TUG TIDWORTH AND OIL BARGE

Taken in the mid fifties

By John Quinton

This photo, taken by my father, shows the Tidworth and its oil barge in mid stream.  In the background are the ferries 'Brighton' and (I think) 'Lisieux'.

Lisieux (L) and Brighton (R) it is, John. Presumably Brighton has just received bunkers from the barge. Andy - Editor

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'TUG TIDWORTH AND OIL BARGE' page
This page was added by John Quinton on 24/05/2009.
Comments about this page

It's interesting to see photos of Tidworth without the enlosed bridge that she had in later years. Very much the 'harbour' tug that all the TID class tugs were.

As for 'TID', there are dozens of thoughts about the origin of the acronym. Tug, Invasion Duty and Tug, Inshore and Dock are two that spring to mind. Does anyone have any more candidates?

By Andy Gilbert
On 31/05/2009

I believe the Tidworth was up on the River Severn during the 1960s. She was being used to tow out sections of the new Severn bridge under construction. As I recall she had been re-engined with a direct drive Petter. Her skipper, Barry, had a tin leg but it did not stop him from leaping about the tug. Happy days.

By Michael Hardwick
On 29/12/2009

You're quite right. She was renamed Castor at this time.

By Andy Gilbert
On 31/01/2010
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