PS Medway Queen - the biggest Dunkirk Little Ship

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  • Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
  • The Paddle Steamer Medway Queen spent the 1920s and 30s cruising the coast of Kent and Essex, but when WWII broke her role changed dramatically!
    **The Medway Queen desperately needs support to get her sailing again in time for her 100th birthday, please visit www.medwayqueen.co.uk to see if you can help! **
    Thanks to MQPS Collection and PSPS Collection for all their assistance and access to historic pictures
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Комментарии • 105

  • @ls6882
    @ls6882 4 года назад +3

    You've still got the PS Waverley going strong. In fact she's just come out of a full Refurb. She's the only sea going Paddlesteamer in the world still going.

  • @ianrosie4431
    @ianrosie4431 4 года назад +14

    When mum received word that the train was bringing back the lads from Dunkirk, she lined up on the platform, in her Sunday best, with all the other wives. She had not seen Dad for such a long time. The train duly arrived and out fell Dad, yes fell, with a chicken under one arm, one sandshoe on, and a bit on the merry side to say the least. Mum was red faced, immediately about turned, and began the two mile walk back. Dad caught up and dutifully trailed behind, still with the chicken, until they got home.
    Dad was 20, mum was 19. I'd come along 21 years later, the last of seven.

  • @andrewfrancis3591
    @andrewfrancis3591 4 года назад +13

    Paddle steamers can be built with a shallow draught. Made them suitable for estuary work.

    • @benholroyd5221
      @benholroyd5221 4 года назад +1

      they dont get fouled up quite so much with rope, netting etc either

  • @PaulinesPastimes
    @PaulinesPastimes 4 года назад

    Coastal steamers. I wish it was possible for them to make a comeback. Wouldn't it be fun. Lovely little ship, thanks for the video.

  • @kentabiner1535
    @kentabiner1535 3 года назад

    Thanks for making this. A very interesting history and is a nice complement to the regular motoring content.

  • @alansimpson835
    @alansimpson835 4 года назад +1

    I kept reading Little Ship as Little Chef. Now I'm craving an Olympic Breakfast. Great video. A nice wee change

  • @acwdrivingservices9877
    @acwdrivingservices9877 3 года назад

    What a fantastic piece of British Maritime history! Had no idea about this ship thank for bringing it to us. Where can we donate to help it’s restoration?

  • @philipmaclean7266
    @philipmaclean7266 3 года назад

    Great video, didn't realise it was there untill tonight's video,
    Happy New year

  • @captaccordion
    @captaccordion 4 года назад +6

    Well Mr Furiousdriving, that's an interesting ..er.. excursion into a different realm. I much enjoyed it and thoroughly approve. As an aside, ships such as this make it quite obvious how a ship's bridge became named so. Cheers.

    • @matty6848
      @matty6848 4 года назад

      Yep really is living history. If that makes any sense lol!

  • @machiningbasics1729
    @machiningbasics1729 3 года назад

    If you want to see some running steam engine I can recommend claymills Victorian pumping station. I’m abit bias as I’ve volunteered there since 2012. Great video I hope the volunteers get it going

  • @davidlister370
    @davidlister370 4 года назад +6

    Interesting having you review other forms of transport. Can we expect more videos like this from you in the future?

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад +8

      Id like to, its very much my channel my rules so if I like it Ill do it!

    • @davidlister370
      @davidlister370 4 года назад +1

      @@furiousdriving Lovely stuff! Not my words, the words of Shakin' Stevens...

  • @bryjan51
    @bryjan51 4 года назад

    Puts a car restoration into perspective. Excellent vid Matt, you must of been in your element with so many tea shelves😁.
    On a more serious note much respect to the crews during the Dunquirk? evacuations.

  • @graemehunter5403
    @graemehunter5403 4 года назад

    iT IS AMAZING TO WATCH. Take a trip on the Waverley in Glasgow

  • @richierex
    @richierex 4 года назад +3

    Yep. Shallow draught. There had to be a better reason than the one you came up with.

  • @thomashillenbrand5545
    @thomashillenbrand5545 2 года назад +1

    I don`t want to dimish the achievments of the friends of Medway Queen. But some questions must be allowed: It seems, that years ago no further work has done, the deck planks looks decayed, superstructure, railings and some other parts are rusty and again worth for overhaul. What`s about the great goal some years ago to set the ship in service again? What`s about the boiler and the very urgend work of maintaining and completion of the ship? The guy who moderates the film, seems very hectic and giddybrained - from my impression it would be better to moderate in a more smooth and serious manner. Unfortunately I must conclude: The development of Medway Queen in the last years : It`s disappointing.

  • @andrewbarnes1295
    @andrewbarnes1295 4 года назад

    Fascinating, thank you!

  • @drpaulcampbell188
    @drpaulcampbell188 3 года назад +1

    This video deserves more views. Its such a historic ship so its good to see it being worked on and being restored. A nice presentation there and i liked the way you planned the movement around the ship. Good research too and i didn't realise some of the things mentioned. It was a shame it floundered around in the late 70s and 80s but so good to see it now and being restored to its original spec. I would love to see a review when it can drive itself and have a Medway Queen goes for a drive/sail. Great video as always.

  • @benholroyd5221
    @benholroyd5221 4 года назад +2

    I'm patiently waiting for the tea shelf moment. and you climbing out of the boot.

  • @cornishrider
    @cornishrider 4 года назад

    Great video thanks, you said it sunk a few times, made me wonder if Uncle Albert served on her?

  • @gord307
    @gord307 4 года назад +1

    Nice to see - I hope she finally gets restored after such an eventful life. Thank you for showing us. :-)

  • @Marshall-bi7dv
    @Marshall-bi7dv 3 года назад

    Sorry to say the number of ads is really off putting and spoils a good video. For a working example of a much larger paddle steamer with a very much larger engine, see PS Waverley. Most years Waverley offers trips from Harwich to Tower bridge at some point during the summer. If you were to take one of these trips you could experience for yourself what makes paddle steamers so enjoyable.

  • @rudolphguarnacci197
    @rudolphguarnacci197 4 года назад

    Great content which in turn generated some fascinating comments.

  • @matthewgodwin3050
    @matthewgodwin3050 3 года назад +1

    Don't know how I missed this when it was originally posted, but it was absolutely brilliant. Love old stuff that defies time and survives for future generations to enjoy. Shame it got so few views. What's wrong with people nowadays.

    • @russiannorth2440
      @russiannorth2440 3 года назад

      beautiful video. thank you. I posted a video of a 1911 wheeled steamer. he carries passengers. enjoyable viewing.

  • @jameslongden9350
    @jameslongden9350 4 года назад +2

    Brilliant, glad to see the Medway Queen is finally being preserved after so many years.

  • @nick2203
    @nick2203 4 года назад +2

    What a lovely old vessel with a fascinating history.
    Judging by the comments here I’m not the only one who enjoyed this video
    I hope you can make more videos of alternative forms of transport.
    I appreciate that will take time and organisation but if it’s only an occasional video, it will still be nice.
    Thanks for sharing.

  • @delukxy
    @delukxy 4 года назад +2

    Ah, memories! I've stood at the rail watching the pistons and rods sweeping back and forth with at sound that only these engines can make. Lots of polished brass back then. Will she ever move under her own power again, I doubt it, but we can but hope. Certainly, I will be long gone then if she does. Please visit and support her along with any fund raising that see. There are lots of tiny groups that run stalls at classic car shows locally here in Kent. Buy a home made cake or a paperback. Pennies turn into pounds when there are enough of them.

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад

      Theres a chance she can go again, theres alot of support but if, as you say, people chip in then she has a good chance

  • @stuartdavies5191
    @stuartdavies5191 4 года назад +1

    Thanks Matt for this brilliant video- we've just been and visited the Medway Queen- such an amazing history- the volunteers do an amazing job, and are so knowledgeable

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад

      They love the ship, I was hoping more people would become aware of her and visit if they saw this

  • @alchapman1052
    @alchapman1052 4 года назад +1

    Different but an enjoyable video. Youd think the government would chip in and save it for the nation bearing in mind its Dunkirk history.

    • @matty6848
      @matty6848 4 года назад

      Absolutely Al I thought exactly the same. Their too busy paying for vanity projects these days like HS2😒

  • @CalamityJames.
    @CalamityJames. 4 года назад

    Not quite the Medway Queen, but my step-dad was a pilot for Medway Ports and I remember many a jaunt to Southend from Sheerness on the PS Kingswear Castle in the 90s, he would volunteer with some friends to assist with it. I even worked behind the bar serving refreshments once!
    I remember one of the trips the weather was less than ideal and I'm sure I have picture knocking about of my step-dad's friend bailing out water!

  • @matthewcoupeofficial
    @matthewcoupeofficial 4 года назад

    Must commend the enthusiasm, you should check out some other unknown ships like the SS Shieldhall

  • @icelandman5432
    @icelandman5432 4 года назад +1

    As a child living in Herne Bay in the 1950s I went on the Medway Queen from Herne Bay pier to Southend Pier and back on a day trip. One of the things I remember and love about this ship was watching the engines and the massive pistons working the paddles. And yes there was just the railing no wall! That is what made it so wonderful! Thank you for this video, it has brought back so many happy memories of a wonderful childhood.

  • @waynetetley584
    @waynetetley584 4 года назад +1

    Fascinating story including its recent restoration still ongoing

  • @carravioli4803
    @carravioli4803 4 года назад +3

    I bet you could fit a few furious driving mugs in there!!!!

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад +1

      forget mugs, I could park the cars on board!

  • @paulwlynch
    @paulwlynch 4 года назад +1

    What a fascinating piece of history Matt.
    I for one would enjoy more of these..

  • @Alan_X_Wood
    @Alan_X_Wood 4 года назад

    Great video; not quite a Rover V8. Quibble: P.S. Waverley is quie a bit larger, and went to Dunkirk. It has even more passenger-accessible engines, seen runninng here ruclips.net/video/Gii9AGKJeNE/видео.html in a test upload.

  • @RichieRouge206
    @RichieRouge206 4 года назад

    This was fascinating to watch - I am a huge fan of boats believe it or not, as well as cars! Love the steam engine in this and the history is fascinating too! If you like maritime history- the museum at Albert Dock in Liverpool is absolutely amazing! Lot of Titanic history there being the home of White Star line. Great video Matt

  • @johnbrereton5229
    @johnbrereton5229 2 года назад

    I remember going on a trip down the medway in the 1960s on a boat like the Medway Queen, perhaps it was her?
    Though I do remember seeing her in the 1980s on the Isle of Wight where she looked abandoned and dilapidated. I later heard that she had been rescued and was being repaired, no doubt the very same people that are rebuilding her here. Also my 20 year old father serving with the Royal Engineers was rescued from Dunkirk on the 29th of May 1940, he was one of the later ones to leave.

  • @1965vw
    @1965vw 4 года назад +1

    Great video Matt! I didn't know these paddle steamers played an important role during Dunkirk, so thanks for sharing their history - they definitely deserve to be remembered. It would be great to see her sailing again someday, or, at the very least, restored to as close to original condition as possible. I love all things involving transportation and history, so more videos like this would be a welcome addition to the car reviews!
    This video reminded me of a vacation to New Orleans my family took when I was a kid. We rode on an American paddle steamer, the Natchez, on the Mississippi River and it was so fun! There's nothing quite like being on an authentic steamboat and hearing those steam whistles bellow. The live jazz music and southern food were pretty good too!

    • @michaeltutty1540
      @michaeltutty1540 4 года назад

      Many of the Mississippi River boats were rear paddles not side. They were narrower for clearance at some of the town's.

  • @Bratfalken
    @Bratfalken 3 года назад

    Very interesting history. Up here where I work there is s small tug that is used at the harbour to break the ice early in the winter before it get's too thick. It was buildt in 1883 and had a 20 ihp steam engine from the start, now it has a 280hp Scania Diesel, but working at the age of 137 years is quiet remarkable. Some ships never die! :)

  • @100SteveB
    @100SteveB 3 года назад

    So glad you mentioned this video in your 2020 round up video, I had totally missed this! Very interesting to learn about so much of her history. I had never realised she had also been in Newport on the IOW, so glad the Medway Queen story did not end there - unlike the Ryde Queen. Lets hope the future stays bright for her, would be great to have her back in passenger service again. At the moment the only surviving ocean going paddle steamer - that is still in service, is the Waverley. Would be great to see the pair of them together at sea.

  • @mendhamsmusicmoviesmovemen8075
    @mendhamsmusicmoviesmovemen8075 3 года назад

    Still very interesting! I guess I prefer road vehicles! Is still very good, though!

  • @gregbolitho9775
    @gregbolitho9775 6 месяцев назад

    Nice goin, that'd take some research. Hadn't heard that about the victory either. Good job bloke!

  • @dmndave
    @dmndave 4 года назад

    Several boats used to service Swansea for day trips. This was one of them and my uncle Brython was onboard when this happened! www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/day-400-passengers-were-rescued-15545125

  • @stuartliddle7228
    @stuartliddle7228 4 года назад

    Good one!

  • @edwardbernthal160
    @edwardbernthal160 3 года назад

    As a kid I was sometimes on this beauty We would board at Sun Pier Chatham and off to Southend we would sail. We used to love to go below to the engine room and watch the cranks and the pistons thrust us towards donkey rides and candyfloss.

  • @seancooke4127
    @seancooke4127 4 года назад

    Fantastic engineering and a history that should be preserved for future generations. Certainly puts a rusty Rover Cabrio sill into perspective. Great telling of the story Matt.

  • @lloydvehicleconsulting
    @lloydvehicleconsulting 4 года назад

    A new series: Furious Transport Documentaries!

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад

      that will likely become an irregular thing!

  • @05jenjo
    @05jenjo 4 года назад

    April 23 is our saints day. It’s was my dad’s birthday that’s why it jumped out at me. Great video

  • @BrassLock
    @BrassLock 4 года назад +1

    This was very interesting to me. What a proud history this ship has, especially during the war years and Dunkirk in particular. It was the little ships of all kinds, and from several Nations that saved our troops, including my Dad who spent many hours in the water after being bombed aboard the Lancastria, which was further south from Dunkirk. She sank with many thousands of troops and supporting Government officials, few of whom could swim. Luckily my Dad was a strong swimmer and became one of the few survivors of the "Forgotten Tragedy".

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад +3

      So much was kept quiet at the time for morale but should be more widely known

    • @BrassLock
      @BrassLock 4 года назад +2

      @@furiousdriving Yes, my Dad could only begin talking about it in the latter years of his life. He joined a Water Colour Society in Western Australia and started painting the sea, coastlines and seabirds. Eventually he painted the Lancastria, peacefully at Dock in the U.K. and was able to tell his story. He lived to 100 years old, and reckoned that Churchill wouldn't be upset with his storytelling after all those years of secrecy.

  • @TheMaccatakker69
    @TheMaccatakker69 3 года назад

    Good Shout out on your 2020 review, I missed this on it's first release.

  • @JohnBaxterWalker
    @JohnBaxterWalker 3 года назад

    Excellent presentation - thank you.

  • @bentsignpost
    @bentsignpost 4 года назад +1

    Brought a tear to my eyes. Great job.

  • @stuartrogers621
    @stuartrogers621 4 года назад

    Went on the waverley year before last, it was magical!

  • @crelark
    @crelark 6 месяцев назад

    Great video! Thank you.

  • @paulnarramore6828
    @paulnarramore6828 3 года назад

    Way way way to fast. Calm down, take a breath and speak at a normal speed. Such a shame as I'm sire what you have to say is interesting.

    • @sunbeam8866
      @sunbeam8866 2 года назад

      Try replaying at 0.75 speed. 🙂

  • @michaeltutty1540
    @michaeltutty1540 4 года назад

    Very, very interesting video, Matt. Thoroughly enjoyed that. It says a lot about these old ships that after decades of neglect they can be saved. Not too far from where I live the old Great Lakes steamer S.S. Keewatin is being restored. She was saved from a river mud bank in Michigan and is being brought back to her full glory. These old ships deserve to be saved and restored. It would be great if you do more videos like this. It would also be wonderful if you could update progress on Her every once in a while.

  • @eddiecochran1938
    @eddiecochran1938 4 года назад

    Excellent! Really enjoyed it :)

  • @mechanicadam2011
    @mechanicadam2011 4 года назад

    Great video, such an amazing history,14:20 boiler room! Do you have a problem with the edit program you use.

  • @jetblack6953
    @jetblack6953 4 года назад

    Superb video Matt,extremely interesting and informative. Great to see this lovely piece of history being preserved for us to enjoy.

  • @paul1153
    @paul1153 4 года назад

    Nice informative video of a historically important big little ship.Great work Matt.

  • @theanimefan463
    @theanimefan463 4 года назад +2

    Still got the sound issues at the end

  • @maxidyne
    @maxidyne 4 года назад

    Great piece of engineering! What a history behind these vessels. And nice to see it's preserved for future generations.

  • @timspooner59
    @timspooner59 4 года назад

    (FROM NZ)very interesting and a nice change from Rovers

  • @josephcarrington8834
    @josephcarrington8834 4 года назад

    I didnt know ur in this area

  • @id70b40
    @id70b40 4 года назад

    Well done... loved this

  • @timelwell7002
    @timelwell7002 4 года назад

    As a child I lived in Kent, and seem to remember seeing the Medway Queen in Herne Bay. I was maybe five or six at the time.

    • @TriflingCircle
      @TriflingCircle 3 года назад

      Pier there has long gone. Think it was second longest in our country.

    • @timelwell7002
      @timelwell7002 3 года назад +1

      @@TriflingCircle The pier was wrecked in a storm in 1978 and the remains were taken down in 1980. When I saw the Medway Queen it was in the early 1960s.

    • @TriflingCircle
      @TriflingCircle 3 года назад

      @@timelwell7002 Thanks for this. I do now recall that entry to the pier became free towards the end. We made summer day visits to town when we lived in Bexleyheath.

  • @ianmcgee9945
    @ianmcgee9945 4 года назад

    I just discovered your videos, and they're very good. If you want to see a similar ship that still sails, check out the PS Waverly, based up in Glasgow.

  • @dazzlerbob1870
    @dazzlerbob1870 4 года назад

    Off Subject, Have you seen my email regarding the Roof Rubber, for The Cabriolet project? I sent it yesterday, to the address on this page. Don't worry if you don't want it.

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад +1

      Yes, you should have had a reply saying thanks with an address!

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад +1

      sent at 4.49pm yesterday in case its in spam

    • @dazzlerbob1870
      @dazzlerbob1870 4 года назад

      @@furiousdriving I've had no email, in Junk, etc???? I'll email again.

    • @dazzlerbob1870
      @dazzlerbob1870 4 года назад

      I've replied to your email, there is an underscore in my email address (in the middle of my name)

    • @furiousdriving
      @furiousdriving  4 года назад

      @@dazzlerbob1870 odd, I just hit reply before, have replied to both addresses now

  • @machiningbasics1729
    @machiningbasics1729 3 года назад

    Excellent

  • @bcfairlie1
    @bcfairlie1 4 года назад

    Really interesting. So glad you covered this

  • @phillipsharpe6459
    @phillipsharpe6459 4 года назад

    Er , car channel,?😁👍

  • @gordonkennaway3847
    @gordonkennaway3847 2 года назад

    Great video, hopefully she'll be able to sail again sooner rather than later. If you get the chance the paddle steamer Waverley will tour the south coast in late August, the last sea going surviving paddle steamer in service. And you can view below deck, the magnificent steam engine. The current Waverley was built as a replacement for the earlier paddle steamer Waverley which was sunk at Dunkirk during WW2.