Gloucester Waterways Museum
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3.5  Narrow Boat Wye

     Built for British Transport Waterways in 1958 by the Thames Launch Works at Teddington, Wye was one of the last batch of unpowered narrow boats made for commercial canal carrying. The hull was designed to the maximum size that would fit in the locks, giving more space for cargo and a larger cabin than other boats. Modern features included electricity in the cabin and a compartment with an Elsan toilet, although the Public Health Department objected to the latter and it was not fitted in later boats of the type. Transfers were used for the roses and castles decoration and for the British Transport Waterways logo.

     Wye was used for carrying cargoes between London and Birmingham, being towed by a motor boat. The blue fibre-glass covers over the cargo hold were easier to take off and replace than traditional tarpaulin cloths, but their unusual appearance led to the boats being called "dustbin boats". Alternatively, Wye could accommodate ten 5ft cube blue fibre-glass containers that could each carry 2 tons. Intended to help integrate canal and road transport, these were the brain-child of Mr Ralph Kirkham, manager of the Willerby Plastics firm, but they limited the payload that could be carried.

     After inland commercial carrying ceased in 1963, British Waterways used Wye for maintenance work, including a few years on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. When no longer needed for this work, Wye joined the Museum's collection in 1992.

For Index to Museum Notes, see www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/museumnotes