BR Tug Meeching 1974 Newhaven Harbour
Of railway interest is this attractive photograph, circa 1974 of 'Meeching' the Saxon name for Newhaven. She was the only Tug owned and operated by British Railways. She is a diesel-engined 88 feet long vessel weighing 153 tons and she plied Newhaven harbour from 1st June 1960 after being delivered by her builders, P.K.Harris & Co. of Appledore in Devon. For many years she towed dredged mud in barges out to the 'dump' site a mile and a half or so off the breakwater end. She was also the only local vessel authorised to carry out burials at sea! She was withdrawn from BR service in January 2000 and is still active and now named 'Nore-Crest'.
© Steve Armitage Archive