President (narrowboat) on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''President'' is a historic, steam-powered
The long ''President'' was constructed in 1909 at FMC's company dock in Saltley, and cost £600 (). She was registered on 23 June that year. Her riveted, wrought iron hull is shaped in the 'Josher' style, named for FMC director Joshua Fellows.
In 1925, the Ruston, Proctor and Company steam boiler and engine were replaced by a 15 hp Bolinder crude oil engine.
Ernest Thomas, a director of FMC, and a Walsall-based coal carrier, acquired the boat in 1946. She was sold to George and Matthews of Wolverhampton in 1948, but that year the UK's canals were nationalised and she finished her working days as part of British Waterways' northern maintenance fleet, on the Trent and Mersey,
''President'' was purchased by the Black Country Living Museum in January 1983. The boiler was replaced by a Cochran dryback return flue boiler in 1990. A major refit took place from 2001 to 2003, including the provision of a new steam engine, pipework and cabin, plus major hull repairs.
''President'', in FMC livery, normally operates with a butty boat, '' Kildare''. In 1992 she paired with Kildare on a 257 mile journey through Cheshire and Staffordshire to raise money for orphaned children in Romania.
On 3 June 2012, President took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in London, representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, having spent three weeks making the journey from Etruria Industrial Museum,
Steam Narrow Boat President
crew blog
National Historic Ships website
{{Oldest surviving ships (pre-1919) Steamboats in Europe Vehicles introduced in 1909 Black Country Living Museum Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands Canal boats of the United Kingdom Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet
narrowboat
A narrowboat is a particular type of Barge, canal boat, built to fit the narrow History of the British canal system, locks of the United Kingdom. The UK's canal system provided a nationwide transport network during the Industrial Revolution, b ...
, built in 1909 by Fellows Morton & Clayton
Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd was, for much of the early 20th century, the largest and best-known canal transportation company in England. The company was in existence from 1889 to 1947.
Origins
The company started in 1837 when James Fellows, a ...
(FMC) at their dock at Saltley, Birmingham, England. It is now owned by the Black Country Living Museum, where it is based.
''President'' is registered by National Historic Ships
National Historic Ships UK is a government-funded independent organisation that advises UK governments and others on matters relating to historic ships.
as part of the National Historic Fleet.
Early years
The long ''President'' was constructed in 1909 at FMC's company dock in Saltley, and cost £600 (). She was registered on 23 June that year. Her riveted, wrought iron hull is shaped in the 'Josher' style, named for FMC director Joshua Fellows.
In 1925, the Ruston, Proctor and Company steam boiler and engine were replaced by a 15 hp Bolinder crude oil engine.
Ernest Thomas, a director of FMC, and a Walsall-based coal carrier, acquired the boat in 1946. She was sold to George and Matthews of Wolverhampton in 1948, but that year the UK's canals were nationalised and she finished her working days as part of British Waterways' northern maintenance fleet, on the Trent and Mersey, Macclesfield
Macclesfield () is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. It is sited on the River Bollin and the edge of the Cheshire Plain, with Macclesfield Forest to its east; the town lies south of Ma ...
and Shropshire Union canals, from a base at Northwich.
Preservation
''President'' was bought by Nicholas Bostock and Malcolm Braine in 1973, as a derelict hull. They restored the hull and constructed a replica cabin and boiler room. A 1928 Muir and Findley " Scotch" return boiler, similar to that originally used, but operating at 100 PSI was acquired and fitted, as was a twin cylinder steam engine, originally used in a Thames launch. The boat returned to service in 1978.Black Country Living Museum
''President'' was purchased by the Black Country Living Museum in January 1983. The boiler was replaced by a Cochran dryback return flue boiler in 1990. A major refit took place from 2001 to 2003, including the provision of a new steam engine, pipework and cabin, plus major hull repairs.
''President'', in FMC livery, normally operates with a butty boat, '' Kildare''. In 1992 she paired with Kildare on a 257 mile journey through Cheshire and Staffordshire to raise money for orphaned children in Romania.
On 3 June 2012, President took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in London, representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, having spent three weeks making the journey from Etruria Industrial Museum, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It has an estimated population of 259,965 as of 2022, making it the largest settlement in Staffordshire ...
, at an average speed of 3 mph.
Her boiler failed an inspection in 2018 and is beyond economical repair.
References
Bibliography
*External links
*Steam Narrow Boat President
crew blog
National Historic Ships website
{{Oldest surviving ships (pre-1919) Steamboats in Europe Vehicles introduced in 1909 Black Country Living Museum Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands Canal boats of the United Kingdom Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet