The Dukw that didnt take to water

As its Plymouth History Festival this month I thought I would mention a little bit of transport history that didnt happen:

November 2005

A somerset-based company is launching a new way of sightseeing in Plymouth . Porcellio is to offer visitors tours with a difference aboard its fleet of restored and updated Second World War amphibious vehicles, which can operate on both land and water. The company has secured essential funding through the South West Angel and Investor Network (SWAIN), a pioneering initiative sponsored  by the South West Regional Development Agency.
Private investors have sunk a total of GBP140,000 into Porcellio to pay for the restoration of up to five DUKW amphibious vehicles for use in Plymouth and the construction of further machines for use elsewhere in the world. The DUKWs played a vital part in the Allied invasion of Normandy during the Second World War, and many of the original vehicles were transported to the French coast from Plymouth . The bright yellow vehicles will become a familiar sight in Plymouth when the one-hour tours of the Sound and River Tamar start from next spring.

Western Morning News: Amphibious tours to start in Plymouth

March 2006

Plymouth City Council has granted permission for a company to use World War Two-style vehicles called 'Ducks' from the Guildhall and Teats Hill slipway.Asellus Ltd want initially to run one bright yellow 30-seat Duck taking three tours a day around the city centre, the Barbican and part of the Hoe as well as a half-hour tour from Sutton Harbour.
The Plymouth tours, dubbed Ducks and Drake, will feature a costumed driver and a guide.They should run for eight months and will cost £12 for an adult and £8 for children.Mr Slater said that the company wanted to take advantage of Plymouth's rich naval history. The vehicles will be new but are modelled on the original amphibious DUKWs, which played a vital part in the Allied invasion of Normandy during the Second World War.

June 2006

It seems like ages ago I reported on this blog that a new City Tour operation using DUKWs was due to start in Plymouth. This tour is to use the Teats Hill slipway. Well the BBC reports that the vehicle has been tested in Exmouth and is almost ready for service.
An armoured vehicle originally built during World War II is to become a permanent tourism feature in Devon. The amphibious carrier, known as a Dukw (or Duck), has been converted to take tourists around Plymouth Sound. A modern top has been put on the vehicle's original 1942 chassis after it was to taken to east Devon where it was stripped and rebuilt.
Although American designed, many of the vehicles were assembled in Plymouth, and the homecoming has not been lost on those operating it. Howard Slater of Ducks 'n' Drake said: "They were brought over by the Americans, they were assembled here, and, in fact, the slip road we are going to use is the same slipway the Americans used to launch them in the first place." Click here for the full story on BBC web site which has a few useful links to follow.

August 2006

Thanks to Dave for allowing me to post his photo of the new DUKW that is due to begin a service in Plymouth although it does seem to have slipped behind schedule somewhat as it was originally planned to start after "Easter 2006"! It is noted that the vehicle still does not carry a registration number which may explain the delay?

 

© Dave Godley

I am sure it will be popular once it starts - but its looking more likely for next year now. Shame as we have had one of the best summers for years weather-wise - I am sure business would have been booming!

Well that was the last mention of the DUKWs in Plymouth!

There is no further trace of anything in the local news for the DUKW tours planned for Plymouth. It does seem a real shame that nothing happened.

West Somerset Trip

For some reason I cant get into my last post to edit it and add this poster so here it is in its full glory:

Event: West Somerset

 

THE PLYMOUTH CITY TRANSPORT PRESERVATION GROUP, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PLYM VALLEY RAILWAY ARE ATTENDING THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY, MIXED TRACTION GALA ON SAT 8TH JUNE 2013

DEPARTING PLYMOUTH AT 0750 TO ARRIVE  AT BISHOPS LYDEARD 0920 IN TIME TO SEE THE DUNSTER EXPRESS PASS THROUGH AT 0945

DEPARTING AT 1920 FOR A DIRECT RUN BACK TO PLYMOUTH EST RETURN COYPOOL 2050

TICKETS AT WSR COST - ADULT £24

FOR MEMBERS / GUESTS OF PCT PG / PVR THE COST OF RETURN TRAVEL TO BISHOPS LYDEARD AND A ROVER TICKET FOR THE EVENT WILL COST ADULTS £22

PICK UP FISH AND CHIPS AT MINEHEAD OR WATCHETT, RIDE THE CLASSIC DIESELS AND STEAM TRAINS DURING THE DAY AND SUPPORT YOUR TWO LOCAL PRESERVATION GROUPS - DO YOU NEED ANY OTHER REASON TO JOIN?

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OUR EVENTS SECRETARY BY EMAIL

EVENTS@PLYMOUTHCITYTRANSPORT.CO.UK

SEATS FILLING QUICKLY FOR THIS EXCELLENT FAMILY AND ENTHUSIAST EVENT

 

Creative Commons licensed flickr photo shared by Phil Edmonds

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Plymotion

The latest news on the Plymotion Project from Plymouth City Council:

We're getting ready to hit the road again for the second phase of our Plymotion on your Doorstep campaign.

Travel advisors will be out visiting local residents in the west of the city, chatting about how they get from A to B and giving advice on the different travel options available to them. People will be able to get help with planning their journeys and find out about travel incentives on offer through the scheme, as well as let us know what would encourage them to travel more by bus, bike or on foot.

The programme started in the East End, Mount Gould and St Judes last year and over the summer the team knocked on around 5,200 doors, had 1,004 conversations and handed out 866 bus tickets, 358 cycle maps and 559 water bottles.

This year they are heading to the city centre, Barbican, Devonport, Keyham and Stonehouse areas and will be even busier as they are hoping to visit almost 18,000 properties.

Plymotion on Your Doorstep is part of our wider Plymotion project, which aims to improve walking, cycling and public transport links and encourage people to try greener, cheaper and healthier ways of getting around. Now entering its second year, the project features wide ranging measures from new walking and cycling paths and crossing improvements to one-to-one travel planning advice and cycle training.

Incentives on offer through Plymotion include free cycle training for adults, personalised support with travel planning (available to businesses as well as residents), group cycling events and complimentary bus taster tickets.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We had a great start to Plymotion on Your Doorstep last year, with many residents telling us how useful their chat with our travel advisors was. The team are looking forward to seeing residents in Keyham, Devonport, Stonehouse, the Barbican and the city centre this year and we hope that residents in these areas also find the visits helpful."

The Plymotion travel advisors will start to knock on doors on Monday 20 May. For more information email plymotion@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 668000.

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymotiononyourdoorstep.html

While I think its good to see the council promoting public transport I do have my doubts that this is a good use of their money. Improve the transport infrastructure, better bus stop shelters, facilities, real time info etc. The supposed Real Time display at Derriford were still displaying the old timetables earlier this week…

 

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