Bantam IV

The Pusher Tug

Home > Collection > Bantam Tug

The Bantam class of tug was produced in the late 1940s and the 1950s and 1960s by E.C. Jones and Sons of Brentford. In 1994 London Canal Museum was given number 4 of the class which is preserved as a floating exhibit, normally moored outside the museum, but sometimes taken to canal events during the summer season. The Bantam tugs are unusual in that they are designed to push, not to tow. This is a more energy efficient way of moving an unpowered barge. The tugs were used most frequently for canal maintenance and in gravel pits and other non tidal waterway situations.

Builders plate: E.C. Jone & Son (Brentford) Ltd. Designers and builders of Bantam boats. Registered trade mark. Brentside wharf, Brentford, Middlesx, EnglandThe Bantam IV tug was completed in 1950 by E.C. Jones, and spent much of its working life in gravel pits before being bought and restored for use as a working tug on the Kennet and Avon Canal. The distinctive livery dates from this period. In 2000 the Canal Museum Trust undertook an overhaul and repaint of the tug including a spell in the dry dock at St. Pancras.

Steering wheel of the Bantam tug

The Lister JP2 diesel engine which is as originally fitted requires to be started by hand - a difficult process which requires a mixture of muscle and skill. The engine is pictured below. The maker's plate reads "R A Lister (Marine Sales) Ltd. Dursley, Glos, England"

You can listen to two sound files to hear the engine. They are large files in WAV format so will take some time to download especially if you have a slower connection. Please be patient!
Engine Starting (879 kb)
The sound of the engine starting
Engine Working (555 kb)
The charactaristic whine as the engine works. Text description

Engine maker's plate reading 'RA Lister (Marine Sales) Ltd. Dursley Glos. England.'

Lister JP2 Engine view from the rear

The Lister JP2 Engine is the original and is still in working order.

Lister JP2 Engine view from the front

Bantam 4 pushing a flat barge on the Kennet and Avon

Bantam 4 at work on the Kennet and Avon

At work in its days on the Kennet and Avon Canal. The picture on the right shows the tug propelling a flat barge. Because there is nothing immediately behind, this method offers a fuel saving compared to towing from the front.

Bantam tug during its commissioning trials in 1950

Commissioning trials, in 1950.

Bantam tug in the dry dock at Saint Pancras

In the dry dock at St. Pancras for maintenance.

The Bantam Tug List- details of all the Bantam tugs.