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HANDY or ANDY

The nearly-interred boiler of HANDY

(CP and CR Weaver)

Craft

Fleet No

Built at

Hull

Cost

Type

HANDY or ANDY

STEAM TUG

Owners

Address

Source for

First Date

Mountsorrel Granite Co

Reg

3.5.1920

Steamer Registrations

Owner

Place

PH No

Date Inspected

Date Registered

Mountsorrel Granite Co

Loughborough

3.5.1920

Steamer Gaugings

Owner

Place

Gauging Number

Notes

Date

Boiler

Clarkson Thimble Tube Boiler Co Ltd [AB/PW]

Engine

By possible associate company to Clarkson

Steamer History

Engine and boiler taken out after a very short period

Hull sunk in arm to south of “echo” bridge, in Mountsorrel’s wharf

See notes below from Steam on Canals p92

Fate

Note on registration « Broken up by 31.10.1940 »

Date

By 31.10.1940

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)

Documents on file

Steam on Canals p 92 pc Photo of remains of craft 10.1955