Another British engineering icon to be scrapped

[Sprintex]

The last two car-carrying cross channel SR.N4 hovercraft are currently stored at the
Hovercraft Museum 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

Please sign and don't let another important piece of our engineering heritage go for "scrap value".


Paul

[woodbury22uk]

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.

[Oldman]

Just signed as well.would be so sad to see them both scraped.
A true British icon.

[Oldman]

Anyone got an Airfix model of one?
1/144 scale but might fit on a layout 

[woodbury22uk]

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.

[REGP]

Thanks for the heads up on this Paul, have just signed.

Ray

[Mito]

Just signed.

[dannyboy]

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
David.

[Mustermark]

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.

[keithfre]

I crossed the Channel on it a few times, really enjoyed being able to drive on and off and the fast crossing.

[Trainfish]

I'm the 18,297th person to sign. I hope the petition is successful

[weave]

Hi,

Thanks for bringing that to our attention. I live in Hampshire and hadn't heard. Must get out more 

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.

[MinZaPint]

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!

[Chris Morris]

I've signed and shared the information on facebook

[jonclox]

Ive signed