Pier Water Buses

Are they still around?

I'm sure one was originally bought by the Council, then due to popularity another was needed.

Or was it the case that a third one was considered?

Thoughts were prompted by Wesknight's comment here.

Other than the boats Helen and Rina which were new in the Eighties, I can only remember Kittywake at the pier.

I think the two 'observation' boats (if that's the right term) came from a company in The Netherlands.

Opps

Emma and Netta

Helen and Rina are the mill engines (plural)

Buses? Made of water?...What's that all about?

A controversial term, used to inform the unsuspecting punter that the very short journey was not a leisurely boat ride, but a means of getting from A to B.

Signeage was in place to explain this.



Pic from here

I don't think Emma and Netta are about nowadays, at least I've not seen them near Wigan Pier recently. If people search online they could mistakenly take it that The Way We Were Museum is still there though.

(A few months ago, I saw two women near The Orwell looking about quite dejectedly. They shouted across the canal to me to ask where Wigan Pier was.)

I hope you told them the original structure was not far from B&Q, Jo Anne. Traversing bothe the canal and the Douglas.

Term for the boats seems to be 'sightseeing boat'.

I pointed out the tippler, but they didn't seem impressed.

Can't even find info on electric boat manufacturers.

Ambush 2007

Is Viktoria the rusting boat near the Mayor's Boatyard?

Thet spelling of Kittiwake threw me earlier, Jo Anne.

I think she (Kittywake) had been going a while when the two new boats were bought. (Could well be wrong)

Not sure about Viktoria.

EDIT

I/we have mentioned 'Roland' before. It sat on a verge near the Trenchefeild quay.

Electric Boat Association - info does seem scarce.

I'll take a photo of the rusty boat near the Boatyard - it seems to be almost submerging.

Believe it or not, Jo Anne. It can be better for old wooden boats to be partially submerged from time-to-time.

Stops the wood from drying out and leaving gaps between the planking.

Perhaps not the best thing for a steel boat.

No, perhaps not.

Roland thread?

That's the one.

I'm surprised I can't find any council bumph amout the new boats. They made a lot of noise about them being quiet and eco friendly etc. at the time.

Also, one had wheelchair access.

Photo - Page 3 A piece of ironwork protecting the stonework ... The ironwork is grooved by abrasion from tow ropes.
Was this piece of ironwork fitted to stop damage to the stonework?

I think I once asked about that type of ironwork on WW.

Yes, Jo Anne. I remember. Some of the peces of metal you mentioned were broken. I assumed they were originally straight, as would be staples holding the stones together.

That pic shown seems to have the metal in place to prevent ropes rubbing into, and getting trapped in, the gap between the stones.

There seems to be some good information available from here.

(Metalwork missing near Britannia Bridge 15th Jul 2010 at 21:04)

It looks like they are doing something with the way we were building at pie eater pier, because there are workmen in there today clearing it out

Nice finds, Jo Anne.

It is a shame that the building has been unused, Sir Bob. I think it depended a lot on education money.

I didn't realise that the building was unused - hope it's soon put to a good use again.

The partially submerging boat isn't Viktoria. (It doesn't seem that long ago since I last saw her in that region of the canal, but I'm not sure when it was.)

Photo's taken late this afternoon: Photo 1 and Photo 2.

Nice bit of refurbishment there.

Wonder if the boat is ex BW and belongs/ed to the private operators who had the yard?

EDIT

Could also just be one of those nameless things they use like a floating skip when working on the canals.

Open to elements, got plenty rain inside it. Soon be pumped-out and ready for use.

Someone out there will know.

Was thinking earlier- I doubt if people in years to come will look back at the waterbuses with the same fondness they do the Haigh Hall tractors.

Its Registration Number: 518445

And guess what?!

Netta - 'Built by HARBOROUGH MARINE - Length 11.8 metres (38 feet 9 inches ) - Beam 3.04 metres (10 feet ) - Draft 0.01 metres ( ) 0 hull, power of 999 BHP. Registered with British Waterways number 73532 as a Electric. Last registration recorded on 29-May-2011.'

A number of boats are called Emma - Wigan's one may well be amongst them.

'I doubt if people in years to come will look back at the waterbuses with the same fondness they do the Haigh Hall tractors'

I don't think I ever travelled by waterbus. And I know I never rode on a Haigh Hall tractor.

Try again.

B HOP RHD4 Built by 0 - Length 26.3 metres (86 feet 3 inches ) - Beam 2.74 metres (9 feet ) - Draft 0.84 metres (2 feet 9 inches ) Metal hull, . Registered with British Waterways number 518445 as a Unpowered. Last registration recorded on 11-Apr-2010.

Oh! You mean you entered the name Netta, Not the number of the sinking skip.

Sorry to be misleading - I originally linked to each page of search results, but on checking found the links didn't work.

As penance, you can sort the Bantams out.

We had two on dry land.

One is still there, too.

Bantam 25 and Bantam 69

Bantam 25 (Photo - 20:32)
Construction Date April 1953 Original engine 30 hp.Original owner was D&IWE, Liverpool. Now a static canalside feature in the Wigan Pier Area.

Bantam 69
Construction Date May 1959 Original owner was BWB, Liverpool. Was in a childrens' play area beside the canal at Wigan.

Just beat me to it, Jo Anne.

D&IWE - Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.

Created for nationalisation, BWB later evolved as the canal part.

Bantam 25 is in a bit of a sorry state - Autumn 2010.

It's a shame the waterside garden is no longer accessible to the public.

Probably for the best/safest really.

Some of it is a bit out of the way of passing eyes. Despite being so close to such a busy road and opposite the towpath.

Years since I walked through it, and I'm sure some of the flagstones had been nicked then.

I often used to go to the garden with my dog, a few years ago. It was a lovely quiet retreat for people to sit, have their dinner, read or just walk through.

But it hasn't been maintained.

Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture - Episode 1 47:00 onwards

Melvyn is near Wigan Pier, whilst talking about George Orwell.

any help ?

Nice finds, both.

What is that shot of at 0:51?

Immediately after the view of rh Orwell pub.

That clocktower isn't in Wigan, And I don't thiink it's Bolton Town Hall.

At about 50:47, you mean?

I don't know.

Yes, Jo anne.

Must get me clock fixed.

fixed You might try to stop time, but it won't work, Dostaf.

Look at what happened to The Way We Were, to keep things on topic.

What is the Monty Python(?) sketch where they have the write time on a piece of paper?

(Did they make it into a paper aeroplane to prove time flies when you're having fun?)

almost a water bus

Nice one, Mache.

Jo Anne- You may be thinking of the Goons.

Eccles climed to know the time, as he had it 'writted' on a piece of paper.

See Season Seven

Thanks, Dostaf. What Time Is It, Eccles?

the 32 goes through eccles i think but its not a water bus

I wonder if they sold Eccles cakes at The Way We Were?

(What am I driving at?)

Emma and Netta moved due to currents ------------------------- electric currents.

I wonder where they were moved to and where they currently are?

More yed scratcing, but I remembered eventually.

'Pantry At The Pier'.

As to the boats?

Pantry At The Pier - Comment 20:50

Was there ever panting at the Pier as someone missed the bus?

A sign showing the way to The Way We Were is still there.

There's something sadly embarrassing about the way those signs remain.

They should resign. (Or they could be resigned to stay there.)

The rusting boat had two birds aboard, today.

two ducks on a dukw

What is a dukw, Mache?

You/we have discussed the Livrpool Ducks (DUKWs) in the past, Jo Anne. (I'm sure)

The Yellow Duckmarine

'Netta' Sunday June 4th 2006

but what happened to them??

are they holed up in some councillors garage with haigh hall tractor?

The very idea.