Replica historic boat pushed from pillar to mooring post

The Charlotte Dundas sails off into the sunset - Falkirk Herald

Until I read the story above, I didn't even know that the world's first steamboat was the Charlotte Dundas, built in Scotland in 1803 (four years before Robert Fulton's Clermont).  Apparently it pulled two canal boats from Glasgow to Edinburgh in nine hours.

And I never heard that a replica was built 183 years later in Arbroath.  Nor did I know that the replica has languished, unfinished, in the shadow of the Falkirk Wheel, for several years.  (Picture of the replica here.)

According to today's newspaper story British Waterways now want it out, perhaps because it's still only half a boat and not really a tourist attraction.  And locals aren't happy:

[The former] Provost of Falkirk who attended its launch in the 1986, fears the move means a piece of Falkirk district's heritage will be lost forever. He said: "History was created when the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals were joined by the Millennium Link project and the 'Charlotte Dundas' was a vital part of that history.  ''I find it sad the decision to ship it out of the town has been made and fear it will be left in Arbroath to simply rot away."

Well, that's curious, because there was opposition to it going to the Falkirk Wheel in the first place.  Three years ago the newspaper reported:

A councillor is furious that part of Grangemouth's heritage is being shipped to another part of the district. Now he is calling for a final berth to be found for the replica of the steamship 'Charlotte Dundas' closer to its home port.  Falkirk Council reached agreement with British Waterways to locate the vessel at The Falkirk Wheel.

... "This vessel was built in Grangemouth by Grangemouth people and that's where it should be returned. I couldn't believe that anyone would even suggest it should go to the Wheel."

Perhaps BW could accomodate it in BWML's new flagship Glasson Basin marina just to annoy him!

Comments

[Paul Balmer]

I was there last Thursday and saw the boat. I wondered what it was but could not find anything at the visitor centre to explain what it was. Now I know from reading your blog.

It now has a pole with a "windmill" for generating electricity which spoiled the appearance and I didn't even bother to take a photo.

I'll make sure we capture something about it when we film our DVD this summer.

Regards

Paul