"195" Edition No 18, September 1990
Editorial
This is very much an interim edition of "195" to fill the gap. Our traditional editor will be producing a more colourful edition in the not-too-distant future.
We have been very busy helping move 'President' around on what must have been her most active year for some time. Crewing 'President' is very satisfying, but in addition there is a lot of work that goes on between trips - organising, boat maintenance etc. and most of this work is done by at most, half a dozen people. There is plenty of opportunity here for more members to get involved!
We have just returned from Gloucester where we were made very welcome by Tony Conder, David MacDougal and the National Waterways Museum for the IWA National Rally. One of the nice things about visiting such events on 'President' is the people you meet.
Brian Collings had brought the GUCC boat 'Sculptor' from Stoke Bruerne with a cargo of cheese, taking 3 weeks via the Potteries and doing a lot of the trip on his own. He was moored with us in the Barge Arm at the Museum and we soon persuaded him to take 'Sculptor' out for a spin round the basin. We tried getting him into tight corners, but his boat handling always got him out. In return, Brian joined us for one of our morning outings with 'President' and 'Northwich' breasted-up.
Also visiting the Museum was the tug 'Mayflower', moored conveniently for us to wait alongside for Llanthony Bridge. We soon got to know the crew, had a trip down the canal with them, and joined them in the evening, sitting on a nice warm boiler casing, to watch the illuminated boat procession.
'Mayflower' is owned by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery and normally lives in Bristol. She is fairly old - 1861 in fact, still coal fired and steam powered, but compared with 'President', the engine room is big enough to hold a party. Like 'President', she is largely run by a small group of volunteers.
Jennifer Thomas is getting together slides and details of 'President' to be able to present at society meetings etc. She will be pleased to hear from anyone who has suitable material, particularly old photographs - her address is on the back cover.
A message from the Chairman
Dear Friends,
Just a short note to go with this interim Newsletter. Our Editor has had a very busy summer so has not had time to produce "195" as he would have liked. However, he is now preparing a bumper edition to cover the 'Brindley' run and this will follow shortly.
1990 has been quite a year in the history of Friends of President. Following the successful completion of the restoration and the fitting of the new boiler, we have covered just about 900 miles, locked through nearly 600 locks, and we lost count of the bridges. We set out this year to publicise the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley, both the owners are very pleased with the results. Endless publicity enroute, local and national press and TV coverage everywhere we went.
James Brindley was safely delivered to Etruria in June and unveiled in July. The committee organising the statue wish me to pass on thanks to everyone involved in making this possible. 'President' returned to Etruria for the unveilling. We also visited the Waterways Museum at Gloucester over the August Bank Holiday. We have two more events to go - September 15th/16th Black Country Festival at Windmill End and the Boaters Gathering at Black Country Living Museum September 29th and 30th. If you can come to either, please do so.
Full details of all the runs will appear in future editions of "195" and I am sure you will all enjoy reading them over the coming winter. If anyone has any articles or photographs they wish to be published, please let Keith have them.
At the A.G.M. in June I told everyone there that Les Langworthy had decided to resign as the Museum's Engineer and as a committee member of Friends of President. On everyone's behalf I would like to thank Les for all his hard work in the past and wish him all the best for the future.
We have over the course of the year collected a number of rally and other plaques. It is our intention to mount these on a display board; however, we are missing the ones the boat has been given for the past few years. If anyone has knowledge of where they are please let a committee member know.
All the Best,
David Powell Chairman
Boaters Gathering
Working Canal Boat Gathering Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, September 29th & 30th 1990
Over 30 working boats will attend. Some loaded - demonstrations of loading/unloading. 'President' in steam - loaded with timber from Harcross Gloucester.
Help. To make this a spectacular event for the public we need helpers from Friends of President. We have been asked to join in with the events, so please come along, in crew dress if possible.
Access. ONLY via the museum entrance where Friends of President members must sign in the working party book. The bottom gate will be manned and only available to holders of boat passes.
Check in on arrival at the boat with "President's" crew who will give you an idea of the tasks ahead.
A great day out for all.
1989 Refit and new boiler
October 1988
'President' returns from Nottingham. Boiler and Engine removed from boat.
4th November 1988
Docked on the boat dock at the Black Country Living Museum by Nigel Jackson, Dennis Fellows and Ian Pearson.
21st January 1989
Working party with 'President' on the dock. Gunwhales removed back to the engine room, hole punched in the bottom below engine room and much oil and grime removed. Boiler (the old one) tubes and fire-box cleaned.
18th February 1989
Working party - more dismantling, with rudder and blades removed and engine hole fittings removed. Boat leveled and holes plugged so she can keep some water in to prevent the bottom drying out.
The old boiler has failed its insurance test - it is too thin at the fore end of the furnace-tube, and it is considered that this would be very difficult and expensive to repair.
The boiler dates from 1928 and has lasted well...
5th July 1989
Nigel Jackson fitting the first new bottom plank. All the bottom planks are being replaced from the forward end of the boiler back to the stern and the keelson is also being replaced over this length.
8th October 1989
Working party to pitch the sides. A weed hatch is being fitted under the counter, and the skeg plate has been repaired.
November 1989
'President' back in the water.
9th January 1990
New boiler ordered from Cochran's of Annan.
Last part of the new gunwhales fitted - they have been replaced from the foredeck back to the engine room using English oak.
17th February 1990
Working party - preparing engine room for fitting the new boiler.
9th March 1990
New boiler delivered from Cochran's, and lifted into boat. Engine being reassembled in the Stables. New canvas side clothes have been delivered and are being fitted.
17th March 1990
New fore hatch fitted and fore end of oak cants replaced. Pipework being installed for boiler.
31st March 1990
Side clothes removed so the ring-holes can be strengthened. Painting in hold, gunwhales etc. Continuing work in engine room.
7th April 1990
Smoke box arrived on a JCB driven by the Museum Director. Cabin above boiler slid forward, and smoke box installed. The ceramic lining for the return box at the rear of the boiler has been fitted by contractors. The cabin has been extended by 9 inches to accommodate the new boiler - a new section to roof and sides fitted.
13th April 1990
Easter weekend work parties. Welders have been busy in engine room and much of the pipework is in place. Painting in engine room, cabin, counter etc. Side clothes fitted for the second time. The engine is in place - it is mounted about 7 inches further forward than before. Cabin above boiler now bolted in place and roof tack-welded.
Monday afternoon - comprehensive review with Museum Director of the alarming amount of work still to be done and the rapidly approaching departure date for the trip to London.
Wednesday. Welders finishing and museum staff actively working on the boat. Pipework finished. Firebox back plate adjusted and fitted. Cabin roof being finished. Tony Gregory and Bob Derricott from Canal Panel visited in evening to review progress and help settle some of the outstanding problems.
Thursday. Firebars arranged and supports almost finished. Top plank shortened, eyes on sideclothes now complete, cratch and top planks erected. Bolts to hold down boiler being fitted, boiler filled.
Friday. Pressure test of boiler - first fire lit.
Saturday. Working party weekend. Richard Thomas assembling cargo-like boxes for the hold. Ian Walden and Paul Wooldridge fixing pipework in engine room. Loading coal, water barrels etc. Fire lit 14:30 and by 17:00 we had 45 psi. Engine run for 30 minutes, followed by an epic voyage to the end of the arm to celebrate the Directors birthday. He wanted to go to Wombourne, but we did not have time.
Sunday. Boiler steamed and short voyage.
25th April 1990
Wednesday. Boiler fired for the boiler inspector. Safety Valve lifted at 105 psi within minutes of his arrival. Reset at 92 psi. Trip to Factory Junction and back.
Thursday - well Thursday was planned to be the first day of the trip to London, and so is covered elsewhere.
Tony Millatt
First trip with the new boiler - April - May 1990
Sponsors
We have only been able to replace the boiler, complete the refit and do the James Brindley run with the very generous help from a number of organisations. They include:
| Cochran's of Annan | Nalfloc Ltd., Northwich |
| Mobil Centenary Trust | CP Carpets |
| IWA | IWA London Branch |
| National Power | British Coal |
| Charringtons Fuels | BP |
Members of Friends of President have been very generous with some significant donations.
Finally, the owners, the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley MBC have also contributed significantly to the work that has been done this year.
New members of Friends of President
Welcome to the following new members who have joined Friends of President since November 1989.
| Nicholas Bryan | Peter Caddy | Mike Cooper |
| Carl Da Costa | Andreas Dorth | Mr & Mrs C L Fenwick |
| Ann George | S Leonard | Judith Moore |
| Ben van Oosten | Roger Seabury | David Stevenson |
| A P Sweeney | Steven Turner | Ruby Smith |
| Larry Smith | Southern Chandlers | Mr & Mrs Thompson |
| David Upton | Dave Varnish |
Alan Orton from Cochran's of Annan has been made an Honorary Member in recognition of his considerable help in many ways, in getting the new boiler for 'President'.
Vera Rowley from the James Brindley Memorial Trust has been made an Honorary Member in thanks for her enthusiastic help in connection with the James Brindley trip.
1990/1991 Committee
| Chairman: | David Powell | Secretary | Malcolm Nixon | Peter Chalk | ||
| Treasurer & Membership: | Tony Millatt | Crewing: | Richard Thomas, | Andrew Flack, | ||
| Sponsorship: | George Naldrett, | Engineering Subcommittee: | Dave Stott | |||
| Owners Representatives | Black Country Living Museum | Ian Walden |
| Dudley M.B. Council | David Radmore |
| Newsletter Editorial Office | Keith Rogers |
Last edited:- 21-Jun-2008