SR.N4 Hovercraft Propeller - Dover Transport Museum, Kent, CT16 2HQ
Posted by: 
MeerRescue
N 51° 09.010 E 001° 17.455
31U E 380465 N 5667913
A 6.4m propeller from a Cross Channel SR.N4 Hovercraft, on display at Dover Transport Museum, Whitfield, Dover, Kent, CT16 2HQ.
Waymark Code: WMEK9G
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/08/2012
Views: 2
This propeller, from a former
Cross Channel SR.N4 Hovercraft, is on display at
Dover Transport Museum.
The SR.N4 Hovercraft were
powered by four 3,400 shp Rolls-Royce turboprops via four 6.4m steerable
propellers. This propeller is displayed on an original trolley on which is was
mounted for servicing.
The two main commercial operators, Hoverlloyd (Pegwell Bay
to Calais) and British Rail's Seaspeed (Dover to Boulonge), merged in 1981 to
form Hoverspeed and operated six SR.N4 craft. In the 32 years of operations,
while the craft were occasionally damaged, there was loss of life only once,
when on 30 March 1985, the Princess
Margaret was blown onto a breakwater at
Dover and four passengers were killed.
The last of the craft was withdrawn from service in October
2000, the
abolition of duty free perks for cross channel day trippers' made their
operations unprofitable. Hoverspeed itself
ceased operations in November 2005.
Although a fee is required to visit the museum, if
closed, this propeller can still be easily seen from the gate to the museum.
If you are unfamiliar with the area, please use the CT16 2HQ postcode on
Sat-Nav's, as occasionally they will show Old Park Hill as a route, this is a no
through road.