Tag Archives: pyronaut

Pyronaut to the Rescue!

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Due to the current heatwave, Plimsoll Bridge (at the Cumberland Basin end of the Harbour) ran into difficulties. The swinging section of the bridge had expanded in the heat and couldn’t close!
Avon Fire and Rescue were called out to hose down the upper surface of the bridge, while the Harbour Master put in a call to M Shed, who scrambled a crew to get the 92-year old Fire Float ‘Pyronaut’ in to spray the underside with water.
It was ‘Pyronaut’s first shout in 54 years!
Thanks to David Stagg for these photos:

Last Day of the Season and a Farewell to Portbury

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Last Sunday (30th October) was the final operating day of the 2022 season for the working exhibits. Pyronaut was givng rides in the harbour and Portbury was working its final shift before being withdrawn for the upcoming 10-year overhaul.

… And that was it! ‘Farewell Portbury’ chalked on the smokebox door, ashed out over the pit, fire dropped, then back on shed. I couldn’t resist putting the Patrick nameplates (in honour of a friend) back on for a quick photo.

The team have wasted no time in starting the stripdown for overhaul, making the most of a gap in the weather this week. Thanks to Beth for these pics.