propeller
much better and faster. PILOT No 2 we
will not send to Bulbourne until after the Whitsuntide stoppage Millner/Rodley
13.9.1920 HASTY
leaking, PILOT
13.10.1920 L …Mr Rodley was here yesterday…HASTY
and SPIDER are leaking at their hulls and require docking. I understand it will be 3 weeks before PILOT
at Bulbourne is ready to come down. I
propose sending the Braunston tug SPIDER back to Bulborne to have the hull made
tight. On the return of this tug HASTY can go for repairs and be got ready for
Paddington Arm icebreaking. We shall
then have no spare tug at the tunnels and must risk a breakdown. Millner/Yates
20.10.1920 PILOT, SPIDER and HASTY Yates/Millner
29.10.1920 L Send PILOT down to Stoke and your men take the HASTY on to Braunston, to remain there until the
SPIDER returns from Bulborne, then the HASTY can
go straight from Braunston to Bulborne for the winter Millner/Rodley
4.4.1921 HASTY for repair
work Rodley/Millner
8.7.1921 Tug HASTY still
leaking badly. Millner/Rodley
12.7.1921 HASTY Millner/Rodley
14.12.1922 Please let me know the age of the
two tugs now working and also the dates on which the last tug was scrapped.
Yates/Millner
16.2.1923 L I understand Rowland the other day only patched the
SPIDER up temporary so I think you had better
communicate with the Engineer and get the
new tug HASTY sent down to Blisworth
Tunnel for trial runs and the Pilot No 2 would go to Braunston for the present
9.10.1923 HASTY boiler for
examination 18 10. 1923 after the 6.30 pull when the boiler will be washed out.
16.10.1923 Tug HASTY 1/94055
inspection Yates/Millner
18.10.1923 HASTY boiler ready for inspection Millner/Boiler Inspector
20.3.1924 HASTY repaired and
ready for collection Rodley/Millner
7.5.1924 L SPIDER The fusible plug in the fire box broke on
Monday, we are working the spare tug HASTY Millner/Rodley
23.10.1924 HASTY- Plating sides
for ice breaking and new bush in stern end
10.12.1924 When do you propose letting me
have the new tunnel tug as I am waiting to send in HASTY
to Bulbourne for icebreaking on the Paddington Arm Millner/Rodley
1.1.1925 Boilers 1/94056 PILOT and 1/94055 HASTY are overdue for a thorough examination
Yates/Millner
5.1.1925 HASTY ready for
inspection.
6.1.1925 Boiler inspection to examine HASTY – after examination must be sent to
Bulbourne to be put in order for icebreaking on the London District
7.1.1925 HASTY
for inspection on 12.1.1925
Vulcan/Millner
9.1.1925 HASTY will be
inspected 12.1.1925 and will send to Bulbourne. PILOT can be inspected any time
after 17.1.1925 Millner/Vulcan
3.7.1925 I am sorry to report that when this tug (HASTY) was working up the Stoke Bruerne Locks
yesterday 30th inst, on her way from Bulbourne to Braunston Tunnel,
she was sunk in lock 18 at Stoke Bruerne.
She sank at 2 pm and was raised by4 pm and about 3 or 4 boats were
delayed in the stoppage. G Leah was
driving and District Labourer W Overton steering and lock filling.
The
accident was caused owing to the man being in too great a hurry to get through
the lock. It appeared Overton jumped
off the tug at the road bridge and
opened the lock gates and the tug ran into the lock and remained near the
bottom gates, he then closed the inside gate and partly drew the inside top
ground paddle before closing the off side lower gate. When the gate closed with a snap it caught
the tug rudder between the gate breasts and held her down and before Overton
could drop the paddles, the boat sunk.
The tug went on to Braunston this morning and
so far as I could see the only damage done was a broken gauge glass and a
cracked gauge glass guard and one glass lubricator missing but. Of course,
there is a possibility of the boiler leaking after being cooled down so
suddenly. This we shall find out later
on.
As
there were only lockkeepers at Stoke, five boatmen brought their pumps and
buckets and rendered every assistance in raising the tug and were hard at work
when I reached the lock. Overton was
doing just what I am continually trying to prevent the boatmen from doing, viz,
lifting the paddles before closing the lock gates. I think it would be advisable for you to send
me a reprimand so that I can give the same to the men
Millner to Yates and Bliss
10.7.1925 L Can you let me have the tug HASTY
for Braunston Tunnel as Betts reports the shaft is getting bad and requires re
bushing and the heater wants cleaning out, etc. Millner/Rodley
5.8.1925 I have your report of 31st ultimo respecting the sinking
of this tug. This is a very serious
matter and the Chairman thinks that these two men ought to be discharged, but
in view of their length of service to the company, I thought we should not go
to that extent. I should like to see
these men. Yates/Millner
10.8.1925 re the sinking of the tug HASTY. “… I have severely reprimanded and warned
as to behaviour….”
21.9.1925 re HASTY’s
firebars Millner/Rodley
6.11.1925 L Will send three men to Bulbourne for SPIDER and flat.
Shall I return HASTY from Braunston to
Bulbourne for the winter icebreaking ? Millner/Rodley
14.10.1927 L Referring to firebars,
HASTY and DE SALIS. I find the opening could be reduced 3/16”
leaving ½” between the bars, which would be quite sufficient for the draught, si
I will have the patterns altered and the lugs on the bars we have in stock cut
down to make a closer joint. This should
make it better for fixing and reduce the
waste.. When the PILOT leaves here on
Monday, leave her at Blisworth until
8.2.1928:
28.8.1940: To overhaul steam tugs HASTY, DE SALIS and ANSLOW at estimated £400 for
ice breaking and to reduce extent of horse hire; hull of fourth steam tug PILOT
not worth repairing - boat is 31 years old and engine 45 years old, to be scrapped
and engine sold.
Note from
Charles Hadlow: The last tugs in use were of timber construction, built
by Bushell Brothers of Tring. They were 49 feet long, 6 feet 11 inches
wide and 4 feet 5 inches deep and were called
GJCC Minutes (PRO)
13.6.1894 306. Report
of the 9th inst from Mr G C Thomas that the engines and boilers of
the Company’s steam tugs Pilot , Spider and Hasty were very
much out of order and suggesting that the necessary repairs were put in hand at
once….Approved
8.1.1896 29. Report
from Mr G C Thomas that repairs to Spider and Pilot
had been carried out at £462. 15. 4 and Hasty
was now at Bulbourne and found to be past repair. He therefore recommended the building of a
new tug, it being absolutely necessary to have a reserve in case of accident.
…Resolved that a new tug be built at a cost not exceeding £500
25.4.1900 101. (Sub
committee minutes in RAIL 830/31) reads:
Read letter of the 25th inst from the Engineer stating that
the Iron Hull of the tug Hasty was
very defective and past repair and advising that a new one be built in oak to
receive the present machinery….Resolved that the recommendation be adopted and
a contract placed for a cost about £220.
9.5.1900 19. Report
from the sub committee dated 25.4.1900 stating that the engineer had reported
that the iron hull of the Tunnel Tug Hasty
was very defective and advised that a new one be built of oak to receive the
present machinery. Given instructions
for a contract to be accepted for the same at a cost of about £220….Approved
PRO RAIL 830/27
8.4.1908 269. The engineer having reported that a new
timber hull for this tug was necessary, the present steel hull being past
repair, Messrs Costins tender to provide same for £200 was accepted
PRO RAIL 830/34
27.9.1922 70. The Chairman reported that the hull of the
steam tug Hasty was past repair
and as the work was urgent he had authorised the engineer to instruct Messrs
Bushell Bros of Tring to build a new boat at an estimated cost of £420. Approved
PRO RAIL 830/30
11.10
1922 382. A new hull has been ordered to be built for
this tug, the present hull being past repair and the work entrusted to Messrs
Bushell Bros of Tring at an estimated cost of £420.
10.1.1923 411. Placing of order for a new tug referred to
Sub Committee.
RAIL
830/34
24.1.1923 83. Read report of 1st inst from the
Engineer and recommended for the reasons set out in his report. The building of
a new Tunnel Tug complete, the cost being estimated at £1065 as follows:
Boiler Messrs
Davey Paxman & Co £255
Engine
with thrust bearing prop shaft Messrs
Beasley, Uxbridge £210
Canal Co work £100 £1065
Resolved that
the Select Committee be recommended to sanction the proposed expenditure as two
of the tugs now at work in the tunnels are very old and cannot be expected to
last much longer.
14.2.1923 4. In accordance with the instructions of the
board the report from the Engineer in Minute 83 is being considered for Select
Committee sanction
8.2.1928 112. Tug Spider. A report dated 14th inst has been
received from the engineer stating that the hull of the tug Spider
is not worth repairing and a new one should be obtained as soon as possible;
also that it would be advisable at the same time to take out the old high speed
engine and locomotive boiler and replace them by a modern compound condensing
engine and marine boiler on the lines which have proved so economical in the
cases of the tugs deSalis and Hasty. Particulars
of the comparative cost being submitted, it was decided to report the matter to
the Traffic Committee, the subcommittee being of the opinion that if a new tug
is provided, consent of the RegentsCanal Co. should be obtained with a view to
the amount expended (£1333) being charged to the Capital account and repaid to
the Grand Junction under Article 11 of the proposed agreement
1877 Mr
Stephenson Putting new
iron guards on boat Hasty, repairing covers , etc., £6.6.2
30.1.1879 W Nurser Repairs
to Hasty £6.17.0
8.3.1880 W Nurser Repairs
to tunnel tug Hasty £0.13.0
19.7.1880 W Nurser Engine
cloths for Hasty £1.2.6
1.11.1880 J I Osborne Oil
for Hasty £9.10.6
24.3.1882 W Nurser Repairs
to Hasty & Pilot £15.5.0
2.9.1884 W Nurser Repairs
to tug Hasty £1.11.6
27.5.1885 W Nurser Repairs
to tug Hasty £8.4.6
6.4.1889 W Nurser Repairs
to tug Hasty £17.2.6
16.8.1890 W Nurser Repairs to tug Hasty £16.9.6