The fleets of the various nationalised bodies (the name changes are listed below) were largely made up of boats acquired from previous canal companies - eg FMC, GUCCC, LMS, Mersey Weaver SCCC - and were distributed between the South Eastern Division and the North Western Division.
BTC - British Transport Commission (1947)
D&IWE - Docks and Inland Waterways Executive (1947)
BTW - British Transport Waterways (1955)
BWB - British Waterways Board (1963)
However, new boats were commissioned from the late 1950s onwards and some of these are listed below. Sometimes, the distinctive blue tops (interlocking fibreglass cargo coverings) can still be seen. These were an innovation in the 1960s to allow the hold to be covered very quickly.
Admiral class pairs of boats in the North Western Division built in 1959-60 by Isaac Pimblott & Sons (Anson & Benbow, Collingwood & Drake, Effingham & Frobisher, Granville & Howard) or by W J Yarwood & Sons (Lindsay & Keppel, Mountbatten & Jellicoe)
River class mostly butty boats, with two motors, in the South Eastern Division, built in 1958-61 by Thames Launch Works or by E C Jones & Sons, and named after three-letter rivers. Anne (motor) and Beryl (butty) were River class but did not follow the naming pattern.
Too Many Boats by Robert J Wilson, published 1980, gives a history of British Waterways' narrow boat carrying fleets.
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