Name Stewarts and Lloyds Tug No 2

TUG NO. 2 is a narrow boat built in 1934/5 by Harland & Wolff at Woolwich Shipyard for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.  The vessel was originally 70 feet in length, was constructed "composite" (riveted iron or steel sides with an Elm bottom) and was named in a "Star Class" as 'ALGOL'.

Sold to 'Stanton and Staveley Ironworks' Ilkeston, Derbyshire, in June 1940, she was renamed STANTON No 51.  Sold to Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd., (Steel Tube manufacturers) Halesowen, West Midlands, in July 1947, they had her shortened and converted to a tug by Harris Dock of Netherton and renamed TUG No 2.  The Halesowen tube works was closed by 'British Steel' in September 1980 and the boat was sold into private ownership.

In 1986 a major rebuild of the stern was undertaken at 'Canal Transport Services'.  Pelsall, using traditional hot riveting techniques.  At that time the Elm bottom was replaced, but the timber must not have been good quality, for it failed in fourteen years and the then owner had the Elm bottom replaced with steel at Davis Shipyard, Saul Junction, Gloucestershire.  She has had two owners since then.  Today (2017) the cabin has oak frames topside and oak gunwales.  The hull sides are exactly as original. Her current engine is a 'National Gas & Oil Engine', model DM2 (which would be identical to the engine fitted in 1935).  She is now a leisure craft and currently carries the "Stewarts and Lloyds" livery on the cabin sides.