Bjg asked,,, > ... one Keith Jones, who built some steam-powered narrowboats in the > 1980s/1990s? One called Firefly and one called Benson, I believe. > Benson is listed on the steam boat association's website. > > Someone mentioned Jones to me recently and I'm just curious.
I can add a bit of info. Firefly was gas operated with a flash boiler just inside the back doors. The only problem was if the pressure dropped too much to pump more water in you had to do so by hand - a problem once for some hirers who'd just cast off into the middle of a busy cut! The gas supply was mainly from a built in tank - Jonesy had a large Calor tank back at Welford for refilling. Otherwise it could run off a couple of Calor bottles at a horrendous price. Eventually he got into financial difficulties and the boat was seized and put up for sale by order of the Court. I tendered (and should have got it) but one of the creditors did a deal. Last I heard the steam plant had come out and a Lister SR4 had been fitted. My plan was to look to convert it to oil burning. Benson was a bit different as it had two grates. I think originally these were both coal but there was talk of converting one to oil. Glen
