The noise on the canals

I AGREE with T. Lang regarding the attitude of boaters to noise caused by railways, in particular the upcoming HS2, writes Kevin McNiff.

The whoosh he refers to reminds me of when I was in the RAF at Brize Norton and Concorde was there training the British Airways crews. The noise lasted less time than the VC10's but the biggest complainers to the station were retired senior officers living in nearby Minster Lovell!

Traditional engines

But I do not agree with his views on traditional engines, probably because I've got one! (A Russell Newbery DM3.) They sound far better than the angry wasps emanating from some boats. Not to mention the god-awful use of bow thrusters or towpath generators and inconsiderate people who have music/radio 4/test match commentaries on their roofs .

Some years ago, I was passing moored boats near Thrupp and one guy had his side hatch open; he remarked how much like a well oiled sewing machine it sounded. There are not many engines you can hear from a long way off, usually a Bolinder, (or my mate's DM2!), I just don't get it!

Bolinders, RN's Gardners, Lister JP's, Ruston's, Nationals, et al are the traditional sound of the canals—so get over it!