I remember VIC 62 being re-engine for NPL at Marine Services Ltd., Hythe. Malcolm's photo shows Vic 62 moored at NPL's buoy which formerly was used by vessels from HMS Diligence. Hythe pier can be seen in the background stretching from Hythe on the left to the ferry pontoon on the right. I think she was fitted with a Kelvin diesel and the compound steam engine sat on the ground under a sheet for some months until transported away to the Science Museum. I think it is currently at their offsite store at Wroughton,Wilts. The whistle was a Jones Burton 2 1/2 inch organ pipe in brass and unbeknown to the yard owner Pat Russell it was thrown into a pile of non ferrous scrap when air horns were fitted to the vessel. I spotted it and Pat gave it to me to put onto my 1912 Aveling & Porter steam roller No 7807 and it remained on her until 2009. When I started fitting various other whistles from my collection. In 2015 I sold the roller back back to Jersey where it had worked from 1912 to 1967. The whistle now has pride of place on a shelf in my sitting room.

The pipes welded to VIC 62's hull were supplied with compressed air from a diesel road drill compressor and were an experiment in abeam steering which was a complete failure. Since then of course hydraulically driven thrusters have taken on this job on modern ships.

My Father, Edward McLoughlin, was a member of the crew of this boat while it was in use by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). It was based out of NPL's establishment at Hythe, Hants.
Tim McLoughlin

Very nice picture! looks like it was just shot with the latest digital camera gear

Kind regards

Valery