The Pinkerton's Progress A NEW ENGINE - Part 1: The Birthday Present --- or ---- How to move your boat without water.

Based on a report by Ron McLaughlin, with photos by Chris Guthrie

TRIP BOAT REVENUE All proceeds go towards maintaining and improving the canal.   1978 The first season (24 weeks) nearly 10,000 passengers. Income = over £6,000   1985 Full season - over 14,000 passengers. Income = £14,000   1990 Income = £20,500   1999 Since 1978 nearly 200,000 passengers carried; total income over the period - more than £200,000 (in today's money)

The original engine for the 67ft trip boat was a 34 bhp Petter marine diesel engine, custom-built by Hancock and Lane for the Canal Society, and paid for by a donation valued at the time (1977) of £2000. This did sterling service for 13 years and was then replaced by another of the same design. This, however, proved more troublesome. After two years of breakdowns at inconvenient times in spite of a complete overhaul, it was obviously time to take more drastic action. And what better time than on its 21st birthday. So, with spares becoming difficult to find, the decision was made to replace it with a new engine of more modern design. Thus on the dull wet morning of 20 January 1999 the John Pinkerton arrived at the Coal Pens, Crookham - - for the large mobile crane to take it by road to Reading Marine on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Aldermaston. Strong slings are slid under the hull and positioned to balance the load, all 20 tonnes of it.

Crewing the boat The trip boat is entirely run by volunteers. New crew members are always welcome - and needed. Would you like to take part? more

And there it was - 20 feet above the ground, looking huge, turning gently until it caught in a tree. Then the giant crane swung slowly back and the John Pinkerton was free again to move slowly through the air past the tree, and onto the back of the lorry. To safeguard any possible accidents to passers by, and waiting cars, the Police had closed the road during this operation. So began its journey to Reading Marine at Aldermaston to have its new engine fitted. It was also the first time that it had left the Basingstoke Canal since it was first launched in 1977. NEXT - Return with a new engine BACK

Last updated March 2000