I'm surprised no one has managed to find details of these "mud hoppers" for Deb. However a search on the web brings up the following, which I presume Deb has already seen:
"DOLPHIN is a former British Waterways powered hopper, believed to have been built in 1960 by Camplings, Goole. What is believed to be DOLPHIN's British Waterways fleet number, 80285, is marked on the bow sides of DOLPHIN. In 2004, she ceased to work and was sold at auction. C.2011, she was converted into a houseboat and is currently in a well maintained condition.
It is believed that twelve powered Hoppers were commissioned by BW in 1960. Six of these vessels were given astrological names including SUN, URANUS, and MARS. The other six were given marine names including WHALE, SEAL, SHARK and DOLPHIN. The vessels were not all the same size, due to the differences between the waterways where they were destined to work. It is understood that some of these vessels have been scrapped, though SUN is now at the Beverley Barge Preservation Society and SEAL was last seen at Hebden Bridge in a poor condition. The whereabouts of the other vessels are unknown."
Now a houseboat on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
- Photo by Shipshape Network
- Photo by Shipshape Network
See:
http://www.shipshapenetwork.org.uk/regi ... 38/dolphin