Goole: The Tom Pudding Coal Barges

Tom Puddings were the names of the lines of barges that were linked together to bring coal from the West Yorkshire pits to Goole to be exported. 'Pans' inside the barges could be lifted by a special crane, and tipped upside down into waiting ships. The coal trade has died - in fact the reverse is true now, with coal being imported from Russia and Poland! One of the last bargees, Goff Sherburn, talks about the trade as we are taken around Goole Docks by barge.

[@kevsmiththai]

We had a cabin cruiser moored at Sykehouse lock in 1967 and I can remember these coming past as clear as day. If I'd known they were still running in the 1990s I'd have been there with my camcorder as well

[@marcobrian1619]

My grandfather use to run his Tom pudding tug when he was alive, his memorys live on with photos in the Goole marina Musium
His name was John Calvert, strange story he met my grandmother (who ran the "vermuyden" pub)
The story goes he moored up next to bridge on Dutch river and popped in for a lunch pint and chatted my gran up.......
All I remember of my grandfather was as a very young child, after standing on cold steel for years on tug gave him bad legs and had to have them amputated.......
Never really got to talk to him as I was too young, it's all that IV been told.

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

Enjoyed that.

[@nosport7634]

Great video. There's now a (very good) pub in Goole called the Tom Pudding.

[@steffiebee5224]

I used to see the tom pudding barges when i used to live on the farm at rawcliffe road.. Goole has changed and gone massively down hill. Used to be thriving town. Since they pedestrianised what was the high street. I think that killed the town personally.

[@RoadartamFluss]

great footage

[@darrannewman7113]

Two great men.

[@KevinG58444]

Lmao is the old man doing scratch offs at 13:08?

[@smitbar11]

Sad to say the waterways museum went bankrupt and closed and that Tug is now grounded

[@marcobrian1619]

The last pictures of my grandfather working on the tugs was on display there.......wounded where thay are now?