Steam Tug Kerne

Join the 1913 Steam Tug Kerne on her trip from Liverpool to Acton Bridge on the River Weaver via the Manchester Ship Canal. It's not a simple trip, first having to wait for the Seatruck Progress departing for Dublin, along with other vessels. Once we had picked up extra crew at Ellesmere Port, the problems didn't stop as we needed to find the newly dredged channel into Marsh Lock, the entrance to the Weaver. As it was shallow a pump with rigged up to take cleaner water as the boat plowed through the mud at various points allow the River. Even getting a tow over the worse part, where the Daniel Adamson later got stuck (see: • Daniel Adamson's first... ).

[@pjneslo8979]

I have the highest respect for these old tugs and their crews, great job keeping her sailing!

[@billysmith5721]

and the ghost of crews who worked before on this boat

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Wow a lot of components working together to get her going you can really see how the term like a finely tuned ship came about ! I have a lot of respect for all the guys on board and the Captain for orchestrating the whole operation the entire video is a real joy to watch

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@dphillips4351]

Absolutely a great feat of mechanical engineering and crew skills. Truly amazing and beautiful!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Boiler room 4 hot down here

[@davidbowen8649]

Great video! I served on the USS Gridley CG-21, from 1974-1978. We had two single cylinder reciprocating bilge pumps, one in each engine room. I think everyone in the aft engine room thought I was crazy. I would use the recip at every opportunity, instead of flipping a switch for the electric centrifugal pump. Both recip’s where replaced in 1977, when the Gridley was in the Long Beach Naval Ship Yard.

[@jayswarrow1196]

This film sums up a great queue: A nice'n'peaceful canal trip in the old tub, with nicely crafted machinery, and bunch of blokes, at the teamwork. (A *thirty-thousand'th* of an *inch* per hundred years wear.. that's the best description of "they've built it to last" i've heard so far.)

[@cadser0engco]

You come across these from time to time that are really interesting and well put together because of a love for the thing and dedication to it by i presume amateurs. The steam aspect as well as the love of the water craft is what i found fascinating. The skill required and timing in getting the craft where you want it be telegraph and tiller coordinating is great to watch. Thank you for taking the time to preserve the craft for future generations to see and admire.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@TheByard]

Thank you for letting me join your trip even though I'm sat on my sofa in Vietnam. As a former member of The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships owning Lazy Days from 1995 to 2010. I had the pleasure of sailing in the fleet along with Steam Tug Challenge on the 2000 Return to Dunkirk from the port of Dover where we were inspected by The Duke of Edinborough. At the dinner we shared a table with Robin Knox Johnson, he had crewed Challenge during the crossing. At my first event with the ADLS an inter year visit to Lime House Dock on the Thames I met a fellow owner, who was in the process of saving a RN Pinnace that had seen service at Dunkirk, she was about to be crushed. He worked evenings and week ends to restore Mary Jane and once she was afloat and engines running, we attended another Return this time to Chatham Dock Yard, nothing had been done below decks and when the mooring marshal gave us different berths Dave called back we had to raft together as Lazy Days was his HEADS and GALLEY. To make matter worse Dave came from Liverpool ?????????

[@peterlovett5841]

What an excellent video of a day that makes Ratty's comment "...that there's nothing so much fun as messing around in boats" ring true. Thank you for taking the time to make it and post it here.

[@cedricbrown9676]

The can of brasso and the pan to the compass put a huge smile on my face!

[@andreg511]

Wonderful! Thanks to the crew, captain and all the others for sharing a life experience.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Wonderful video! Thank you so much! It's a real pleasure to see such old technology still in working order! :)

[@N.i.l]

A pure sea diamond. Alive with heartbeat Thank you so much for sharing it in the most natural way.

[@joebarrett4353]

what a beautiful and amazing piece of engineering. Well done to the guys who keep her going so we can watch!!

[@SteamCoal]

Previously it was called Terrier, read an article in Model Engineer, what a blessing that he is on the move. Thank you!

[@matthewpeter]

I love the BR railway droplights in the wheelhouse, I drive trains with those in the cab!

[@jackking5567]

That's moving at a really good speed for its age. Always great to see historic machinery still working and so well - hats off to those who've kept the boat alive.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Boiler room 4 hot down here

[@MLGVorkScoper]

im amazed at the reaction time of going from full stop to ahead. Beautiful engine and vessel.

[@hughrainbird43]

Thank you for posting this voyage . It brought back my memories of working on the ST "Portwey" in the Thames tideway and Medway in the late 1980's. All sparked off by "Highland Steamboat Holidays" aboard VIC 32 with friends from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Great days.

[@SuperLaplander]

Lovely film! Thank you so much for sharing. Best regards from Stockholm, Sweden

[@gwrigley7798]

I am always impressed with steam engines. They are quiet and very durable.

[@claudiadarling9441]

Those old triple expansion engines can outlive the life of the ship if properly maintained. They're amazing durable machines.

[@riverman33]

A very nice film. Regards from Serbia.

[@zxggwrt]

This is a great video, thanks! And so glad they made the conversion from blubber to coal way back when. The wales thank you!

[@labarone8910]

ZXGGWRT: Conversion from blubber to coal? I don't think so mate.. We were never a 'blubber' burning economy and I can't think of a Northern European country that was. Soap? Yes. Food? rare. Oil for industry? Maybe. Wood/charcoal/peat then coal is a more likely scenario. Of course, North America might have been different for after all, they were far more prolific whale hunters & seal clubbers than we ever were.

[@stephenburnage7687]

Never heard of a blubber fired engine

[@nitramretep]

Amazing steam tug! Thanks for the video.

[@stevedunlop1934]

Excellent cinematography and editing. Really well done. I like your work

[@Strutty1956]

Great film, thanks Mike

[@tubehound8]

Ahoy, Steam Tug Kerne. Thank you🌎🖐

[@grassman8100]

Kinda feel like I should be standing at attention for that ole boat coming by . like saluting a retired officer . thank you for sharing this.

[@googleaccount6761]

Excellent 👍😀 love to see the past making it's way into the future!!

[@UFOsExst]

This is when they actually engineered things to last! Lovely!

[@meekhinglim4829]

Thank you for uploading this video. I enjoyed it very much !

[@nixops]

A fine old lady, long may she grace us with her beauty.

[@wildbsc]

Lovely film thanks for the effort. I did shudder as you reminded me of "handball" loads from that Dock! WD

[@christopherdean2703]

Well done, , what a super Christmas watch! Especially with Fred's boys there too!

[@michaelhaering7876]

You took me to another world. Thank you so much. "Splice the main brace !" - michael

[@thameswater2561]

GREAT FILM WELL DONE ..

[@giulianogermeno9558]

Simply beautiful video, I would add super!

[@davidife597]

A very nice film, thanks, my god, that tug don't aft shift.

[@F-Man]

30/1000 inches of piston wear in 100 years!!!!!!!!!! THAT is what we call engineering!

[@Nick-dz4ml]

Ferrariman601 thats 3.33% and it doesnt run that much..

[@c3pfett]

Nick It would have run quite often back when it was first put in service

[@afrog2666]

Nick 100 years..

[@pauljohansson7697]

Wow.

[@rayg9069]

@@Nick-dz4ml Not quite, that's 30/1000 inch wear (0.03") on a 28 inch bore. Probably still within makers tolerance. Or the approximate thickness of a finger nail of wear, over an arms length.

[@johnthomson1960]

good vid we need more of these thanks john

[@bogthing1]

Good stuff! Thank you.

[@stephensmith799]

Hats off! That was one man-killer of a shovel! But I bet Kerne smells really sweet on steam coal... sweeter than err... um... that liquid fuel!

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

It's fantastic to see these lovely old tugs still running around. Great stuff keep it going.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢

[@Molb0rg]

nice video. good editing, interesting story.

[@jackmatranga2539]

totally awesome!!!

[@jorgemolinaherrera4554]

Thanks a lot for an exciting journey in a tugboat moved by steam, the power that fueled the Industrial revolution. Just a wear of 0.03" on a 28 inch bore? They are no longer manufactured like this. Such a degree of durability in the 21st century would be anti-commercial.

[@garethcarruthers]

Fascinating, before i retired i was a captain on tugs in the oil industry. They were far more powerful than this,though they lacked the charm.

[@billysmith5721]

my dad was a skipper in ny harbor

[@alwaysbearded1]

Reminds me of trips on the Hay Scow Alma up to Petaluma as part of the volunteer crew. Feels the same. I think I'd be at home with your crew. Thanks for the excellent filming and production. My friend is part of the crew restoring the steam tug Hercules sent my to this. Cheers

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@alwaysbearded1]

@@shaynewheeler9249 Huh? What? How does your comment relate to mine? Yes, Titanic was coal fired. Maybe you were responding to another comment?

[@shaynewheeler9249]

What do u mean

[@alwaysbearded1]

@@shaynewheeler9249 My comment was about how this video reminds me of my own experience on a different vessel and the camaraderie shared. Thanking the producer for an excellent production and noting that I found this video because a friend of mine is helping restore similar vessel. I don't see how the Titanic being coal fired relates.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Love you too

[@doubleboost]

great stuff very well edited

[@JOSESANTOS2612]

LA GLORIOSA EPOCA DEL VAPOR CONTINUA EN LONDRES ...... EL KERNE FUNCIONA DE MARAVILLAS

[@gregaldworth1200]

Had to watch again...

[@josephkeeney4789]

Old school bad ass love that wheel.

[@liquidhighway]

Great film! She can certainly get a move on for an old girl. 2.39 - shocking ropework , made me cringe lol

[@austingode]

The Liquid Highway Looks like they were springing off going astern but he had a had hitch on the kleat ...... asking for it to bind

[@GroveDave]

Very enjoyable, wished I'd have been there with you.

[@robertcocciardi5062]

I am not a sea mariner and would like to learn more about the tugs fuel, its physical properties and the filtration on the tug. Thank you for an informative video.

[@mykaskin]

It's a coal powered tug as you see them putting it into the boilers on the video. I'm not sure where they source it from, but its steam coal rather than house coal.

[@mykaskin]

The water from the river is used to condense the steam back to water and it returns back to the boiler to be turned into steam again. There are a few shallow bits, and to avoid clogging the pumps and pipes with mud a second pump pulling from closer to the top of the water was used to provide the condensation water.

[@tandemcompound2]

God bless the Kerne. Pitch, rake and slice boys. What happened to L'pool thought it was a busy port back in the days of the elevated railway?

[@TheByard]

As a toddler back in 1951 mother, father, sister and I sailed from Liverpool to Takoradi on the Gold Coast. now Ghana the trip took 10 days, strangely enough I do have memories of the trip. My father was a quarry manager for a construction firm building a bauxite wharf we spent 18 months and then returned to the UK, by BOAC in a 4 engine prop plane, refueling in Tripoli and Rome, landing at Heathrow airport when it was only ex RAF concrete single story buildings. A while later the whole extended family sat around a PYE TV with a huge magnifier hung over the screen, to watch the Coronation. Now at the age of 75 I can look back over those times and marvel at all the wonderful inventions I've witnessed.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@threefishing]

Cool film, just be careful not to sit on any of the three white plastic chairs on the back deck, those are suicide chairs, the legs bend and throw you off with even less than 100 lbs. Be Safe!

[@da-9621]

24:25 Mike, you should invite the lovely young lady on to "Victoria", a boatman's dream

[@da-9621]

@Camden Brixton lol

[@josephinebennington7247]

36.04. You know everything is alright when the crew is holding a brew.

[@SCOTTBULGRIN]

I love the smell of coal smoke in the morning.🚢

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

Steamingly interesting!

[@labarone8910]

One always associates steam power with belching chimney smoke, whether it be marine, train or stationary, yet Kerne seems quite 'clean' in this respect. Is there a particular reason for this? Newer more efficient boiler? 'Smokeless' coal?

[@christopherd2100]

One of the tricks of the trade is using as little fuel as possible generate enough steam. Since everything is manually operated the engineer needs good experience with the machine he's working with, and not everyone has that. Some will over fuel, which becomes apparent strait away with the amount of smoke leaving the exhaust.

[@superadio1]

whole England is turning into a museum soon

[@409novaman]

Magnus Tveiten Muslim...

[@cyberp0et]

What a gorgeous old lady :)

[@jamieminton172]

I totally loved this. One of my all time favorite movies is the African Queen... Not because of Kate and Bogi (Though that was a draw), but the Queen and that single piston engine and that ratty ass boiler. In my younger days I did a few years riding the rivers... Just to see what is was like. Making and breaking tows, making locks, the Monongahela, Ohio, Tom Biggby, Tennessee and the big MISS. Those were all on diesel or diesel electric tow boats where the helm control would be alien to a steam pilot. The telegraph for example... That took trust and coordination. Today the pilot controls everything from the helm with the flick of the wrist. Lost are the arts, Engineers, fireman, oilers ( the lowliest of low ), the trust of the mate to anticipate and the deckhands that trusted their mate. It took a "CREW" to run a steamer, not some jack legs hired off of the dock as temps!

[@pauljohansson7697]

I just subscribed to your channel.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Boiler room 4 hot down here

[@CalMUK91]

How can I come have a look at this tug? I hold a I/III Unlimited motor ticket, no steam but still interested in how these worked back in the day.

[@mykaskin]

Have a word with the chaps that run it, and find out when they are sailing perhaps? facebook.com/tugkerne/

[@sailingyemaya9781]

Really quiet with steam power

[@postscript67]

Is it usual for an engine-room telegraph to be only one-way? I thought the engineer usually rang back acknowledging the order. Was that only on larger ships?

[@cyberdragon3699]

On a ship that small there is a voice pipe which can be seen being used in the video.

[@oldsteamguy]

super

[@servicarrider]

Nice to see that young girl interested in steam.

[@mosipd]

Anyone know what that weird noise is at 17:26 that kinda sounds like a spring or something?

[@TheErichopepoint]

Was the S.S Kerne a former B.R. Steam Tug? I saw B.R. letters stamped on window trim

[@mykaskin]

I think they were just available windows when the tug wheelhouse was built probably in the 70's when the current group took over her ownership.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Cool thanks

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

It's S.T, Steam tug, Steamship is reserved for big tugboats or just ships.

[@somesz83]

26:21 Monster spotted.

[@victor.leslieaugustpikingt8848]

Was this tug once owned by Knights tugs? As all or most of their tugs names began with a K

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

Actually yes, there's no company named 'Knights Tugs' but there was a J.P Knight whose tugboats' names began with K.

[@fernandoalbuquerque3992]

Lindo passeio

[@billysmith5721]

ever see service in dunkirk deck all painted

[@kam70111]

Chain and rod steering, yummy.

[@sergeykopylov652]

It is so quiet!!!

[@Rickimusic]

I wish this has captions. I would love to understand what the crew were saying. Such a big difference between the NE American English accent and various European English accents.

[@Rickimusic]

@ You have Wales, N Ireland, Ireland and how many accents in GB itself and I do believe, those places are all in Europe. Same here. We have many accents in the States and we don't call them all American English. All this nit picking does not help me understand what the folks were saying, does it now?

[@ycgim2410]

대단허구먼!

[@woodstock44r16]

Bet these tugs are like there kids

[@rcpmac]

Gunna guess she runs about 12 to 15 knots

[@raincoast2396]

Not very pleasant for deckhands, with a sloppy deck in just a little chop.

[@beingatliberty]

Thank god there is still a good uk source of dry steam coal at ffos-y-fran to keep these historic vehicles running, but for how much longer? then environmentalists may yet succeed in destroying our limited still operating historic steam heritage in the UK. or ironically make them burn less clean burning imported coal?

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

You do know that, there's b i o c o a l, right. Environmentalists simply don't want the earth to die, cuz, well, they live on it, i live on it, and you live on it. I like boats, engines, etc, but being able to breathe fresh oxygen is a little more important.

[@briananthony4044]

Why does it sound like a diesel towards the end of the video? We have a steam tug here in Auckland, NZ. The S.S. William C Daldy. 2 Scotch boilers I think and 2 1200hp triple expansion steam engines. daldy.co.nz/

[@briananthony4044]

I wish someone had saved a paddle wheel tug.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@briananthony4044 Eppleton Hall is in San Francisco, but she hasn't moved for years.

[@plonivangeest3140]

kmo

[@Itsaboutthewaterlife]

Pretty girl at 24:24 , , , is she a Pilot.

[@gordonmckenzie2982]

Itsaboutthewaterlife s

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@BrassLock]

There's a lotta power in that there coal. What a pleasant surprise to have this to watch on Xmas Eve. Lots of really interesting mechanical views and natural music-free sounds, just as it was in your original experience. Hope the stoker was given 3 tots of rum to ease his back muscles :-)

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@ncplantdoctor]

Wonderful film of a working museum piece. Oiling everything in sight, banking the firebox, working the levers, this is a good thing for everyone young to see. Merry Christmas to you Myk and thank you for this.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Boiler room 2 engine cylinder engineering room

[@daddybob6096]

My father, (deceased) was a stoker for 20 plus years on international ships and local New Zealand ships before i was born in 1940. During that time of his life, he was only shipwrecked once and i think that was Union Steamship Company of NZ, SS Kaponga, which ran aground on the Greymouth bar and was totally wrecked. The crew were brought ashore by breeches buoy, that is, by a system of ropes and pulleys. Coincidently my dad was also born and raised in the Greymouth area, in a small town called Rununga. Bob Wilson, Hutt City , New Zealand.

[@forrestgump1379]

Used to operate a J.I. Case steam traction engine here in Alabama, it gets in your blood.

[@TheFogLakeshore]

This has really good shots and cinematography. Also has great editing, informative graphics, and the filmmaker has an appreciation of the subject. Too bad the sound is unsynchronized from the video.

[@BushPilot444]

I kept waiting for you to tow something somewhere. A fun trip though for an old navy sailor.

[@dano4572]

thank you all !.that was a wonderful ride.

[@mairidulaney1847]

I'm glad i don't have to shovel coal on the steamship I work on. Geeze

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@lauriedavis6344]

Enjoyed, Thank you !!!

[@regiscuisinet2265]

J Paul DeWolf

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

kinda looking at it, the Liman2 tugboat in Turkey looks similar. Despite one being Dutch, from 1936, and Turkish.

[@gregbolitho9775]

nice 1 m8s, really liked your tug. seeing the strategically place brasso can brought back memories of my gran, thanks. i'm 63 now, an i lost her when i was 11.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@romeo9017]

Nice....

[@steve1978ger]

What a splendid little ship. Thanks for sharing.