The last two car-carrying cross channel SR.N4 hovercraft are currently stored at the
Hovercraft Museum (http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/) in Lee-on-Solent where they have sat since retiring from service.
Unfortunately they are not the property of the museum trust and now the owners want to scrap them both. The trust has started a petition to save the best-preserved example, the "Princess Anne", as one of the great British Transport icons.
https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-agency-save-the-princess-anne-the-last-remaining-srn4-hovercraft-for-the-nation (https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-agency-save-the-princess-anne-the-last-remaining-srn4-hovercraft-for-the-nation)
Please sign and don't let another important piece of our engineering heritage go for "scrap value".
Paul
I worked for Seaspeed at Dover between 1969 and 1971 with the two original 'craft Princess Margaret and The Princess Anne. I never tired of seeing them "take off" and "land" - even though I often saw it 20 -30 times per day. They were fast to load and unload, and could cross the Channel very quickly in moderate sea. In rough sea they became almost like a small boat, with the air cushion unable to cope with the wave height, and only air propellers to drag them through the water. Slow and very uncomfortable.
Memorable days, not least for working with hundreds of "purserettes", who were the hovercraft's "trolley dollies".
I already signed the petition last week, and hope something of them can be conserved.
Just signed as well.would be so sad to see them both scraped.
A true British icon.
Anyone got an Airfix model of one?
1/144 scale but might fit on a layout :-\
When the Airfix kit came out originally I built one. I have one of the new run to build. The rail connection at Dover was always a shuttle bus to/from Dover Priory station. I sometimes drove the Bedford TK dropside truck used when the amount of luggage exceeded capacity on the buses. A blue/grey 4CEP in unrefurbished form would suit the early days.
In the early years on the French side there was a direct rail connection to the Boulogne terminal at Le Portel. Usually a red/cream X4300 dmu was used, but occasionally an RGP displaced from the Le Touquet rail -air service did the job. Otherwise there was a bus shuttle to/from Boulogne Ville - to connect with a train of USI/UIC coaches. Incredibly my last ride behind French steam was from Amiens to Boulogne Ville in September 1969, with a connecting bus for the hovercraft back to Dover.
Thanks for the heads up on this Paul, have just signed.
Ray
Just signed. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Oldman on February 08, 2016, 08:11:38 PM
Anyone got an Airfix model of one?
1/144 scale but might fit on a layout :-\
Is this what you mean ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airfix-1-144-BHC-SRN4-Hovercraft-/222018866953?hash=item33b15b0f09:g:PagAAOSwezVWuPjq (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Airfix-1-144-BHC-SRN4-Hovercraft-/222018866953?hash=item33b15b0f09:g:PagAAOSwezVWuPjq)
David.
Signed. It would be a criminal dereliction to allow it to go for scrap when it's being offered a home.
These were very impressive in their day. Saw them at Dover, I think, as a kid. Never went on one, but rode a SRN6 (on the Solent if i remember right, possibly Southsea to Ryde?) and that was loud and bumpy enough.
And I built the very same kit as a teenager. Loved it. I have one in my stash that I might just have to start soon in homage.
I crossed the Channel on it a few times, really enjoyed being able to drive on and off and the fast crossing.
I'm the 18,297th person to sign. I hope the petition is successful
Hi,
Thanks for bringing that to our attention. I live in Hampshire and hadn't heard. Must get out more :doh:
Anyway, have signed up, obviously. I hope someone has notified the royal family.
It can't be scrapped. What are they going to do next, melt a few spitfires while the furnace is on? (rant over)
I love watching hovercrafts land and take off but only traveled on one to France once. I'm not sure what hovercraft it was as was very young but the sea was rough and remember being as sick as a sick dog at a sick convention much to the embarrassment of my parents and the suffering of the other passengers. We only traveled by ferry from then on.
I have got the Airfix kit but not the time to build. I did make a start but it's a tricky one to build. I'm rubbish with Airfix kits anyway but googled it and it warns 'it's a tricky one to build'.
Thanks again and good luck to all those involved in the rescue.
weave.
I have signed, a very good friend of mine was envolved with the development of the hovercraft for military use I'm sure that when I get back from NZ he'll be going ballistic!
I've signed and shared the information on facebook
Ive :) signed
Quote from: Sprintex on February 08, 2016, 07:28:56 PM
The last two car-carrying cross channel SR.N4 hovercraft are currently stored at the
Hovercraft Museum (http://www.hovercraft-museum.org/) in Lee-on-Solent where they have sat since retiring from service.
Unfortunately they are not the property of the museum trust and now the owners want to scrap them both. The trust has started a petition to save the best-preserved example, the "Princess Anne", as one of the great British Transport icons.
https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-agency-save-the-princess-anne-the-last-remaining-srn4-hovercraft-for-the-nation (https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-agency-save-the-princess-anne-the-last-remaining-srn4-hovercraft-for-the-nation)
Please sign and don't let another important piece of our engineering heritage go for "scrap value".
Paul
Signed and shared
Signed. My first two Channel crossings were on Hovercrafts, don't remember which ones right now (have photos somewhere) but if memory servers correctly it was 1978 and 1979 from Ramsgate. Spent ages afterwards trying to recreate one in Lego.
Signed, thanks for making us aware.
Allan
Signed. Managed a quick "Day return" one evening having been paid to work at Dover Priory Station audit team it seemed a shame to waste the day.. A bounce across the channel and back with some Duty Frees was a bargain at £5.
Hope it is a success and they then restore it to Seaspeed colours.
Signed, it would be a shame to lose an icon like this.
I first travelled on one in 1976 on a school trip to Germany and Switzerland, my first trip out of the UK. An amazing experience, albeit a noisy and diesel fumed one!
Hi All
Signed as well
The hovercraft needs to be saved!
>:(
STOP PRESS !!
Just received this e-mail:-
15 AUG 2016 — The Hovercraft Museum Trust is delighted to announce that they have been successful in securing the future of SRN4 "The Princess Anne".
We are also absolutely delighted to announce we will partially open the craft to the public at the Hovershow next weekend!!!
We have worked very closely with our landlord, the Homes & Communities Agency to land an initial 3 year lease (at peppercorn rent) with the intention of the HCA to hand the craft over completely to the Trust at the end of the 3 years.
This time period allows us to fulfil obligations in making the craft safe and of smart appearance.
We would like to thank the team at HCA, the 23,000 signatories to our petition and the support of the Museum's local MP Caroline Dineage. There has been an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes.
Special thanks also goes to our hardworking team of volunteers and trustees who have managed the campaign and we would also like to thank Cliff Valize-Jones for setting up the Save the SRN4 Facebook group which massively raised our profile.
The real work starts now though - volunteers to undertake work on her please get in touch!
:claphappy:
Paul
Great! Keep me informed!
George
Great news. I'm too far away to volunteer.
Quote from: Mito on August 15, 2016, 05:52:45 PM
Great news. I'm too far away to volunteer.
Ditto: but I remember Christopher Cockerel giving a talk at our school in Norwich and a group of us built a working model of SRN1
I've always wanted to build a small hovercraft, a 2 seater but when I've had time, no money and when working, no time. :(
Thanks Paul for originally bringing our attention to the situation. I signed the petition and recruited several like minded friends. Since then the trust has kept me up to date on the current situation which is a nice touch. I'm too far away to get bodily involved but I wish them all the best and will help if and when I can.
My first Channel crossing at the tender age of 5 was on one of those, I remember being so impressed by the experience, I spent a fair bit of time trying to recreate it in Lego.
:hellosign: I had to sign because I remember them leaving Pegwell Bay Circa 1977/9. :thankyousign: