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A day in the life Nigel Thomas 3
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A day in the life Nigel Thomas 2
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A day in the life Nigel Thomas 1
A Day in the Life of the paddle steamer 'Kingswear Castle' engineer: Nigel Thomas
Q: What time did your day start today Nigel?
A: I got up around 6am for a 7am start. Our schedule today started with a trip to Totnes and then we had two 1¼hr Dartmouth River Cruises. Finally, in the evening we ran one of our popular evening picnic cruises. A packed day!
Q: So with four scheduled trips, how did your day develop?
A: 07:00: The crew arrived at 7am to prep the vessel for the 10:30 Totnes trip. Among other things, this includes clearing the fire grate of around eight buckets of ash and clinker (solidified residue from burnt coal) and running safety checks before lighting the fresh fire. The next task is to inspect, oil and grease the machinery and carry out a further safety inspection. More coal is laid to build up the fire, followed by general cleaning of the engine room. When I’m happy that enough boiler pressure has built, I let the skipper know and we’re ready to go.
10:30: We embarked well over 100 passengers and sail for Totnes on time. The work is pretty constant to keep the vessel running smoothly. This trip to Totnes required a faster running engine than usual as we were sailing on an unfavourable tide, meaning plenty of coal shovelling to keep up! I usually shovel around ½ ton each day. Essentially, I am the equivalent of the fireman, driver and engineer on a steam train but doing all the tasks on my own! A telegraph (a device for the skipper to order engineers in the engine room to power the vessel at a certain speed) and a voice pipe maintain communication so that I’m aware of our location and can manage the boiler accordingly.
At Totnes we disembarked the passengers and loaded another 130 to return. There’s little chance for a break with a 15 minute turnaround. This job is thirsty work and I drink around 10 pints of liquid in an average day.
13:45 Once back in Dartmouth, we prepare for the Dartmouth River Cruise departure at 14:00. The engine is a bit like a Meccano Kit! – there are lots of interlocking pieces that need to be kept tight. Even with these shorter cruises there’s no time for relaxing as I have to be aware of instructions from the skipper re the movement of ferries and other vessels (pleasure cruisers, small dinghies and even military vessels!).
The ship did have a Class 6 ticket (allowing voyage at sea) so we may renew that certificate at some point. The boat is probably more robust than the crew and could easily take a sea journey on a beautiful day. Perhaps something for the future?
16:45 At the end of the day cruises, we break before the evening picnic cruise at 18:15. However, this doesn’t mean we have our feet up! I carry out the “blowing down” (blowing water intentionally to avoid concentration of impurities during continuing evaporation of steam).
20:00 We take the ship back to her moorings, with a few tasks still to complete. The ashes and clinker are raked into a pile so the fire goes out gradually, the valves are closed and I complete the shutdown. We leave the vessel at 20:45 – not all days are this long.
Q: You probably don’t get the chance to speak with passengers very often but what would you say they particularly love about the ship?
A: Well, judging by the guest book aboard it has to be the commentary and the toilets! We also get a lot of compliments regarding the condition of the vessel. After all our hard work, this is always heartening to hear.
Q: What has been the funniest comment you’ve ever heard?
A: I always find it amusing when people ask me if the ship is really a coal fired paddle steamer, despite heaps of coal to be seen (and smelled) and lots of steam on show! They also ask if it really is the last ship of her type in the UK. I always reply with a smile and offer a brochure to read. They nearly always say they’ve already got one – but they don’t believe it’s possible so they ask anyway!
Q: How does working in a team fit with such an individual, even lonely, role in the engine room?
A: The whole crew play their role in the smooth operation of the ship. The skipper makes decisions re direction and speed. I’m responsible for the running of the engine room and the crew help with the commentary, maintain the interior and exterior and tie the ropes. When you work with people all day in a role like this you do acquire a good sense of camaraderie.
Q: Motivation must play a major part in the role with long days down in the engine room.
A: You really have to love this job to do it and it is wonderful to work on such an historic ship. I still love it after seven years. The only upgrade to the vessel has been a bow thruster which helps with manoeuvrability. I have my own ways of doing things and could probably do the job with my eyes shut (although not recommended)! If anything goes wrong it is immediately apparent to me. Other engineers are not so familiar with all her noises, so when they say “what is that noise?” I can reassure them that all is well. The ship had an engine overhaul in the winter of 2013/2014 and really does look great for her age!
Q: Have you had any help with the maintenance of the vessel?
A: Oh yes, the whole crew work on her regularly. We’ve also had a great deal of help with the engine overhaul from some of our railway personnel. The moving parts of the engine really are well maintained – the killer will be when the cast iron parts of the engine deteriorate.
Q: How long have you been working around engines?
A: I started when I was 13 working on a steam railway and on engines. When I worked full time for BT I did shifts so still had plenty of time to indulge my passion of steam engines. When I joined the ship I had a huge learning curve for the first 12 months. I had a lot of help from various steam railway enthusiasts, and I found their knowledge a great source of wisdom to draw upon.
Q: What qualities would an engineer of the ‘KC’ need?
A: There are a few, although I don’t pretend to have them all!
• Able to prioritise - a number of things can happen simultaneously
• Ordered way of working
• Enthusiasm for the job!
• Able to hold your own in technical conversations with expert passengers!
• Experience with old machinery
• Ability to withstand heat - up to 14 hours in 100 deg F+!
• Work as part of a team
• Ability to keep calm during a breakdown when everyone else is offering ‘advice’
Q: Any injuries during your time aboard?
A: No major ones – just a few minor burns. You just need to be alert all the time - especially when oiling the pumps so you don’t get your arm caught in them! I do have to concentrate when customers are keen to chat.
Q: Proudest achievement?
A: Returning the vessel to Dartmouth and working through an amazingly successful 2013 season on her. Keeping her in tip top condition was a challenge but a fantastic achievement. Training others to work on the vessel was very rewarding – she now has another (young) crew to keep her going for the future.
Q: Lastly, any time for any hobbies?!
A: More of the same really – steam ships and steam engines!
By the Dart August 2014