Paddle Steamer – Medway Queen

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Towing of the re-built hull etc (before fitting out) has started from the shipbuilders in Bristol back to the Medway. The first leg of the journey was to the mouth of the Avon.

Follow the site to keep up to date with progress —

**LINK**

Three excellent photographs of the first part of the tow are under the – The Medway Queen Moves – on the left of the website's homepage.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Re-build of the ‘Heroine of Dunkirk’

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

This seems to be not so much a preservation project as building a replica. Just how much of the original ship survives?

The other thing that worries me is that the Waverley is struggling to survive herself so how will the reconstituted Medway Queen pay her way?

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

It would be interesting to know how much of the original ship survives? Looking at the website, everything to date has been re-built.

Their facebook site informs us now that the tow has passed the Isle of Wight at 08:00 this morning and due to arrive at Medway tomorrow. This is going much better than expected.

Must agree with you Colin on the future, the Waverley is struggling to pay her way. Other paddlers, the Maid of the Loch needs funding and the Kingswear Castle has moved from the Medway back to her home on the Dart. We can only wish the MQPS well with the re-build and hope they can make a profit in this vessel and the business venture. Hopefully by the time the vessel starts to earn money, financially things will be better within the UK.

Tony

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes, I have been monitoring progress on AIS.

However, I was a bit disconcerted to learn that the Medway Queen will not be taking paying passengers any time in the near future and seems to be set to be a static exhibit at Gillingham Pier which is not what supporters had expected.

**LINK**

It does rather make you wonder just what the purpose of the 'restoration' is and what its prospects for the future are financially. It rather looks that all that has happened is that a replica has been built to sit in a mud berth in a relatively inaccessible location!

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

That is a very interesting link, Colin. Didn't realise the future of the ship is so unclear, built with a riveted hull which is unable to obtain the required certification for passenger carrying (unless an exemption can be obtained) along with other problems.

Like so many of the comments posted, it is uncertain just what to think or what the future holds.

Tony

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This can only be beauracy gone mad……Rivets are not good enough?

Surely, they can get back on track, by welding the important joints?

Bob

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

According to the MQ's facebook site, the tow back to the Medway is complete. Can only wish the society well with the next part of the restoration.

Bob, reading further into this subject, the lottery grant was subject to the hull being built as original. One idea discussed was for a welded hull with dummy rivets, but this was apparently rejected by the HLF.

Tony

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Looks like the joy of the vessel returning home has turned to despair, the society runs out of money until 2015 and puts staff on notice.

**LINK**

Tony

[Author]

Posts