STEAM TUG "KERNE"

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February has been a month of ‘ups and downs’ on board Kerne.

The’ ups’ included the aft galley range. With an assortment of ropes and sheaves, the unit was hoisted onto the aft deck, then dragged down the starboard side, lifted onto the top of the Boiler Room casing before being slid across the ladder onto the quay and loaded into Peter Sutcliffe’s truck for transportation to Barnoldswick.

Regrettably, its condition was such that it has been declared as ‘beyond restoration’ and will be scrapped. Other options for its replacement are being investigated.

‘Downs’ included lying on ones stomach on freezing cold plating and cleaning and painting the bilges beneath. The rewards are very smart new Boiler Room floor plating and steelwork, and bilges in a very odd colour of green.

Also in the Boiler Room, after inspection, the Chief has concluded that the 14-year-old smoke tubes are sufficiently wasted to require replacement. A stock of tubes has been sourced and work will commence as soon as possible for a targeted completion in early May.

In the Engine Room, piston and junk rings have been refitted to the LP piston, and attempts to suitably align the IP valve rod were hampered by the valve spindle guide which is out of true. Delicate adjustment will be required.

Above deck, we are actively looking to replace the timber wheelhouse, which is showing its age. A joinery manufacturer has been approached and has agreed to construct a new structure to the existing plans at a very favourable cost. Funding options are being investigated.

Finally, in recognition of the increasingly geriatric nature of the crew, work away from the vessel is progressing with the construction of a new lightweight aluminium gangway, which should be completed before the summer.

Firstly, an apology to Tim Leech, for my Freudian slip in renaming his lovely little ex-Thames tug ‘Kennet’ as ‘Gannet’. So soon after Christmas over-indulgence, an easy error to make for some of us!!

The weather in the first couple of weeks of the month prevented any work on board, although away from the vessel, we did have some very good news in connection with the aft galley range.
Contact had been made with the original manufacturers, Messrs Esse of Barnoldswick prior to Christmas, in the hope that they could assist us in sourcing a suitable replacement. Their response was to very generously offer to restore the original range at their factory at no cost to the Society.
We plan to remove the unit from Kerne and transport it to Esse’s premises within the next few weeks.

Once the weather relented, work re- started in the Boiler Room, the finishing touches being applied to the support channelling prior to measuring up for the new floor plates.
The first of the rectangular plates have now been delivered after laser cutting at Pickwick and Arnold’s boatyard in Todmorden, and after trial fitting, measurements for the remainder have been taken for plate cutting.
Whilst the floor plates are up, the open bilges have been cleaned, and the new steelwork is being painted.

In the Engine Room, slow but steady progress is being made in the final adjustment of the LP crosshead prior to the re-fitting of the piston rings and cylinder cover, and to the IP valve spindle and guide.

Away from the vessel, we have had news of the S.T. Alwyn Vincent, a very nice 90ft coal fired steam " pilot" tug designed in UK and built in Italy in 1958 for South African Railways. It was bought for a nominal sum a couple of years ago by an Australian who planned to take it to his homeland. He apparently has now disappeared owing people money so the tug will probably be disposed of.
If anyone out there wants a free steam tug they may be in luck, but it's a bit of a trip back from South Africa. We have enough with the one we’ve got!!
Finally, on a sad note, I have to report the passing of two Gentlemen with connections to the Kerne.
Phil Hockey, a retired River Pilot and ex owner of the Black Abbott of Mersey (motor barge Iris Abbott), died on 14 January aged 83. He had been unwell for some time, and will always be remembered by Kerne Engineers for his good humoured refusal to allow ‘Kerne Grease monkeys’ aboard Black Abbott without first removing our boots!!
From the Isle of Man, news that Capt Andrew Douglas, best known as Director & Editor of Sea Breezes, but also a former MHK (Manx Parliament Member), and Ships Captain, died of cancer on 15 January, aged just 66.

The early months below decks saw heavy engineering works that involved the stripping down of the High Pressure end of the main engine to facilitate honing of the High Pressure piston valve bore to remove ovality, lapping in the piston valve, adjustment of piston and valve rings and sleeving and re-machining the badly scored piston rod to size.
Winter laying up work was also completed, corroded areas of the smokebox repaired, boiler anodes replaced, a boiler treatment system installed, various steam pipe joints replaced and the boiler surveyed by our Insurers to their satisfaction.

Improving weather in the spring saw work commence deckside. New port and starboard navigation light boxes were manufactured and fitted and the masthead light buckets repaired. Routine woodworking repairs were carried out and hatch and grating varnishing was undertaken.

Back below decks work commenced on the removal of old boiler lagging, descaling of the outer shell of the boiler in preparation for the installation of the new lagging. The galley range also saw attention to the firebox.

The month of June saw the application of the new boiler lagging, with its stainless steel strapping, and fires were lit in preparation for a voyage from Liverpool Sandon Dock to what was formerly, Manchester No 9 Dock, via the Mersey to Eastham and Ellesmere Port, the Manchester Ship Canal and return.

Visitors were welcomed aboard during our 3-day layover in Manchester and all legs of the outward and return trips were supported by a full complement of crew and guests.

The trip did reveal a leaking starboard boiler feed-check. On return to Sandon the boiler was emptied, the valve removed from the boiler shell, the worn spindle replaced and the gland repacked prior to refitting.

During this process an ‘intruder’ was discovered aboard!!
Whilst working in the boiler room sounds were heard in the smokebox. From time to time seagulls have attempted to land on the funnel rim only to fall down and land in the smokebox. Thinking this to be the case, Bob Adam donned the heat resistant gauntlets (to protect fingers from ungrateful beaks), opened the bottom smokebox doors in order to grab the beast and return it to the wild, when he observed a large pair of eyes staring at him. Bob is no ornithologist, but knew this wasn’t a seagull!!

The doors were slammed shut and a call made to the RSPCA who duly attended and removed a rather annoyed Harris Hawk!!

As reported previously, August saw the vessel towed across the river by the Motor Tug ‘Seaport Alpha’ to Bromborough Slip for dry-docking. A full ultrasonic survey was carried out, replating and rivet welding undertaken as required together with attention to hull shell valves, stern tube, replacement of the echo-sounder transducer and a full hull descale and repaint, prior to being towed back to Sandon.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of National Historic Ships who provided financial grant-aid to enable us to carry out this essential work.

October saw the boiler being refilled prior to lighting up for our annual trip up the Mersey, Manchester Ship Canal and Weaver Navigation to the Leigh Arms Steam Party at Acton Bridge.

The gathering was very well attended and over 400 visitors were welcomed aboard over the 2 days, and again, a full compliment of crew and guests supported the outward and return trips, which were somewhat hampered by shallow water above Dutton Lock. Assistance from the Motor Tug ‘Gannet’ on the return leg was gratefully accepted.

Autumn saw the start of Winter Lay-up, and work commenced in earnest on the stripping down of the Low Pressure end and Intermediate Pressure Slide Valve of the main engine for attention.

This work became somewhat protracted as the LP piston stubbornly refused to be parted from the taper of the piston rod. Three weeks of hard physical effort, the installation of heavy-duty pulling gear, the application of heat, 14 tons of pressure from hydraulic rams, and a lot of very bad language from the Engineers finally persuaded the two apart. But boy, did it go with a bang!!

The LP piston rod and IP valve spindle have now been sleeved and remachined to size, together with the gland and neck bushes, LP crosshead and slipper whilst in the boiler room, the corroded floor plates and support channelling have been cut out and removed for scrap.

Sadly, we have to report on the ‘death’ of the galley range, which, during the winter strip down finally succumbed to age and corrosion.

The final work party of the year saw the newly machined piston rod, bushes, piston and crosshead refitted, whilst in the boiler room, the first of the new floor support beams were fitted and welded into place.

All in all, a very busy and productive year!

Finally, we wish to welcome the following that have joined us this year -

Gwil Williams
Dave Owens
Darren Stead
Geoff Johnson
Frank Purser
Paul Ogden
Jack Dibnah
Roger Dibnah
Harold Lawrence
John Nevins
Ian Morrissey
Capt David McNamee
Alan Barnes
Les Ormandy
Martin Cleaver
Don Thorpe
John Slavin
Dave Horsman
Bob Heywood
Craig Hamer
Graham Dean
Raymond Holmes