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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Buses and other ways to travel (Data Managers: Bus_Lady, VickiS) > Ferries across waterways - whether by vehicle, foot or both (merged posts)
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Author Topic: Ferries across waterways - whether by vehicle, foot or both (merged posts)  (Read 71390 times)
froome
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« Reply #75 on: May 05, 2024, 11:30:04 »
In the Domesday Book two ferries were recorded crossing here, and for much of the time since there were several ferries crossing. Gravesend Town Council bought the ferry rights in the 1600s and the commander of the fort at Tilbury also managed to gain ferry rights, so until the 19th century two ferries crossed here, one run from each bank. There was a vehicle ferry crossing until 1964 and various proposals for a tunnel to be built from the early 19th century onwards, but this was always considered to be too expensive.

It is a real tragedy that this crossing has now closed. Let's hope funding can be found to get it reinstated soon.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #76 on: June 30, 2024, 20:28:09 »
Quote from: Oxonhutch on March 10, 2024, 16:19:44
Mods: this (and maybe some above) may be better placed in the foot ferry thread.

I give in: I'm merging them all into one hopefully definitive 'ferries' topic.  Cheesy
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #77 on: July 01, 2024, 18:17:18 »
Now done.  Roll Eyes

Whenever possible, I've preserved the original topic headings here, for clarity and context.

I hope, as ever, that this helps.

CfN  Wink
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #78 on: July 01, 2024, 21:02:49 »
Finn and I had a couple of rides on this one last week. It was actually working for a change. Fighting a very strong current on the River Medina, I hadn't realised the chain ferry had side thrusters to help with lining up with the slipways against tidal flows.



Edit. The video thumbnail was chosen by YouTube. A little disconcerting that the AI and algorithms chose him without prompt. Should I be worried about Finn's personal data?! Tongue
« Last Edit: July 01, 2024, 21:12:37 by JayMac » Logged
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bobm
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« Reply #79 on: July 01, 2024, 21:15:06 »
That was in between a trip on an open top bus, a visit to a distillery, a pub - oh and a coffee!

One plus point.  The burger in the distillery pub didn’t come in the ubiquitous brioche bun.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #80 on: July 01, 2024, 21:20:08 »
How does Finn cope with all that intake?   Shocked
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
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« Reply #81 on: July 01, 2024, 23:17:27 »
Quote from: JayMac on July 01, 2024, 21:02:49
Finn and I had a couple of rides on this one last week. It was actually working for a change. Fighting a very strong current on the River Medina, I hadn't realised the chain ferry had side thrusters to help with lining up with the slipways against tidal flows.

So that's like a transporter bridge on the water and not suspended above it?
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JayMac
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« Reply #82 on: July 01, 2024, 23:56:46 »
The Cowes chain ferry has always been known as the Floating Bridge.

The first vessel began service in 1859. Commissioned by the Floating Bridge Company. That company was later purchased by The Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company (today's Red Funnel) who commissioned the second and third vessels in 1882 and 1896.

In 1909 the ferry service was taken over by the local authorities West & East Cowes Urban Councils, passing to successor authorities, Medina Borough Council in 1974, and Isle of Wight Council in 1995.

There have been six vessels under local authority ownership. 'Named' Bridge No.1 to Bridge No.6. The latest, Bridge No.6, entered service in 2017 but, after a catalogue of faults, groundings, and failures, it was announced in March 2024 that it would be replaced.

When Bridge No.6 was due to enter service, Isle of Wight Council sought suggestions from residents to give it a proper name. A petition for Floaty McFloatface garnered over 2,000 signatures. The naming competition was postponed by local elections in 2017 and was never restarted after problems with the vessel started becoming apparent. The vessel remains Bridge No.6. A bridge too far?
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bobm
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« Reply #83 on: July 02, 2024, 07:51:35 »
The current bridge has proved so unreliable there are now electronic road signs on the outskirts of the town advising whether it is in operation or not.  This has saved council staff going out with A-boards everytime the service is suspended.
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chuffed
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« Reply #84 on: July 02, 2024, 08:18:11 »
Could this be the start of a lucrative Youtube career for the ubiquitous Finn ?
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JayMac
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« Reply #85 on: July 03, 2024, 17:24:00 »
I've just learnt of another ferry service in the UK▸ (United Kingdom) thanks to a YouTube channel I subscribe to - Auto Shenanigans. Which incidentally is a great channel if you want to learn quirky facts about the motorways and roads of the UK. Just the right balance of nerdiness and humour I enjoy. The channel features occasional diversions such as this video about an amphibious ferry that crosses the mouth of the River Towy in south west Wales, between Ferryside and Llansteffan.



And the amphibious ferry's website.
https://www.carmarthenbayferries.co.uk/
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #86 on: July 03, 2024, 21:18:04 »
And there is a button expressly for the purpose so I've pressed it Jay
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JayMac
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« Reply #87 on: July 04, 2024, 23:09:33 »
Quote from: Western Pathfinder on July 03, 2024, 21:18:04
And there is a button expressly for the purpose so I've pressed it Jay

That's hwicked, sweet, awesome. Wink
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froome
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« Reply #88 on: November 19, 2024, 03:47:27 »
I don't suppose Stornoway harbour looks that calm on many days!
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GBM
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« Reply #89 on: November 19, 2024, 07:57:54 »
https://stmichaelsmount.co.uk/news/the-st-michael-is-unveiled/

Mostly used for staff runs, rather than public usage.
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