Carrying from Runcorn

Picturing the Past: NarrowBoat, Spring 2023

Another delve into the Jack Parkinson archive shows working narrowboats at Runcorn in the 1960s

In March 1962 motor Otter & butty Aberystwyth leave Runcorn Top Lock with the Barnett family in command. They are taking on a load of feldspar from Runcorn Docks, instead of the usual loading place at Weston Point Docks further down the Manchester Ship Canal. Here Otter is powering up to take up the weight of Aberystwyth as it clears the Top Lock under Waterloo Bridge. Both boats served in the British Waterways North West Southern Carrying fleet. Otter was one of the former Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd motor boats that were absorbed into the nationalised BW fleet in January 1949. Otter was built by W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd for FMC and launched in December 1928 as an iron-composite craft, costing £710, with a 15hp Bolinder engine. In 1962 its engine had been replaced with a 21hp Lister JP2 that had been fitted in January 1956. Now underway with Ralph Barnett standing on the planks, the pair can travel with some speed along the wide and deep Bridgewater Canal to Pre…