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De SALIS

 

DeSALIS (left) at workshops on Hatton flight, c 1934

(BW192/3/2/2/13/1/66)

 

 

Craft

 

Built at

Hull

Cost

Type

DE SALIS

 

Bushell Bros, 1924

Wood  49’ x 6’11’’

x 4’5’’

 

Steam Tunnel Tug

Owners

Address

Source for

First Date

Grand Junction Canal Co

 

Built

1924

Steamer Registrations

Owner

Place

PH No

As

Date Inspected

Date Registered

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steamer Gaugings

Owner

Place

Gauging Number

Notes

Date

 

 

 

 

 

Boiler

 

 

Engine

 

 

Steamer History

See also below

Named after Rodolf Fane de Salis who joined the GJC board in 1888 and served as Chairman from 1914 to 1928.   

Similar to Hasty (b), Pilot (B) and Anslow

Used for icebreaking (Millner Letter)

Seen at Bulbourne painted grey and in good condition (AB)

Hasty (b) and De Salis may have been muddled. A Hasty was sunk in Sabey’s Dock as a tug hull with no cabin (Joe Mercer, lockkeeper at Cowley 1962). But John James bought a Hasty to run as a passenger boat

 

 

 

 

 

3.12.1925

1942 or 43

Fate

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Documents on file

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter Yates/Millner  re boiler                                      

                                                pc       

3.11.1924

Letter Millner/Rodley re firebricks                                            

pc

9.4.1925

Letter Millner/Yates re coal usage                                            

pc

30.4.1925

Letter Rodley/Millner re firebars                                               

pc

14.10.1927

 

 

Millner Notes

3.11.1924 L

Before being fitted into the tug (DE SALIS) this boiler was used to supply steam for the piling plant on the London District, and although the boiler was only in use about two months, the fire bars became so  buckled they will have to be renewed.  Yates/Millner

31.12.1924           

Has new tug DE SALIS been at work since arrival at Stoke   Rodley/Millner

7.1.1925

“new tug” Warren/Millner

9.1.1925

re new tug DE SALIS Millner/Rodley

24.2.1925

report on tug de SALIS

2.4.1925           

Send fitter to alter gauge glass fittings on DE SALIS  Millner/Rodley

9.4.1925 L           

…I am also sending fire bricks to Stoke for DE SALIS… Millner/Rodley

30.4.1925 L

…new tug DE SALIS the approximate proportion is Shipley 8tons Welsh 1 ton coke 3 tons but cannot say yet what would be most economical for this tug for its steaming is not satisfactory having to use the blower all the time when towing boats in the tunnels and, as you know, this is wasteful.  I am inclined to think a larger firebox and all coke would be the best for towing with this tug.….Millner/Yates

18.8.1925           

I want to go through (Blisworth) tunnel on DE SALIS with Rodley….Yates/Millner

3.12.1925

The tug DE SALIS has gone from Stoke to Fenny arriving there at 3 o’clock and will return to Stoke tomorrow, Friday.  This tug met the Grove ice boat at Fenny.  It has been freezing all day and looks like being severe again tonight.

4.12.1925

….with six steamers and motors….

28.1.1926

DE SALIS (12479/206658) and PILOT (1/94056) for inspection on 6.2.1926

21.6.1926

DE SALIS and PILOT at Stoke Bruerne for examination Millner/Yates

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, so 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 Warren sends the mudplug to have the stud renewed on DE SALIS, which could be returned the following day.  Rodley/Millner

30.11.1926           

DE SALIS broke down (Blisworth) , spare tug PILOT Millner/Yates

8.2.1928

Hull of tug SPIDER not worth repairing.  New one to be obtained and at the same time new engine to be fitted as not so efficient as DE SALIS and HASTY.

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 ANSLOW, DE SALIS, HASTY and PILOT.  They ceased operations (through the tunnels) on 30 September 1936.

 

 

Note from AHF:  The tug DE SALIS was named after Rodolph Fane de Salis who joined the GJC board in 1888 and served as Chairman from 1914 to 1928.   

 

 

GJCC Minutes (PRO)

 

 

PRO RAIL 830/47

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