Built in 1914 by Hepple - South Shields

Preserved at San Francisco



And at San Francisco

I was recently contacted by a Reference Librarian at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park regarding the EPPLETON HALL. Below are some comments extracted from his emails and also some photos that he kindly sent to me.

"You will be glad to hear that we just completed a $400,000 overhaul of the tug. She has new inserts and doubler plates below the water line, the steel bulwarks have been repaired and the wooden paddle boxes are restored. She has been painted all the way up to the top of the stack.

The photos are of the tug during her recent visit to Bay Ship & Yacht, Inc. That is the local shipyard that most of our ships go to for haul outs and other work.

I doubt the Eppie will ever steam again. Her two Tyne boilers are worn out as simple as they are. A boiler expert who came in to look them over said, "These are not boilers they are tea pots!" I am sure he had never seen a boiler without fire tubes before.

Photos copyright San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Photo by Jeff Morris.

I was also sent this short article on her engines. Copyright the San Francisco Maritime Museum.

A few more views taken during her sojourn at Harrisons

Pictured during her sojourn at Harrisons

Keelman

I presume that these photos will be new to the San Francisco Museum, would it be possible to send them to my contact there?

Also, I had never noticed the MZ on the funnel?

Someone is sure to ask what the MZ signifies! Anyone know?

Ron

The M Z means Mombassa and Zanzibar Exploration Company.It is something to do with Scott Newhall,I think he used to work for them.

Hello Whickham

The EP pictures which I posted are scans of slides in my possession actually taken by a close relative of mine. If you think the museum would be interested to see them I have no objection to you forwarding them.

Regards KL