Loach on the Weaver

Viaduct Shipping's grain barge Loach, loaded with 200 tonne of wheat travels from the Steam Gathering at Acton Bridge back to Runcorn to finish unloading the rest of the 300 tonne load.
Powered by a Kelvin T6, the 100 ft long barge struggles for depth down the Weaver Navigation, which no longer sees large traffic like this.

[@lairdstephenrousek.r.o.6505]

What a sound, brilliant

[@robertsmart9432]

I still watch the video of her she's part of my life

[@jayswarrow1196]

1:13 - that rundown is eargasmic

[@gm-ew5ms]

lovely clip mate. It reminds me of a very similar barge, named Diction. She was operated on the truro river in the 80s and 90s by the cornish calcified seaweed company, and used as a dredger. Diction was retired from service and converted for use as a house boat. lovely to hear a kelvin engine at work again.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Very nice video. Thanks for the ride!

[@darrenhillman8396]

You have a like and a new subscriber! Great footage. Thanks for taking us on the journey!

[@trueblue2124]

Greta video ! thank you!

[@EdFrankes]

Nice video, mate! I'll be sharing this on the Dutch "Binnenvaartforum" (inland shipping forum).

[@liquidhighway]

Great video!

[@thameswater2561]

Glad to see the old girl still going, I worked on her Sister barge the LOBE....and she is still going to, working for PRIORS Sand & Ballast to London.

[@johnturner561]

i remember some big ships going under the viaduct at frodsham at one time ... some had to have a moveable mast to get under .. that was a long time ago tho thanks for the vid buddy

[@applecounty]

Fantastic video, very interesting. Is this trip a one off trip or the start of something more regular.

[@billalbion]

Great sound from the big Kelvin. Non turbo was 180shp and turbo 240 at1000rpm.

[@gloriapearson8253]

My grandmother came from England I wish I can just go over there and visit i'm in the US

[@santiagogomez9607]

Buen trabajo del capitan con la caña del timon a la antigua usanzz,sin hibraulico ,con cadenas

[@gloriapearson8253]

It would be nice to go visit over there

[@jacquesblaque7728]

She seems to be stirring up some sediments at various points there, doing a bit of plowing. Maybe she draws (9.6 ft) more than most traffic there? Is that her current draft in the vid, or max possible?

[@alanpassat6759]

Jacques Blaque I think the "sediment" you refer to are Mersey turds. Regardless of tidal currents and flows, turds end up in Runcorn.

[@alanpassat6759]

Was this boat named after Ken Loach?

[@smitbar11]

Lol

[@robertsmart7005]

You could always tell when she was getting close to the ground she would draw her arse down 9foot6 of water ?? Well when i used to load her at that depth she carried 300tons ?

[@robertsmart7005]

Glad to see her still working isee you have cut out a hatch in the engine room she needed that to let the hot air out but on cresents shipping they would not do that because we was crossing to Belgium and holland ?she has not altered a lot but you have got rid of the turbo ??did not help her one bit I used to take grain to rochford Essex and then go to Ipswich Suffolk to load srap for Cali's or dunqerk from there to antwep steel back for London ?she used to see some weather

[@robertsmart203]

I thought I would contact you again hows she doing shes the only one of the four left the rest have been scrapped

[@robertsmart203]

The locator is out in the Bahamas dont know if shes working

[@robertsmart3056]

Yes when she gets near the ground her steering chain judder

[@robertsmart9432]

Her port bulwark I'll tell you how it got bent ! After I came out off her they put a up and coming hero on her that was going too do far more than I could ever doo he did he put her ashore on a mud flat for 3wks the tides were falling so crescent sent there tug draget to pull her of so a 4 inch nylon and a 500 horse polar pulled her of but bent the bulwark ! Some pull too bend that

[@gloriapearson8253]

Yes I'd like to come and visit but I have to save money to come and visit

[@raynazer2547]

The same Loach as owned by Crescent Shipping at one time? Don't know any 'Lobe' belonging to JJ Prior, unless she worked under contract?

[@robertsmart7005]

The lobe became the make Pryor there's a vid of her on the Thames on y tube

[@leofender5033]

I know this sank, but this and Panary have both vanished