Sabrina

Status: Active use

Area: UK-South West

Hull

Canal inspection launch. Construction: Riveted iron.
Hull designed by Fielding and Platt Limited at Gloucester in 1869
Built 1870 by Fielding and Platt Limited at Gloucester
Fit out at Gloucester
LOA: 54' 0", LWL: 49' 0", Beam: 9' 9", Draft: 3' 6",
Straight stem, counter stern, midships saloon, black and white topworks.

Boiler

2-drum WT Built 1988 by Historic Steam Limited at Kew Bridge Steam Museum
Fuel: Oil, Pressure: 150 psi,
non-condensing, injector, whistle,
Top drum 15" id, bottom drum 7¾" id x 25½" long, 3 downcomer tubes 1¼" id x 40", 80 x ¾" id tubes 41" long, casing 4' 2" high x 4' wide x 2' long, separate Beccles No.2 donkey feed pump. Originally coal fired.

Engine

Propeller

Bronze, 3 blades, Left Hand, 32" X 43"
Shaft: 2" Stainless Steel

History

Built for the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company to serve as the Directors' and Engineer's Inspection Launch. Sold in 1942 and used on the River Servern, with the engine removed in 1949 and subsequently replaced with motor. Made passage in the summer of 1954 via the English Channel to the River Thames, and used as a houseboat on the Grand Union Canal 1954-75. Put back in steam 1975-8. Based on the River Thames 1975 - 2019. Returned to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in May 2019. Engine was built and used for demonstration and instruction at Loughborough Technical College, running on compressed air, before acquisition and installation onboard. Sabrina is a member of the National Historic Fleet.

On return to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in May 2019