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Blue Line Canal Carriers Ltd, Braunston previously known locally as The Barlow 'line' - a joining of the Samuel Barlow Coal Co. and S.E. Barlow

Some of the Barlow boats remain on the system and are classed as historic boats.

Below are listed some of the narrowboats from The old Barlow Line:

Alec (motor) - built in April 1942 (was originally named Winston).

Benbow (motor) - built in 1938 for the Coronet Canal Carrying acquired by Barlows after Coronet was taken over.

Drake (butty) - built in 1957 by S.E. Barlow at Tamworth.

Elsie (butty) - built in October 1956 entering service at the Blisworth tunnel.

Gertrude (butty) - built in 1945 by Samuel Barlow at Braunston.

Gort (motor) - built 1939, now believed to be part converted.

Grace (butty) - built by S.E. Barlow in June 1951.

Hardy (butty) - built by S.E. Barlow at Tamworth in 1936.

Hazel (butty) - built at Braunston in 1957.

Hood (motor) - Seen here in June 2008 on the Aylesbury Arm of the GUC, replaced an earlier boat of the same name at S.E. Barlow at Tamworth in 1943.

Hyperion (motor) - built by S.E. Barlow at Tamworth in 1935.

Ian (motor) - built January 1948 originally paired with butty Iona built in April 1944, later paired with butty Lucy.

Below is scan from a 35mm Kodachrome transparency of nb Ian with butty Lucy carrying coal taken by Raymond Hearn around 1965.

Irene (butty ) - built for Harvey Taylor at Aylesbury in 1936 - joined the Barlow fleet following a takeover.

Iona (butty) - built in April 1944 usually paired with Ian

Ironside (butty) - built in March 1940.

Kent (motor) - built November 1942. - Believed to be the boat below Reg No BW60660, seen on the Aylesbury Arm of the GUC in 2008.

Lucy (butty) - originally operated by John Knill last paired with NB Ian. Sank at Wolfhampcote on the Oxford Canal over the winter 2002 - 2003. There have been a number of failed plans to restore or rebuild Lucy but a new one got under way in 2009.

Malta (motor) - built in 1943, Grace operating as a pair.

Mosquito (butty) - previously called Spica when purchased from GUCCCo. in May 1943.

Nutfield (motor) - a large Northwich design boat built by Yarwood and Sons for GUCCC in 1936 - purchased in 1968 by Blue Line Canal Carriers Ltd we saw Nutfield on the GUC in Blue Line Colours paired with Raymond her original paired butty.

Raymond (butty) - Registered at Daventry No. 559 - the last wooden boat built at Braunston in 1958 in a shed which stood beside the Wharf Arm - has been refurbished and regularly seen on the canal system. We saw Raymond in May 2008 on the GUC in Blue Line Colours. The 'Friends of Raymond' were formed in October 1996 to recover what is believed to be the last wooden working boat built. By 2002 the restoration of Raymond was completed and then in 2003 Nutfield, which used to tow Raymond, came on the market and 'FoR' managed to buy her too. 2008 is Raymond's Golden Jubilee! This was celebrated at the Historic Narrowboat Rally at Braunston over the weekend 28th - 29th June.

Refrew (motor) - a large Northwich design boat built in 1936 which was used to replace Ian in 1968.

Sunny Valley (butty) - built for GUCCC called Northolt. Sunny Valley was renamed to appear in the 1944 film 'Painted Boats' and retained the name.

Uranus (butty) - originally owned by John Knill.

If you have any more photos or information about any the above narrowboats please don't hesitate to contact us.

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