GRAND UNION - STAR CLASS (Types C, D & E)
In March 1934 Associated Canal Carriers launched an ambitious expansion programme with the aim of increasing the fleet to 100 pairs of boats. At this time the company name was changed to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd.
TYPE C – THE PROTOTYPES
Tenders were put out for the construction of five prototype wooden pairs and orders were awarded thus:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: (2 pairs)
E. Woods, Brentford: (1 pair)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: (1 pair)
Nurser Brothers, Braunston: (1 pair)
Nursers subsequently found themselves unable to take on the order so their work was transferred to Walkers. A second pair was also ordered from Woods but again they were unable to take on the work and this order too went to Walkers. The final breakdown of orders looked like this:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: (2 pairs) VENUS/SATURN, ALDEBARAN/ORION
E. Woods, Brentford: (1 pair) JUPITER/MARS
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: (3 pairs) ARCTURUS/SIRIUS, NEPTUNE/ALTAIR, ANTARES/SPICA
These six prototype pairs were designated as Type C boats under the GUCCC classification system.
TYPE D – THE PRODUCTION STAR CLASS
Following the success of the prototypes, GUCCC placed production orders in January 1935 as follows:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: 24 pairs of iron composite boats (Small Woolwich)
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd, Northwich: 12 pairs of iron composite boats (Small Northwich)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: 6 pairs of wooden boats (Small Ricky)
Further orders came in May 1935:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: 18 pairs of steel composite boats (Small Woolwich)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: 12 pairs of wooden boats (Small Ricky)
E. Woods, Brentford: 2 pairs of wooden boats
TYPE E – THE ‘V’ BOTTOM BOATS
In May 1935 an order was placed with W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd. of Northwich for 8 pairs of all steel boats featuring ‘V’ bottoms and rounded chines. These boats were ordered with river and esturine work in mind and the altered hull form was designed to optimise them for this environment. These vessels have become known as Middle Northwich boats.
The Middle Northwiches were unpopular with boatmen, allegedly because their design rendered them unstable when fully loaded, and the entire fleet was soon relegated to various maintenance duties.
NAMES
The Type C, D & E boats were named after stars, planets, constellations and other heavenly bodies and although they were of three distinct designs they became known collectively as the Star Class.
A few spelling mistakes crept into the Star Class names:
GLAXY: should be GALAXY
RIGAL: should be RIGEL
TRIAGULUM: should be TRIANGULUM
TYPE C – THE PROTOTYPES
Tenders were put out for the construction of five prototype wooden pairs and orders were awarded thus:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: (2 pairs)
E. Woods, Brentford: (1 pair)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: (1 pair)
Nurser Brothers, Braunston: (1 pair)
Nursers subsequently found themselves unable to take on the order so their work was transferred to Walkers. A second pair was also ordered from Woods but again they were unable to take on the work and this order too went to Walkers. The final breakdown of orders looked like this:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: (2 pairs) VENUS/SATURN, ALDEBARAN/ORION
E. Woods, Brentford: (1 pair) JUPITER/MARS
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: (3 pairs) ARCTURUS/SIRIUS, NEPTUNE/ALTAIR, ANTARES/SPICA
These six prototype pairs were designated as Type C boats under the GUCCC classification system.
TYPE D – THE PRODUCTION STAR CLASS
Following the success of the prototypes, GUCCC placed production orders in January 1935 as follows:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: 24 pairs of iron composite boats (Small Woolwich)
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd, Northwich: 12 pairs of iron composite boats (Small Northwich)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: 6 pairs of wooden boats (Small Ricky)
Further orders came in May 1935:
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Woolwich: 18 pairs of steel composite boats (Small Woolwich)
W.H. Walker & Brothers Ltd, Rickmansworth: 12 pairs of wooden boats (Small Ricky)
E. Woods, Brentford: 2 pairs of wooden boats
TYPE E – THE ‘V’ BOTTOM BOATS
In May 1935 an order was placed with W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd. of Northwich for 8 pairs of all steel boats featuring ‘V’ bottoms and rounded chines. These boats were ordered with river and esturine work in mind and the altered hull form was designed to optimise them for this environment. These vessels have become known as Middle Northwich boats.
The Middle Northwiches were unpopular with boatmen, allegedly because their design rendered them unstable when fully loaded, and the entire fleet was soon relegated to various maintenance duties.
NAMES
The Type C, D & E boats were named after stars, planets, constellations and other heavenly bodies and although they were of three distinct designs they became known collectively as the Star Class.
A few spelling mistakes crept into the Star Class names:
GLAXY: should be GALAXY
RIGAL: should be RIGEL
TRIAGULUM: should be TRIANGULUM