Flatirons

[philipmthompson]

Does anyone remember the Flatties that used to sail all the way up the Thames,the funnel had to be dropped every time you went under a bridge,i never sailed on one myself but my older brother did and he told about them.I had seen them in blyth and went aboard one in Dunston.PHIL

[Ivan Cloherty]

Does anyone remember the Flatties that used to sail all the way up the Thames,the funnel had to be dropped every time you went under a bridge,i never sailed on one myself but my older brother did and he told about them.I had seen them in blyth and went aboard one in Dunston.PHIL

Hi Phil

I was 2/m on the steam flatiron "Hackney" in the 1950's, now they were something different when in the North sea in bad weather, because you were navigating from deck level (no bridge), you were always facing a wall of water. You could see ahead when they were loaded, but in ballast the bow rode high and you couldn't see right ahead of you - made navigating interesting especially as they were 11 and 12 knotters.

It was an interesting experience going under all the Thames bridges with inches to spare, the tall funnel(steam) was on pivots and had to be pulled down approaching every bridge and raised again after passing under the bridge otherwise the engine room filled with smoke. We always got covered in soot when the funnel was down whilst we were on standby aft all the way up the river

During daylight transits the masts could be lowered (on pivots) and kept down until clear of all bridges. On night transits the masts as well as the funnel had to be raised and lowered for every bridge because of mast navigation lights, couldn't get a concession to sail with only port and starboard lights showing, foremast and mainmast lights had to be shown, it made it hard work for all on board, as all hands were needed, these masts and funnel were not lightweight, had to be winched down, but the masts had cantilever weights on the bottom and could be eased back up into position.

They were run by CEGB and Stevie Clarkes, all were under management of Stevies, all good feeders and good crews, if I remember rightly the dwt was about 2300 tonnes which meant two tides alongside at Battersea Power Station. Cannot remember the name of the local watering hole, but we got some funny looks went we went ashore covered in coal dust in one of the nicer parts of town. Only having an hour for stevedores break there wasn't time to get washed and changed.

With the steam engine aft and our accommodation midships to for'ard, it was very quiet and was like being on a sailing ship, with only the sound of the water against the hull, no throb throb of the motor ships, glorious in one respect, but when manouevering a steam ship you have to think far ahead as they didn't have the immediate propeller response of the motor ships, some times waiting for "full astern" when you rung it to activate could be an underpant changing moment before the prop responded and bit into the water.

Memories-------------what would we do without them

Regards
Ivan

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Ivan
Nice little writup of your time with the Flatiron "Hackney" as you say,they were very different!
Here is a Pic of that old Flatiron,well i think it must be the same one you sailed with!
Cheers

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...ackney-01.html

Dont know if this one is also classed as a Flatiron, (it says Cargo)but also seems to have no superstructure! ??

Photo of the cargo vessel Tarring (IMO 5202916) seen off Avonmouth, England in 1980. This vessel has a remarkable design: the superstructure seems to be missing almost completely. Looking at the funnel I am sure she was designed this way but it can't be easy to navigate her as you can't see anything from the 'bridge'.
The 1877 tons cargo vessel Tarring was built as GBR registered Lambeth in 1958 by Hall Russell, Aberdeen, Scotland. The Lambeth changed name in 1970 to Tarring, in 1980 to Arring and in 1982 to Tarry. She was scrapped in 1984 at Liverpool, England.

Model of another Flattie!

[Jack Jenkins]

Hiya Lads,,,I served my time at a ship repairers at the mouth of the Wear..(55-59) and saw a lot of flatties coming and going,we had one tied up at our fitting out wharf fully loaded and battened down waiting for the weather to calm down a bit,at lunch time on this particular day there was an almighty bang,one of the steel hatch covers had been blown over the side into the river,rumour was, that the gas had accumulated and had nowhere to go as the vents had canvas covers on !!! the only injuries were to the mates ego

Jack

[Ivan Cloherty]

[QUOTE=Castleman;54277]Hello Ivan
Nice little writup of your time with the Flatiron "Hackney" as you say,they were very different!
Here is a Pic of that old Flatiron,well i think it must be the same one you sailed with!
Cheers

Hi Vernon

Yes that's my old lady on photoship

The other photos and models are of the motor ship versions, with only the masts to worry about on the river transit, mind you, you did get gassed instead of sooted ! when on river stations.

They were converted later to cargo carriers and some ended up as cement carriers and a lot ended up in the Medi with the Greeks.

One thing they had in common with having no high accommodation was good stability, also having no accommodation housing(especially on the motor ships with no funnel) was a drawback wondering whether or not the other ships approaching you had actually seen you. At least on the steamers they could see this funnel floating along the ocean and that certainly got their attention.

It always seemed strange when boarding that you went down into the bridge and accommodation rather than up into it, when you went back on a normal ship it felt like you were on top of the Effiel Tower (well sort of!)

As said previously they were a bugger to navigate in ballast as your photo shows when you look at it, all you see is your own ship and very little else, but kept you fit on the bridge going from P to S and back again all the time. Interesting times

Regards

Ivan

[Captain Gordon Whittaker]

I sailed on two Flatiron tankers in the 60's, my first stints as Second Mate. We ran up and down the Thames from Canvey Island to various power Stations, and worked day and night for 3 round trips, when we loaded and went to Greenhithe buoys for 24 hours to catch upo on lost sleep. This was my best ever schooling in pilotage, and I remember it fondly. The food was excellent and they were great little ships to load and discharge, with a simple "Ring Main" pipeline system. We also had fun sculling the jolly boat ashore, some times ending up nearly at Gravesend, until the tide slacked off! I learned a lot about busy River navigation and ship handling which I would never have gained "Deepsea". happy days.Attachment 4171

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