Thames Steamers & Passenger boats

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benm		#41	[-]
Posts: 27 (16-Sep-2008 08:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pat, The King was built on Taggs Island by Harry Tagg of East Moseley in 1902. She would have most likely been built on the land, then slipped into the water like the photo below of another steamer His Majesty and then fitted out with windows, wheelhouse, wheel and so on. http://riverthames.galacg...ajesty%20Launched%201.jpg This postcard taken at an opposite angle shows her fitted out http://riverthames.galacg...0001/normal_Scan10539.jpg I have no idea what happend to these. The Stern Canopy was most likely thrown away,after all its just a bit of cloth material. The steps i believe are still on the boat,however when my dad had her, he had a galley & kitchen aft,instead of the steps leading down at the back like you see in the black and white picture. There are a small set of steps that lead up from the galley up onto the back deck,i believe these were originally the steps in the picture coming down from the top deck but later moved. The telegraph im sure somebody will have somewhere, being solid brass, i doubt that was thrown away. The King is very different now , wheelhouse wise. When Thames Launches had her from 1947,she had an open wheelhouse but with a steel rounded bit infront of the wheel for wind protection etc. Here is an example,salters steamers boats still have these original touches. See photo below: >> http://riverthames.galacg...38820549_cbf3cdebaa_o.jpg Compare this with the wheelhouse of the King which was boxed in by the 1970s. But if you look closely you can see the line of the original wheelhouse which they welded onto. >> http://riverthames.galacg...10001/normal_DSC_7585.JPG Good news on the sony video camera,hopefully you can get some footage online soon for us to see. Last Edited By: benm 16-Sep-2008 08:20 PM. Edited 1 times.
Pat Larkin	Great pictures	#42	[-]
Posts: 305 (17-Sep-2008 05:15 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Those are great pictures Ben, thankyou.. In the launch picture, she doesn't look that big until you compare her with the small rowing boat nearby. I like the coloured post-card view too. Who commissions the building of these boats in the first place? What I mean is, does a company of boat owners, or a single owner, decide they want a new, more modern boat to add to their fleet, then get a designer and boat-builder in? Do they decide the amount of money they wish to spend, then ask around for tenders and estimates? Can they just order new boats when they feel the need or are there rules about this - it's a never-ending saga really. Do you know the age of the oldest boat still in service on The Thames, or for that matter, the oldest boat existing, either in dry-dock or afloat? Another thought - say you bought a boat and wanted to make some alterations, can you just go ahead with it or must you first get the permission of the Thames Authority? I suppose it's like buying a building that's 'listed' and having to get the Council's planning department to give you the go-ahead before you change anything. Are there any instances of any steamers or pleasure boats sinking or breaking down while carrying trippers? There's the AA and RAC for cars, so is there a rescue organisation for boats? Sorry about asking all these questions, but it's all so interesting and really, it's a subject I know very little about.
Pat Larkin	The video camera saga!!	#43	[-]
Posts: 308 (18-Sep-2008 03:08 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ben, the cassette which was jammed in 'our' camera is now out....my Husband pressed 'eject' and it opened....we were both gobsmacked, but that at least has pleased us both. The cassette itself was the problem in that part of the film had somehow loosened away from the two spools and had twisted over inside the two pieces of flat plastic that guide the film. I saw a tiny arrow on the side of the plastic and pushed it and, bingo, the film-guide part, sprung backwards and allowed me to get at the film......the spools holding the film were too tight to just twist round, so I wrapped a thick elastic band around the end of a pencil, stuck it into the spool centre-piece, and twisted. The film is now 'snug' and back where it ought to have been in the first place. My Husband's going through each of his 11 cassetttes and has been labelling them too, which he admits, he should've done years ago!! He's found our granddaughter and himself on the Thames day trip and, would you believe, it's the actual cassette that was stuck in the camera - that, I believe is called '...'s law', but at least he now has it. We're enjoying watching these old family movies again, the only trouble is, we can't get any sound. This could be the fault of the borrowed video camera, but we aren't totally sure. I'll keep you posted in any event, and let you know how things progress.
thamesweb		#44	[-]
Posts: 1397 (18-Sep-2008 06:17 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Are you watching on the camera itself or do you have a lead into a TV? Leads are cheap and easy to find on Ebay or with a Google Search. I might have the same or similar Sony camera which, although out of use now, served me very well from 1991. All the films that I took in those days copied easily and in very good quality onto a series of DVDs. My camera used 8mm video cassette tapes.
Pat Larkin	SONY video camera	#45	[-]
Posts: 309 (19-Sep-2008 08:46 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We're watching, upstairs, on the bedroom t.v. My Husband linked it all up, but the first attempt to view was a failure, so, he dis-assembled it all, re-assembled and afterwards realised he'd connected two 'wires/cables' incorrectly. I've copied the details from the side of the camera - 'Video 8. CCD-TR75E PAL 8 - Hi-Fi Stereo. Handycam Video 8'...the holding straps are blue with 'Handycam' printed on them. I think the idea now is to get the cable, get some DVD's, transfer the cassette films to my laptop, then burn to DVD - perhaps you can say 'yay' or 'nay' to this thamesweb? Thanks for all your tips, and Ben's too.
thamesweb		#46	[-]
Posts: 1398 (19-Sep-2008 06:59 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I am sure this is similar to my camera. I think you will get much better results if you plug in direct to a DVD recorder rather than a computer. That is how I transferred all my family videos. You need a SCART cable with the three separate, coloured, plugs at the other end. Take the camera into the cable shop (Curry's for example) to be sure of getting the right type. The SCART (the large oblong plug/socket on the back of the DVD recorder) onlyu fits in one way and coloured plugs should be match the colours at the camera end. Then set the DVD recorder on Record Pause, set the camera to play, then knock off the pause. All should start recording. If you feel adventurous you could set the chapter marks on the DVD recorder. These are 'Jump to...' points on the DVD and I set them to 6 mins apart. Once you have the tape safely on DVD I suggest you make a copy DVD for safety by repeating the process above. Thereafter you can look into using the DVD on a PC to edit it all, but you may well be happy with the source DVD as it is so easy to skip unwanted scenes. I am assuming that you have a DVD recorder. If not, then they are not that expensive these days and you save all the worry and cost of having the tapes transferred by a third party. To copy DVDs I have one of these: DVD copier It is very good and quick - maybe 6 mins for a full DVD of family videos. It doesn't copy commercial DVDs. It is under £100 delivered. Once used you could sell it on Ebay for a similar amount!
Pat Larkin	Videos to DVD's	#47	[-]
Posts: 311 (20-Sep-2008 08:30 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Yes, thanks, thamesweb, we do have a DVD recorder and we'll do as you suggest and take the camera to Curry/Comet for the SCART lead. I'll get my Husband to read and digest your helpful advice. I know he'll be happy to read your tips and we'll let you know as soon as we've succeeded in transferring the videos. My granddaughter came round yesterday and watched videos of herself and her 'little' brother...she is now the 'little' sister as he's suddenly grown to 6ft! She thoroughly enjoyed seeing films of herself and members of both sides of her family, some of whom have since died. These old films have given such a lot of pleasure, both when originally filmed and now. This all started with Ben's video link to the steamer on U-tube, so 'thankyou' Ben, you've got us all motivated, and thanks too for all the advice on this very technical 'operation'. We shall hopefully transfer the 'Thames Trip' of my Husband and Granddaughter and let you have a copy.
benm		#48	[-]
Posts: 28 (20-Sep-2008 04:02 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ill try to reply to your questions in bullet points to make it easier: Who commissions the building of these boats in the first place? The King was built by Harry Tagg to celebrate the crowning of King Edward VII. He built her from Teak on Oak. He then operated The King until 1915. Harry Tagg was a very well known boat builder but he also operated other steamers which he built including The Princess Beatrice. Sadly none of the steamers are left now except from The King,which is one of the main reasons she needs saving. Harry Tagg was one of the few owners who built there own boats and then operated the vessel after they were built. Nowadays boats plans are drawn up and then given to a boat builder to construct for a company who will then operate the boat. Do you know the age of the oldest boat still in service on The Thames? The oldest passenger boat on the Thames is the Steam Launch Alaska which was built in 1886. In the late 1950s she was sold as a scout club,decked over and when she was found in 1975 in awful condition she was bought and restored by Peter Freebody,one of the few traditional wooden boat builders left on the Thames. She was restored from 1975-1987 before being put back into service and she still operates today in fantastic condition. http://riverthames.galacg...l_Alaska_080128-067_b.jpg http://riverthames.galacg...l_Alaska_080128-067_b.jpg The second oldest is the Henley which is the oldest on the Tidal section of the Thames at 110 years old built in 1896. Can you add alterations to vessels? Sadly you can do whatever you wish to an historic vessel,however operating it as a passenger boat,there are very strict rules for. To operate a boat such as The King would need many alterations such as foam in her hull for extra floatation, she would need inflatable liferafts for 65 passengers each (she currently has static floating liferafts on her roof because this was all that was needed in 1989). The MCA are very strict on these old boats,and this ment that many of the older boats, even the 110 year old Henley have been spoilt over the years in the way they look. Are there any instances of any steamers or pleasure boats sinking or breaking down while carrying trippers? A steamer im sure you know that sunk,was the Marchioness in 1989 killing 51 people out of the 131 onboard. The Marchioness was built by Salter brothers and was originally steam. She was converted in the 1970s and a top deck added to her, however the wheelhouse was no raised above the top deck,so this ment the captain could not see behind him at all. This was one of the main factors which lead to the disaster. Since 1989, the MCA and PLA are very strict on safety standards on passenger vessels on the thames,especially on the tidal section below Teddington. As for passenger boats breaking down, this as happend thousands of times, its just like a car...sometimes the engine breaks down and theres nothing you can do about it. I personally have worked on a few vessels where we have lost an engine and had to either be towed by another passenger boat, or drop the anchor and transfer passengers to another vessel which came alongside us. I am happy to answer your questions and i hope these answers help Pat.
Pat Larkin	Thankyou.	#49	[-]
Posts: 313 (22-Sep-2008 11:10 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks, Ben. You answered all my questions, again, thankyou. I do remember the night The Marchioness went down. I wasn't even thinking of her when I posted that particular question. Perhaps, being so tragic, it 'went' from my mind. I can't see Lawrence Dallaglio on t.v. without remembering the whole event. His sister sadly died that night, along with lots of other young people. The wheelhouse must have played a big part in that accident, and I really do wonder why it hadn't been raised. Why hadn't anyone in authority noted that, and why hadn't the captain, himself, complained that he couldn't see behind him. The Thames, at night, is so black, like the sea. When I went on an excursion to the 02 building, we stopped off first at Admiralty House, just to stretch our legs and have a look at the river too. I saw a Thames bus landing-stage quite close to the Admiralty buildings. Would The Alaska and, perhaps, The Henley, be taking passengers up and down the Thames from there? We also saw The Cutty Sark on the trip. She was in mothballs, owing to the fire that destroyed most of her decks and lower woodwork. What an awful sight that was. We just stood and looked at her without saying a word. Very sad. My Husband and Granddaughter had visited her and bought memorabilia for a college project, not long before the fire. I still have the bookmark they bought back and I treasure it. There's a small picture of her in all her glory, I hope she'll be restored to that beautiful state and soon open to the public once again.
thamesweb		#50	[-]
Posts: 1404 (22-Sep-2008 05:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think Alaska and Henley are on the upper reaches of the Thames. By coincidence I was standing on Windsor Bridge with a friend the other day and saw Hampton Court set off downstream, prompting me to call in at Salters quayside booking office where I learnt it was the last scheduled service downriver for the year. Rats, should have run after it!
benm		#51	[-]
Posts: 29 (22-Sep-2008 06:07 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The Alaska is on the upper reaches. However the Henley operates a daily riverbus service from Putney to Blackfriars in the mornings and evenings. Here are a few pictures of her other the years: http://www.simplonpc.co.u...ros/Henley_PC-02_AL_b.jpg http://www.simplonpc.co.u...Henley03_20030523_900.jpg - Picture of her in 2003,she looks lovely with her blue canopy, polished brass cleats , name on the bow and no nasty tires as fenders http://www.simplonpc.co.u.../Henley_070717-517_bg.jpg - nasty tires and odd fenders added, lovely blue canopy gone. She has my favourite shaped bow on any Thames passenger boat, look how it cuts through the water razor sharp look to it. http://www.simplonpc.co.u...y/Henley_080216-388_b.jpg - in the winter,this wooden front section is used. I think it looks awful,cheap and spoils the whole character of the 110 year old boat. She should be kept as near to her original look as possible. Many of these older boats have been spoilt by being modernised to do a job, and no thought into keeping the traditional look about them. Pat you mention you travelled on a riverbus to the O2 building. This was most likely with the boats i work onboard, Thames Clippers? The Cutty Sark is an awful crime, it makes me sick to think somebody could set her alight after all she is, but it also makes me proud to see she is being rebuilt in the faces of the people who thought they had got rid of her. Last Edited By: benm 22-Sep-2008 06:14 PM. Edited 1 times.
thamesweb		#52	[-]
Posts: 1406 (22-Sep-2008 10:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Interesting that Henley has moved downstream. Certainly she used to operate through Windsor (with a white hull and red painted name).
Pat Larkin	Excursion trip.	#53	[-]
Posts: 314 (23-Sep-2008 08:53 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	for Ben. I have to clear up one point. The excursion I took was on a coach from Eastbourne, (where I now live), to the o2 building, stopping enroute at Admiralty House and The Cutty Sark. My daughter and I walked all around and into the buildings, stopping for a coffee there. Fascinating place. Neither of us had realised just how big the Admiralty building is. We walked too by the landing area for the Thames river buses, but there was so much activity that day. Loads of building materials, huge containers and men working. We couldn't even get near to the side of the river where the boats were pulling in. We had to crane our necks to even see the river, but hopefully by now, it's all cleared away and next time we can walk right up to the water's edge. Interesting to know that you work on those boats, we'll certainly be more attentive on our next excursion to London. We had 15 minutes before the coach picked us up for the final leg of our trip, so walked down the road a step and found a new, modern pub-cum-eaterie place and had lunch there.(Witherspoons maybe?). On reaching the o2 'building', we saw across the road the David Beckham football training centre. I hadn't a clue this even existed, so the trip was worth taking. Thanks for the great pictures of 'Henley' Ben, and I totally agree with your remarks about how these old ladies of the Thames are 'dolled up' and 'modernised'. There's no comparison to the way the Henley looked and how she looks now. Who's responsible for the changes, I wonder? Certainly someone with no taste or any idea of how a beautiful boat like the Henley should be presented to the public. If only boats could speak!! I can see what you mean about her clean-cut lines too. She's slicing the water like a knife through butter, lovely photo! I'm still doing the Lotto and check every week. You'll hear me from right down here if I win.....!
benm		#54	[-]
Posts: 30 (24-Sep-2008 07:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pat, The works you mention at Greenwich was the demolition of some old shops and ticket boxes to make way for a new look Greenwich pier starting next year. The Henleys owners over the years added changes to her,im not sure who exactly added what but i know the handrails you see in the B&W photos which are now boxed sides which i think spoils the character totally have been on her for over 15 years.
Pat Larkin	Another episode in the video saga!	#55	[-]
Posts: 320 (26-Sep-2008 06:00 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ben, thanks, first of all, for explaining about the building materials and general chaos around the Greenwich area. At least it's an improvement for the future of the area, which can only be good for everyone who works there and visits too. Has the Cutty Sark been brought back to her former glory yet, or are there still some final touches to be made, do you know? It makes me wonder about the security surrounding this beautiful boat. Surely something has to be done now to secure her safety. The video camera saga goes on.....today we shopped at Comet for a dishwasher. The young chap who sold it to us is also a camera/video buff, so, he's going to take a look at the old SONY 8mm camera that we've borrowed from a friend, and he's going to fix it all up in the shop, hoping to get some sound onto the films....we've set it up on the t.v. in the bedroom but have no sound at all....it's all frustrating really because we can see our children and grandchildren, all having great times across the years, but, there's no soundtrack....we're hoping to go to Comet next week to get this sorted....we discussed too the box that thamesweb mentioned. It converts cassettes to DVD and has timing and editing facilities on it too. The Thames trip is on the cassette which was stuck in the Cannon camera......I say 'was stuck', because when my Husband touched the 'eject' button, (for old times' sake really!), the little metal door opened ....well, we were gobsmacked. How does this happen?? This old camera certainly has a mind of it's own.
benm		#56	[-]
Posts: 31 (26-Sep-2008 10:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pat, The cutty sark still needs alot of work i understand and wont open till 2010. Your right about security,they need a security gaurd on day and night patrol really but then again its cost too. Sounds good about the camera. HAve you viewed the Thames tape? Is there any good footage of steamers on it? Funny story about the eject button,that one made me laugh. Typical that is.
Pat Larkin	Steamer boat trip on 'the' cassette.	#57	[-]
Posts: 324 (28-Sep-2008 01:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ben, my Husband read your posting about the old ticket buildings and says he remembers them from when he and my Granddaughter visited the Cutty Sark. So, where will we visitors get our boat tickets from in the future, or don't you know yet? I suppose the Thames Authority inform all boat owners of any changes and you get plans given to you to show where the new offices and facilities are. If you wanted to increase your ticket prices, would you just be able to go ahead, or would you get 'guidance' on that from the council controlling the river there or perhaps the Thames Authority themselves? Waterways all have their own sets of rules don't they? We wanted to fish in a little backwater down in Hampshire, behind our nephew's house. We couldn't just paddle in and throw a line, we had to go into the village and buy a fishing licence for £1.00......quite sweet really I suppose, but unless our nephew had told us, we'd have just waded in and carried on.......perhaps we'd have had a visit from the local bobby too. The piece of film re. the boat trip is on that 'stuck' tape. The tape is wound very tight and when I tried to budge it and move it on a bit with the pencil and rubber invention, it wouldn't move. So, I carefully took the film between my thumb and finger and moved it gently on a bit.....I'm worried though that I may have put grease on the film surface, but we won't know that until we take the cassette and SONY camera over to Comet. We don't know what else is on that film either so it's all going to be a big surprise to everyone....good fun though. And, don't we all look so much thinner and younger........(groan)..the funny part is, when we watched the other old cassettes, (minus any sound), half the clothes we're wearing are still tucked away somewhere in our wardrobes.....that's awful, so we've determined to sort our cupboards and throw out all those 80's fashions...
benm		#58	[-]
Posts: 32 (29-Sep-2008 12:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Pat The ticket boxes are still there. They have moved them just outside the gate entrances to Greenwich Pier. The area where the Cafe's and things were have all been knocked down. As for ticket prices,Thames Clippers are putting there prices up slightly by 1 or 2 pounds as far as i know. This can be done as long as notice is given which it has by handouts and also on the company website. They are still cheaper than any rivals offering an all day hop on hop off ticket for £8 , a return on other boats is around £11. I have some more shocking news. So far it is only what i have heard so it may not be true and i hope its not but it seems that way as a few people have told me the same thing. Salters Steamers are thinking of scrapping there longest steamer the Mapledurham built 1927. The MCA did a survey on her and said her steel hull is too thin and needs replacing at a rough cost of £100,000 (although some say it could be done cheaper). Salters refuse to sell the boat to anyone on the river due to competition and rather cut her up. It makes me very angry and also very sad to see a lovely old boat go to waste like this. As of yet she is still in the water and laid up for the winter but i will keep you posted. It was only last year she was operating, her is a photo of her in July 2007 : http://www.simplonpc.co.u...urham_070718-048-IM_b.jpg http://www.salterssteamer...k/photo_gallery/maple.jpg I will keep you posted on any news
Pat Larkin	Cutty Sark and videos	#59	[-]
Posts: 331 ( 1-Oct-2008 01:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ben, I saw on the news last night that an investigation into the fire on the Cutty Sark found that it was due to an industrial vaccum cleaner being left on all weekend, overheating and catching fire, so, it seems the fire wasn't started deliberately. I don't know what your thoughts are on that? We, (once again), visited Comet this morning. We took the borrowed video camera with our cassettes and the chap in there fixed it all up to one of the new, large, flat-screen t.v.s. Well, first-of-all he got absolutely nowhere. Not even a picture. So he disconnected it all, opened a packet with three leads in it and started all over again. Nothing - again. This time, he touched something on the side of the t.v. and the picture appeared. Alas, no sound at all. So, he's offered to bring his own 8mm camera, which he knows has sound, into the store tomorrow, and my Husband's going to take all the stuff with him to have yet another 'go'....We've looked at a Samsung video recorder and it's quite cheap at £69. so that could be useful once we get these old cassettes brought up-to-date and into the 21st century. So much technology these days. We walked around the huge store and didn't know what most of the things on show even were....
thamesweb		#60	[-]
Posts: 1437 ( 2-Oct-2008 12:59 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We've looked at a Samsung video recorder Surely you mean DVD recorder. You really do not want to put them onto 25 year old tape technology!! Main reason being that copies from video degenerate, copies from DVD remain the same. No contest really! Tape to tape copies degenerate each time they are copied. DVD copies are always as good as the first, even after many generations of copies A to B to C to D, etc. Last Edited By: thamesweb 2-Oct-2008 01:01 AM. Edited 1 times.

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