GRAND UNION CANAL CARRYING COMPANY
History
The Grand Union Canal was formed in 1929 when the Regents Canal purchased the Grand Junction Canal. The Warwick Canals were also taken over that year and the Leicester & Loughborough Navigations and the Erewash Canal were bought out in 1932.
The Grand Union Canal then purchased Associated Canal Carriers Ltd and formed the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd in 1934. A drive for new traffic was undertaken and a huge fleet of new boats was ordered from three main builders; W. J. Yarwood & Sons of Northwich, Harland & Wolff of Woolwich and W. H. Walker & Brothers Ltd of Rickmansworth.
The Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. was absorbed by the British Transport Commission in 1949 and the majority of the fleet passed to British Waterways.
Livery
The GUCCC boats carried three different colour schemes during the lifetime of the company as shown below:
The Grand Union Canal was formed in 1929 when the Regents Canal purchased the Grand Junction Canal. The Warwick Canals were also taken over that year and the Leicester & Loughborough Navigations and the Erewash Canal were bought out in 1932.
The Grand Union Canal then purchased Associated Canal Carriers Ltd and formed the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd in 1934. A drive for new traffic was undertaken and a huge fleet of new boats was ordered from three main builders; W. J. Yarwood & Sons of Northwich, Harland & Wolff of Woolwich and W. H. Walker & Brothers Ltd of Rickmansworth.
The Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. was absorbed by the British Transport Commission in 1949 and the majority of the fleet passed to British Waterways.
Livery
The GUCCC boats carried three different colour schemes during the lifetime of the company as shown below:
The original livery utilised two tones of blue with a white lining and is illustrated here on "Stanton".
The coronation year of 1937 saw a new patriotic red, white & blue livery introduced, illustrated here on "Bilster".
During World War 2 a revised utility livery was introduced. A slightly darker red was used along with simplified panelling, lining and lettering. It is illustrated here on "Fulborurne".
Boats
The GUCCC fleet was officially classified into six types of boat:
Type A - The original prototype Royalty Class pair GEORGE & MARY
Type B - The six production Royalty Class pairs.
Type C - The six prototype Star Class pairs.
Type D - The seventy-four production Star Class pairs.
Type E - The eight "Middle Northwich" Star Class pairs.
Type F - The eighty-six Town Class pairs.
Click on the links below for information and photographs of each class of boat:
Star Class (Types C, D & E)
Town Class (Type F)
Royalty Class (Types A & B)
Most of the Information on the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company fleet has been taken from Alan H Faulkner's excellent book "The George & The Mary" which can be found in most good canal shops.
The GUCCC fleet was officially classified into six types of boat:
Type A - The original prototype Royalty Class pair GEORGE & MARY
Type B - The six production Royalty Class pairs.
Type C - The six prototype Star Class pairs.
Type D - The seventy-four production Star Class pairs.
Type E - The eight "Middle Northwich" Star Class pairs.
Type F - The eighty-six Town Class pairs.
Click on the links below for information and photographs of each class of boat:
Star Class (Types C, D & E)
Town Class (Type F)
Royalty Class (Types A & B)
Most of the Information on the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company fleet has been taken from Alan H Faulkner's excellent book "The George & The Mary" which can be found in most good canal shops.