IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Coney Lane, COVENTRY, CV6 6EF

Adamant is modelled on a Bridgwater Canal tug and uses the hulls of two Birmingham 'day boats' dating from c1897. The current engine is an inverted vertical compound built c1895 by Cochrane of Birkenhead. The slide valve cylinders are 4" & 8" x 5" with Stephenson link reverse. It has been fitted with a surface condenser and a home built assembly aft of the engine contains the circulating pump, air pump and mechanical lubricator with a drive by chain off the propshaft. The vertical boiler supplies steam at 125 psi.

The vessel is a 30' x 7' iceboat built c1830. The steam plant is a modern installation of c1980-86. The engine is a c1900 built inverted vertical single cylinder by W H Bailey of Salford and must have started life as a stationary engine. The cylinder is 3.5" x 7" and fitted with slip eccentric reverse. The boiler is a Clarkson 'thimble tube' boiler of c1960s vintage. This was visited in a rush and I failed to observe the steam generator and pump sets that are listed as being on board. The main engine's flywheel is not a feature of marine engines and rather gives its stationary origin away. This was one of four steam narrowboats participating in a Steamboat Association rally on the Coventry Canal. There were also steam launches and working narrowboats taking part.

Adamant is modelled on a Bridgwater Canal tug and uses the hulls of two Birmingham 'day boats' dating from c1897. The current engine is an inverted vertical compound built c1895 by Cochrane of Birkenhead. This shows the vertical fire-tube boiler built in 1988 by Abels Shipyard at Bristol. It produces 300-400 lbs of steam/hr at 125 psi (30-40 gallons of feedwater required).

Adamant is modelled on a Bridgwater Canal tug and uses the hulls of two Birmingham 'day boats' dating from c1897. The current engine is an inverted vertical compound built c1895 by Cochrane of Birkenhead. This show the small Stuart inverted vertical single cylinder (enclosed) engine that drives the battery charging dynamo by belt. Although to many people Stuart is synonymous with model engines the company did build these workmanlike full size engines (full size being a relative term). Engines of this type were supplied in WWII to drive generators for radios for use behind enemy lines - steam being raised in a wood fired water tube boiler. The whole was stored in a case that could be parachuted in.

The footpath here, immediately to the north-west of the Coventry Canal, follows the route of the former Wyken Colliery Mineral Railway. This was built to serve Wyken Main Colliery by the London & North Western Railway, branching off from their main Coventry to Nuneaton line. The colliery ceased operations in 1910, but newer industrial works in the vicinity created a continuing need for a railway connection and this section of the branch at least is shown with trackwork on the 1950s Ordnance Survey map. Black Horse Road in the distance had a level crossing with the railway.

Sissons inverted vertical compound engine No. 6262 built in 1965 and supplied to a technical college in Capetown, South Africa. The cylinders are 4.5" & 7" x 7.5". It was rated at 15 bhp at 250 rpm on steam at 150 psi. It has Stephenson link reverse and is surface condensing. The three throw air pump can partly be seen to the left of the main engine near the mechanical lubricator.

Sissons inverted vertical compound engine No. 6262 built in 1965 and supplied to a technical college in Capetown, South Africa. The cylinders are 4.5" & 7" x 7.5". It was rated at 15 bhp at 250 rpm on steam at 150 psi. It has Stephenson link reverse and is surface condensing. The Lister pump in the foreground is the circulating pump and there is a three throw air pump out of shot.

On the occasion of a collection of steam narrowboats, historic vessels and modern replicas. We were waiting for our chance to get on board Tixall to see the steam plant and patience was rewarded eventually.

This is the beginning of the Oxford Canal - or if you prefer, the end - at Hawkesbury Junction.