GUCCCo boats : Russell Newbery Register

As described in part 1 of our Russell Newbery story, the assocation between the English Canals and Russell Newbery started in 1934 with the supply of marine version of the "D2" engine to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Limited (GUCCCL). Between November 1934 and March 1937 a total of 38 motor narrowboats powered by Russell Newbery "DM2" engines were delivered to the canal carrying company. The remaining 141 motor boats of the Star and Town classes were fitted with the very similar "2DM" engine made by the National Oil Engine Company at Ashton under Lyme.

Here we list the 38 boats which were delivered with RN engines. It is known that engine swaps took place when boats were docked for repairs or maintenance.

Fleet number.The GUCCCL introduced boat numbers around the time of the delivery of the last of the Star class in 1936. This was to assist in boat movement control. The Star class and other existant motor boats were numbered 1 to 100 in alphabetical order, this does not match the order in which the boats were delivered. Town class motor boats were allocated numbers 101 to 186, again with names in alphabetical order. However, with the Town class, three blocks of numbers and names in sequence were allocated. These corresponded to the three sets of orders, 24 steel pairs from Harland and Wolff, 24 steel motors only from Harland and Wolff, 38 steel motors from Yarwoods. Butty boats originally carried the same number as their paired motor, followed by the letter "B". Thus Altairwas 66B. During 1937 all the butty boats were renumbered between 201 and 387 in alpahbetical order. This may have been due to the fact that the boat pairings had changed during dockings for maintenance. Also the last two batches of Town class boats were not ordered as pairs. The GUCCCL orderd 62 wooden butty boats to work with the 24 steel motors from Harland and Wolff (125 to 148) and the 38 steel motors from Yarwoods (149 to 186). Delivery of the butty and the motor often took place a couple of months apart. In fact, it is probably that apart from the prototype Star class pairs and a few of the standard Star class pairs, very few of these intended pairings actually took place. Original butty.As noted above, this is the intended butty boat pairing. Registered.All canal boats in the United Kingdom had to be registered with a local authority if they were used for living accomodation. GUC Gauge No.Before licenses were issued for canal boats, each boat paid a toll for each mile of canal travelled, the toll amount varied according to the cargo carried and the amount (tonnage) carried. To determine the tonnage carried all boats were gauged by one (or more) of the canal companies. Gauging was a process to record the amount of freeboard, a four points on the boat, for each ton carried. These dimensions were then recorded in a log book, copies of which were issued to all the toll collectors. The index to these entries was by the Gauge number - a system which avoided the non-uniqueness of boat names. Almost all the GUCCCL boats were gauged by the Grand Union Canal, a few had Oxford canal gauging.

Prototype Star class

Ordered 1934

Wooden boats built by Walkers, Rickmansworth

Star class prototype, GUCCCL type code "C", nickname "Small Ricky"

	Russell Newbery Register Grand Union Canal Carrying Company boats

Arcturus	Fleet number 13 Registered Rickmansworth 28, 20Nov1934 GUC Gauge No. 12356 Original butty Sirius (358) Delivered Oct1934 Sold before January 1947. Carried number 12A to avoid boatman's superstitisions. Not recorded whether butty Sirius was originally numbered 12AB or 13B. For many years this ran as trip boat from Cassio Wharf, Watford. Now used as a private pleasure boat. (2007)
Neptune	Fleet number 66 Registered Rickmansworth 30, 18Dec1934 GUC Gauge No. 12381 Original butty Altair (209) Delivered Dec1934 Sold April 1943.
Antares	Fleet number 7 Registered Rickmansworth 33, 19Mar1935 GUC Gauge No. 12371 Original butty Spica (361) Delivered Feb1935 (another source quotes 5Mar1935). Sold July 1942 to Talbot Garage Company, Kidderminster - renamed Antries. Later acquired by T and S Element, Oldbury. Sold to Robert Tudor circa 1955 - renamed The Albion. Robert Tudor's operation was based at Albion Bridge on the Wednesdbury Old Canal near Pudding Green Junction (BCN). Circa 1966 sold privately and converted to houseboat, reverted to original name. Was based in the London area for many years. Due to deteriorating condtion, the fore end was removed in 1998. Remains of the rest of the boat were observed sunk in the Oxford Canal near Duke's Lock in Oct2001. Waterways World February 2003 editon has a photograph of the boat when operating for Robert Tudor. The RN powered Antares around today is a modern replica tug built in 1989.

Wooden boats built by E. G. Woods, Brentford

Star class prototype, GUCCCL type code "C"

Jupiter

Fleet number 56
Registered Brentford 487. 19Dec1934
Original butty Mars (310)
GUC Gauge No. 12362
Delivered Nov1934 (Faulker states delivery as Dec1934)

Iron and elm composite boats built by Harland and Wolff

Star class prototype, GUCCCL type code "C", nickname "Small Woolwich"

Venus	Fleet number 95 Registered Tring 124, 1Jan1935 GUC Gauge No. 12375 Original butty Saturn (352) Delivered Dec1934. Restored to carrying condition Mar1991.
Aldebaran	Fleet number 3 Registered Daventry 462, 19Feb1935 GUC Gauge No. 12359 Original butty Orion (322) Delivered Jan1935. Sold to Samuel Barlow May1943, renamed Anne and later Halifax to reflect the period of patriotism during World War 2.

January 1935 order

Wooden boats built by Walkers, Rickmansworth

Star class, GUCCCL type code "D", nickname "Small Ricky"

Castor	Fleet number 24 Registered Rickmansworth 36, 21May1935 GUC Gauge No. 12520 Original butty Pollux (335) Delivered Apr1935. Sold to L. B. Faulkner in 1947, then to S. E. Barlow and finally on to Samuel Barlow when they took over the S. E. barlow fleet in Feb1957.
Aries	Fleet number 14 Registered Rickmansworth 40?, 16Jul1935 GUC Gauge No. 12540 Original butty Ariel (217) Delivered Jun1935. At Ellesmere Port Boat museum Jun1991.
Oberon	Fleet number 67 Registered Rickmansworth 40?, 16Jul1935 GUC Gauge No. None Original butty Octans (321) Delivered Jun1935. Sunk on River Weaver.
Phoenix	Fleet number 72 Registered Rickmansworth 38, 18Jun1935 GUC Gauge No. 12416 Original butty Phoebe (330) Delivered Jun1935. Sold to S. E. Barlow, Dec1942.
Umbriel	Fleet number 94 Registered Rickmansworth 44, 17Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12407 Original butty Ursa (381) Delivered Aug1935. Sold to T and S Element for £660 in January 1942 renamed Duke of York. Observed on southern Oxford canal in 2000.
Mimas	Fleet number 62 Registered Rickmansworth 46, 17Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12442 Original butty Musca (316) Delivered Sep1935 Sold to A. Wander (Ovaltine) between 1941 and 1943. To Willow Wren Jun1959 in service Jul1959 to 1963 under the name Egret.

Iron and elm composite boats built by Yarwoods, Northwich

Star class, GUCCCL type code "D", nickname "Small Northwich"


Pisces	Fleet number 73 Registered Birmingham 1574, 20Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12454 Original butty Puppis (339) Delivered May1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Observed at Braunston in Jul2000 having new cabin built for use as a trip boat.
Clypeus	Fleet number 28 Registered Brentford 498, 24Jul1935 GUC Gauge No. 12423 Original butty Corvus (260) Delivered Jun1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Restored with part "under-cloth" conversion.
Sagitta	Fleet number 80 Registered Brentford 526, 3Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12395 Original butty Serpens (355) Delivered Jun1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948 Since circa 1990 has been operated by Staffordshire County Council.
Eridanus	Fleet number 42 Registered Brentford 538, 25Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12452 Original butty Leo (300) Delivered Jul1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Lacerta	Fleet number 57 Registered Brentford 520, 3Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12553 Original butty Lepus (302) Delivered Jul1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948 Shortened to a 45 foot tug 1962 for use on Erewash Canal. Advertised for sale in Dec1992 edition of Waterways World. Observed at Stourbridge Oct2000.
Enceladus	Fleet number 41 Registered Birmingham 1577, 20Sep1935 and Braunston 534, 25Sep1935 GUC Gauge No. 12391 Original butty Lyra (306) Delivered Aug1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Cut into two parts by BW. Front part became Water Valliant in the BW hire fleet. Later renamed Vallinat and based as trip boat at The Bratch on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Fate of back part unknown.
Delphinus	Fleet number 34 Registered Birmingham 1578, 13Oct1935 GUC Gauge No. 12506 Original butty Draco (271) Delivered Sep1935. Sold to Talbot Garage Company, Kidderminster (probably in 1942). Later to T and S Element, Oldbury - renamed Prince Charles. Cut down to 50 foot at some time.
Bellatrix	Fleet number 19 Never Registered GUC Gauge No. 12429 Original butty Lynx (305) Delivered Oct1935 Never entered carrying service with GUCCCL. Sold to Wulfruna Coal Co. (Wolverhampton) in 1936. In 1966 was run as a trip boat at Kinver by Midland Navigation. By Sep1990 restored to carrying condition, privately owned, based at Greensforge on the Stafforshire and Worcsestershire Canal.
Libra	Fleet number 58 Registered Brentford 548, 9Nov1935 GUC Gauge No. 12425 Original butty Carina (249) Delivered Oct1935. Never part of BW (SE) Carrying fleet, but was operated by Willow Wren as Warbler. Last observed part converted, based at Amington on the Coventry canal. Now has a Bolinder 1052 engine.
Scorpio	Fleet number 81 Registered Coventry 534, 31Dec1936 GUC Gauge No. 12411 Original butty Malus (307) Delivered Oct1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948 Observed as BW maintenance boat at Wightwick on Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal Dec1990. To the BW Historic Boat Collection in 2000, operated by the Friends of the Working Boats. Based at Bradley Workshops (BCN).
Sculptor	Fleet number 82 Registered Birmingham 1584, 15May1936 GUC Gauge No. 12499 Original butty Toucan (377) Delivered Nov1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Became a maintenance boat on the Shropshire Union Canal in 1949. RN DM2 replace by Lister HA2 engine in 1960. Restored to wartime condition (except for the engine) as part of the National Waterwasys Museum collection circa 1988. This collection is now the Waterways Trust museum fleet.
Antlia	Fleet number 8 Registered Birmingham 1592, 19Jun1936 GUC Gauge No. 12463 Original butty Lupus (304) Delivered Jan1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Cut into two at some stage. Two halves bought by present owner and welded back together to make 60 foot boat.

May 1935 order

Steel boats with Vee bottom, built by Yarwoods, Northwich

Star class, GUCCCL type code "E", nickname "Middle Northwich"


Radiant	Fleet number 79 Registered Birmingham 1591, 19Jun1936 GUC Gauge No. 12482 Original butty Regulus (343) Delivered Nov1935 Loaned to London Fire Brigade during World War 2 for fire fighting duties based at Paddington Basin. To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. Later transferred to maintenace fleet, final duties on Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in Sep1992. Engine room extended by 3 foot to house additional pumps. Lister HR3M engine fitted in 1972. Privately purchased in Sep1992, by the owner of Regulus. Usually to be seen at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. In 1999 it was still in "maintenance" condition in BW light blue livery.
Sextanus	Fleet number 83 Never Registered GUC Gauge No. 12496 Original butty Scales (353) Delivered Jan1936
Sickle	Fleet number 84 Registered Rickmansworth 187, 21Sep1937 GUC Gauge No. 12534 Original butty Sarpedon (350) Delivered Mar1936
Taygeta	Fleet number 89 Registered Birmingham 1587, 19Jun1936 GUC Gauge No. 12482 Original butty Triagulum (378) Delivered Nov1935 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Theophilus	Fleet number 91 Registered Birmingham 1598, 17Jul1936 GUC Gauge No. 12606 Original butty Thea (372) Delivered Apr1936
Tucana	Fleet number 92 Registered Birmingham 1595, 19Jun1936 GUC Gauge No. 12518 Original butty Taurus (370) Delivered May1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Tycho	Fleet number 93 Registered Birmingham 1601, 18Dec1936 GUC Gauge No. 12503 Original butty Thoth (373) Delivered May1936. Converted to an ice breaker with ram on fore end, by Ministry of War (Transport) December 1942. To British Waterways maintenance fleet Jan1948. Petter PD3M engine fitted at Saltley in 1958, allocated to work in the Rugby area. Later sold to Alfred Matty of Coseley. Privately owned in BW blye/yellow livery since circa 1980, based southern Grand Union.
Zodiac	Fleet number 100 Registered Rickmansworth 140, 16Mar1937 GUC Gauge No. 12592 Original butty Leonids (301) Delivered Jun1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948

May 1936 order

Steel boats, built by Yarwoods, Northwich

Town class, GUCCCL type code "F", nickname "Large Northwich"


Oakley	Fleet number 159 Registered Rickmansworth 98, 20Oct1936 GUC Gauge No. 12631 Original butty Oxted (324) Delivered Aug1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Paddington	Fleet number 160 Registered Rickmansworth 99, 20Oct1936 GUC Gauge No. 12596 Original butty Padbury (325) Delivered Sep1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Reading	Fleet number 163 Registered Rickmansworth 111, 15Dec1936 GUC Gauge No. 12599 Original butty Rawdon (342) Delivered Oct1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948 To Willow Wren Feb1954 in service Jun1954 as Redshank.
Renton	Fleet number 164 Registered Rickmansworth 118, 15Dec1936 GUC Gauge No. 12633 Original butty Roade (345) Delivered Oct1936
Southall	Fleet number 171 Registered Rickmansworth 130, 19Jan1937 GUC Gauge No. 12685 Original butty Southam (360) Delivered Nov1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948
Stamford	Fleet number 172 Registered Rickmansworth 176, 20Jul1937 GUC Gauge No. 12724 Original butty Starcross (362) Delivered Nov1936 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948 Observed in GUCCL red/blue livery with extended cabin at Warwick, Sep1991.

And finally...

A now famous "Large Northwich" steel motor from the May 1936 order for Town class boats has an Upminster built RN DM2 fitted.


Tyseley	Fleet number 183 Registered Rickmansworth 149, 20Apr1937 GUC Gauge No. 12741 Original butty Tydd (379) Delivered Mar1937 To British Waterways (SE) carrying fleet Jan1948. To Mikron Theatre from 1976.

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