NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Lyttelton: an old lady reaches 100
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2007 Sep 20, 15:46 +0100
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2007 Sep 20, 15:46 +0100
A kind friend has just sent me a page from the Canterbury Star, the local paper for the area surrounding Christchurch in New Zealand. This commemorates the Lyttelton, the twin-screw steam tug named after her home port. She arrived in Lyttelton on September 10, 1907, after a 69-day voyage, halfway round the world, from her birthplace in Glasgow. She is kept afloat, and in working order, by the efforts of a Preservation Society, and runs harbour trips every Sunday afternoon in Summer. Indeed, when I visit New Zealand, I always make a point of taking an outing on Lyttelton. The public are allowed (encouraged, indeed) down into the engine room, and there's little I know of to compare, for sheer excitement, with standing in the narrow passage, with its two compounds pounding away on either side. Others prefer the fun of helping the stoker by chucking shovelfuls of coals into the furnace. One aspect of the vessel that I particularly like is that she is not in any way "bulled up" as a museum display; just kept in the good working order which you would expect of a tug. There are some interesting characters aboard, as well. Her senior master started his sea career with two years as deckboy on the four-master, "Pamir". In 1971 she was effectively condemned by a surveyor, which led to her preservation by the society, of which that surveyor is now an active member. If any listmember happens to visit the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, I can only urge a visit to Lyttelton, and a trip on board "Lyttelton". Mind you, she is not by any means the oldest working steamer, but perhaps the oldest in salt water. I've enjoyed an outing on "Hjejlen", a beautiful paddler, which operates on lakes at Silkeborg Denmark, never having missed a Summer season since she was built in 1861. What a record! George. contact George Huxtable at george@huxtable.u-net.com or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222) or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
