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Contact Thames Steamers
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Alaska
Header Page - Thames Steamers
This page is devoted to the River Thames steam excursion vessel
Alaska
of 1883.
Alaska
is the oldest steam boat operating on the Thames and is one of the most magnificently restored steamers I have seen. A trip on her is strongly recommended. She is operated by
Thames Steamers
- see
www.thames-steamers.co.uk
to charter this vessel. This page shows a selection of images of
Alaska
since her restoration, with links to more detailed pages. Her earlier history is shown on
Alaska Page 1 - History
Contact:-
www.thames-steamers.co.uk
Sections on this Page:-
Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead
- 1st October 2005
Cookham Lock
- 1st October 2005
Cookham Ferry
- 1st October 2005
Bourne End
- 29th May 2006
Teddington Lock
- 18th June 2006
Overhaul & Launching at Wargrave
- 28th January 2008
Bourne End
- 24th May 2008
Other Alaska Pages:-
Alaska Header Page
- this page!
Alaska Page 1 - History
Alaska Page 1b - Maidenhead-Marlow
- Photos from a cruise: 1st October 2005
Alaska Page 2 - Bourne End Cruise 2006
- Photos from a short cruise: 29th May 2006
Alaska Page 3 - Teddington Cruise 2006
- Photos from a short cruise: 18th June 2006
Alaska Page 4 - Wargrave 2008
- launching after overhaul: 28th January 2008
Alaska Page 5 - Bourne End 2008
- public trips from Bourne End Marina
Brochure Archive:-
2005 Alaska Brochure
- 400 KB .pdf file - Requires Adobe Reader
Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Header Page
- other operators
French Brothers
Salter Brothers
Associated Pages:-
www.thames-steamers.co.uk
- Thames Steamers Official Website
www.salterssteamers.co.uk
- Salter Brothers Official Website
Vintage Tours
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
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Alaska
(Thames Steamers: 1999- )
After withdrawal,
Alaska
is reputed to have been poled from Kingston to Oxford by a new owner. She settled in shallow water, was decked over and used as a boat hire pontoon. In 1974 she was rediscovered and identified by boat historians, ex-crew members and Lloyds. After being brought to a boatyard at Hurley, further research located her original engine at Kingston. Boat and engine were restored over a period of several years and a new boiler provided. In 1999,
Alaska
was acquired by Susanne & David Williams and leased to
Thames Steamers
for Thames charter work. From 2006,
Alaska
is owned and operated by her skipper Peter Green. She also undertakes short public trips from Henley, Bourne End, etc on selected weekends and bank holidays - details:
www.thames-steamers.co.uk
Dimensions: Alaska is 60' long, 9'6" beam and draws 3'2"
Construction: Alaska is constructed of double diagonal teak over oak frames, painted hull and highly varnished teak superstructure where appropriate.
Engine: The original non-condensing steam engine by Seeking's of Gloucester which has two cylinders 6.5" in diameter and 7" stroke. It is of a twin simple pattern with no expansion and steam used to push the pistons down and up, giving 4 power strokes per revolution.
Boiler: Alaska has worn out 3 boilers during her life. The current one was installed in 1982 and operates at up to 150 lbs per sq. inch pressure. It is a side fired locomotive type with 101 fire tubes. The boiler can be fired with coal but for environmental reasons is now fired with high density wood briquettes made from recycled waste sawdust and wood chips from manufacturing. This makes 'Alaska' completely carbon neutral and saves approximately 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in a typical year.
Weight: Alaska's deadweight is 20 tons.
Capacity: Alaska is licensed for up to 36 passengers
At Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead
1st October 2005
More images at Maidenhead
Alaska
at Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Photograph on board
Alaska
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
leaving Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Boulter's Lock, Maidenhead.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Cookham Lock
1st October 2005
More images at Cookham Lock
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
at Cookham Lock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Cookham Ferry
1st October 2005
More images at Cookham Lock
Alaska
passing the Ferry at Cookham, after the cruise.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
passing the Ferry at Cookham.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Alaska
passing the Ferry at Cookham.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st October 2005
Bourne End
29th May 2006
More images at Bourne End in 2006
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th May 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Teddington Lock
18th June 2006
More images at Teddington in 2006
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 18th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 18th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 18th June 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Overhaul & Launching at Wargrave
28th January 2008
More images at Wargrave in 2008
Alaska
at Wargrave
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 28th January 2008
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