Town Class Sticker Album

Introducing the Town Class Sticker Album

2010-01-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

I've always had a bit of a thing for collecting and cataloguing things.
I now have a serious thing for narrow boats. Old working narrow boats. In particular, Grand Union large motor narrow boats.

For anyone who has alighted on this out of the blue, between 1934 and 1937 the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company commissioned eighty-six new pairs of boats - that's eighty-six motor boats and eighty-six unpowered butties which they would tow. They are called 'large' because of the depth of their holds, deeper than their predecessors'. In every other dimension they were the same - the standard narrow canal guage of seventy-one feet six inches long by seven feet wide. Most of the butties have disappeared (it didn't help that many of them were built from wood), but most of the motor boats are still extant in some form or another - indeed, I have heard it said that they all are, although there are some of which I have certainly never heard tell.

Many of them have been lovingly restored to represent how they would have looked in the heyday of canal carrying on the Grand Union; others have been restored to later incarnations with other companies; others still have had their holds converted into living space. Some were rescued from abandonment and sinking, others spent years as British Waterways maintenance boats before being sold to private owners.

The name 'Town Class' is derived from the fact that this tranche of 'large' boats were named after, essentially, railway stations; the story goes that they were plucked randomly, but alphabetically, from a railway gazetteer. So we have towns, but also cities, villages and tube stations. Some were endearingly miss-spelt - perhaps through being transcribed over the telephone: Bilster, Fulbourne, Edgeware. To refer to a 'class' is really a misnomer; these were never classes in the sense that there were on the railways, but rather a post hoc classification. It makes a good title though.

I love all old narrow boats, but I love these Towns the best. The large motor boats can be further subdivided into Large Woolwiches and Large Northwiches, depending upon where they were built: at Woolwich, by Harland and Wolff, or at Northwich, by Yarwoods. Although they are built to the same specification, there are subtle differences between the two. I love all Grand Union large motor boats, but I love Woolwiches the best.

Now I've harboured this passion for a few years, I have seen and photographed quite a few of these boats - travelling around the canal system, visiting rallies and even, now, getting to know some of their owners. So naturally, I need a way of cataloguing which ones I've seen, and which ones I have still to seek out. This is it; a sticker album in which to collect a photograph (or maybe more) of each Grand Union large motor boat I've spotted. There is one simple rule: I must have seen the boat in the flesh and taken the photo myself in order to include it.

I hope you will enjoy looking at my collection, and adding comments where you have information about a particular boat.

And yes, I know I'm mad, but you've got to have a hobby, haven't you.

101 [ABER]

2010-01-16T03:18:00.005-08:00

I know it exists but I haven't seen it yet.

102 [ALTON]

2010-01-16T03:18:00.003-08:00

Have I seen it? I think I might have, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get a photo.

103 [ALDGATE]

2010-01-16T03:18:00.001-08:00

Got a photo somewhere, just need to find it.

104 ASCOT

2010-01-16T03:17:00.002-08:00

No recollection of having seen this one, nor of having heard anything of it....
But I had! (at least if Jim Shead is to be believed) On the G.U., I suspect near Wolverton, August 2009.

105 AYNHO

2010-01-16T03:17:00.001-08:00

Aha! I did photograph it. Limehouse Basin, August 24, 2008. Imaginatively put to use as the elsan emptying point. But did I hear that BW have put it on their latest sell-off list?

106 BALDOCK

2010-01-16T03:16:00.002-08:00

Not a very flattering picture, but I haven't seen it since its recent splendid repaint. April 2009.

107 [BANSTEAD]

2010-01-16T03:16:00.001-08:00

Think I've got this somewhere... or am I just recalling pictures from when it was for sale a couple of years ago?

108 BADSEY

2010-01-16T03:14:00.004-08:00

Here's Badsey, spotted on our travels in August 2007 (or possibly 2008). One of the very worst photos in the collection, I suspect. (That's Warrior in the foreground.)

109 BARNET

2010-01-16T03:14:00.003-08:00

Now in new ownership but here looking a bit sorrowful in August 2006 on the Staffs and Worcs.

110 BAINTON

2010-01-16T03:14:00.001-08:00

August 07, on the G.U.

111 BATH

2010-01-16T03:13:00.004-08:00

August 10th 2009, Great Northern Basin, Langley Mill

112 BATTERSEA

2010-01-16T03:13:00.003-08:00

Spring 2007

113 [BEAULIEU]

2010-01-16T03:13:00.001-08:00

Hear of but not seen yet.

114 [BARNHAM]

2010-01-16T03:12:00.002-08:00

One of those very low profile ones - until I write this list out I'd never even have known it was on it.

115 [BELFAST]

2010-01-16T03:12:00.001-08:00

Got a feeling I've seen it somewhere - or was it only in an old photo?

116 [BEXHILL]

2010-01-16T03:11:00.004-08:00

Not to be confused with the West Sussex seaside town beginning with B... don't think I've spotted this one yet.

117 BICESTER

2010-01-16T03:11:00.003-08:00

May 11th 2009, on brokerage at Warwickshire Fly.

118 BILSTER

2010-01-16T03:11:00.001-08:00

Little Venice 27.02.10

119 BLETCHLEY

2010-01-16T03:10:00.003-08:00

Cowroast, July 18th, 2009

120 BOGNOR

2010-01-16T03:10:00.001-08:00

Battlebridge Basin 27.02.10

121 [BIRMINGHAM]

2010-01-16T03:09:00.004-08:00

Never seen in the flesh...

122 [BOURNEMOUTH]

2010-01-16T03:09:00.003-08:00

Another one I think I've not seen.

123 BRISTOL

2010-01-16T03:09:00.001-08:00

Braunston, 2009

124 BUCKDEN

2010-01-16T03:08:00.002-08:00

Braunston, June 2009

125 BARROW

2010-01-16T03:08:00.001-08:00

Well there's a thing. I didn't even recall having seen this one - sorry. Braunston 2008.

126 [BUXTON]

2010-01-16T03:07:00.004-08:00

Is this the one we saw on the bank, with a fore cabin? Or was there another Derbyshire town? Photo somewhere....

127 [CALDY]

2010-01-16T03:07:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

128 [CALSTOCK]

2010-01-16T03:07:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

129 [CAMBOURNE]

2010-01-16T03:06:00.004-08:00

not yet collected

130 CHERTSEY

2010-01-16T03:06:00.003-08:00

Chertsey, of course, is my boat, my very own big Woolwich, and gives its name to my blog here. This is us towing it from Dimmingsdale to Stretton, September 24th 2009.

131 CHISWICK

2010-01-16T03:06:00.001-08:00

April 19, 2009, when I was helping to move Chiswick from Aylesbury to Paddington.

132 [COLESHILL]

2010-01-16T03:05:00.002-08:00

not yet collected

133 [CANTLEY]

2010-01-16T03:05:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

134 [CARNABY]

2010-01-16T03:04:00.002-08:00

not yet collected

135 DARLEY

2010-01-16T03:04:00.001-08:00

Now I know I've seen Darley more recently than this, but here it is unexpectedly turned up in August 2006 - somewhere near Stone?

136 DOVER

2010-01-16T03:03:00.004-08:00

Little Venice, October 2006

137 [DUNSTABLE]

2010-01-16T03:03:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

138 EDGEWARE

2010-01-16T03:03:00.001-08:00

On the G.U., August 2007

139 [ELSTREE]

2010-01-16T03:02:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

140 [EPSOM]

2010-01-16T03:02:00.005-08:00

not yet collected

141 FENNY

2010-01-16T03:02:00.003-08:00

Braunston, June 25th 2010

142 FULBOURNE

2010-01-16T03:02:00.001-08:00

One of my favourites. Above at Braunston, 2008, and below, St. Ives, 2007.

143 [GAINSBOROUGH]

2010-01-16T03:01:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

144 GREENOCK

2010-01-16T03:01:00.005-08:00

Undergoing restoration at Brinklow, May 2009

145 [GREENLAW]

2010-01-16T03:01:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

146 HAMPSTEAD

2010-01-16T03:01:00.001-08:00

Lots of photos - I've even steered it. Just got to find a nice one.

147 HADLEY

2010-01-16T03:00:00.006-08:00

Braunston, 2006

148 HAWKESBURY

2010-01-16T03:00:00.005-08:00

August 26, 2009, Fradley Junction.

149 [HALSALL]

2010-01-16T03:00:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

150 KENILWORTH

2010-01-16T03:00:00.001-08:00

Ellesmere Port, Easter 2011

151 [KELSO]

2010-01-16T02:59:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

152 LADYBANK

2010-01-16T02:59:00.005-08:00

April 12th 2011, Shroppie somewhere not far below Bunbury.

153 [LETCHWORTH]

2010-01-16T02:59:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

154 LANCING

2010-01-16T02:59:00.001-08:00

June 14th 2009, on the K&A near Reading. Mike was skippering and very kindly invited me along for the ride.

155 [NABURN]

2010-01-16T02:58:00.007-08:00

not yet collected

156 [NUNEATON]

2010-01-16T02:58:00.005-08:00

Of course I have got this one really.

157 NUTFIELD

2010-01-16T02:58:00.003-08:00

Braunston 2006

158 OTLEY

2010-01-16T02:58:00.001-08:00

159 [OAKLEY]

2010-01-16T02:57:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

160 PADDINGTON

2010-01-16T02:57:00.005-08:00

Braunston 2006

161 [PINNER]

2010-01-16T02:57:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

162 [PURTON]

2010-01-16T02:57:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

163 [READING]

2010-01-16T02:56:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

164 [RENTON]

2010-01-16T02:56:00.005-08:00

not yet collected

165 [RENFREW]

2010-01-16T02:56:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

166 [RUFFORD]

2010-01-16T02:56:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

167 SALTAIRE

2010-01-16T02:55:00.004-08:00

Braunston 2006

I've subsequently seen Saltaire, repainted, at the Black Country Museum gathering in 2009, but I'm not sure if I got a photo.

168 SEAFORD

2010-01-16T02:55:00.003-08:00

Ellesmere Port, Easter 2007

169 [SHIRLEY]

2010-01-16T02:55:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

170 SLOUGH

2010-01-16T02:54:00.006-08:00

On the Trent and Mersey, 24th August 2009. Is this the real thing?

171 SOUTHALL

2010-01-16T02:54:00.005-08:00

172 STAMFORD

2010-01-16T02:54:00.003-08:00

Braunston, 2007

173 STANTON

2010-01-16T02:54:00.001-08:00

Jam 'Ole Run 2008

174 [STIRLING]

2010-01-16T02:53:00.006-08:00

not yet collected

175 STRATFORD

2010-01-16T02:53:00.005-08:00

Braunston, 26.06.2010

176 [SUDBURY]

2010-01-16T02:53:00.003-08:00

not yet collected

177 [SUTTON]

2010-01-16T02:53:00.001-08:00

not yet collected

178 TADWORTH

2010-01-16T02:52:00.006-08:00

Paddington Basin, October 2006

179 THAXTED

2010-01-16T02:52:00.005-08:00

Found it!! Taken on the Nene back in 2007

180 [TIPTON]

2010-01-16T02:52:00.003-08:00

No idea about this one.

181 TOWCESTER

2010-01-16T02:52:00.001-08:00

This is one you see around a lot, but what better place to meet it!

182 TARPORLEY

2010-01-16T02:51:00.003-08:00

August 2008, somewhere in London.... if I'd known how intimately I was going to get to know this boat, and this lock.... (that comment would have made sense if this had indeed been City Road Lock, but on closer examination I don't think it is)

183 TYSELEY

2010-01-16T02:51:00.001-08:00

Braunston Turn, June 2011

184 [USWORTH]

2010-01-16T02:50:00.002-08:00

Beneath the radar, this one.

185 WHITBY

2010-01-16T02:50:00.001-08:00

Black Country Museum gathering, September 27, 2009

186 [YEOFORD]

2010-01-16T02:48:00.000-08:00

not yet collected