A new year full of promise

Now that all the festivities are over and done with for another year work has recommenced on the reconstruction of the Medway Queen in Bristol. The following pictures depict the progress to date.

The above pictures shows the newly created fuel tanks that will carry the fuel used to power the Medway Queen in the future. Beside the fuel tanks and in the picture below you can see of the first of the two paddle wheels nearly complete. The sheer size of the paddle wheels is evident in these shots and take up a lot of space in the workshop. To the left of the picture below you will see a green tarpaulin covering the recently arrived deck timber that MQPS carpenters have been working on back in the Medway Towns.

The picture above shows the refurbished cylinder block that will be placed back inside the hull before her return the River Medway.

Just before Christmas the ship's funnel and fiddley arrived in Bristol and are awaiting in the dock bottom ready to be placed on top of the hull.

 

The following pictures show the progress of the hull.

In the months preceeding Christmas work was seen taking place around the sponosn and paddle boxes. The following pictures show this work to date.

From all these pictures and the view on the webcams it is quite clear to see the distinctive shape of a paddle steamer and when you step onboard the hull you can start to imagine what she will look like once complete.

The forward space is where the bow rudder stock and capstan engine once stood will stand once again.

Above shows the forward saloon looking aft with the rivetting machine on the centre line. You would think that the deck was already laid but these are currently scaffolding boards soon to be replaced with original deck timbers.

The forward stairwell leading down from the Promenade deck down to the forward saloon.

A working area for the deck crew where they once moored the ship and will once again in the future.

A large space ready for the 'heart' to be put back in place. The engine are under refurbishment and will be replaced inside the hull.