Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017
1. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall Marker
Captions: (main photo) Eppleton Hall during her builder's trials, 1914.; (diagram on bottom right) "Grasshopper" side lever engines similar to those of the Eppleton Hall. The engines shown here share a common shaft while Eppleton Hall's are independent.
Eppleton Hall is typical of the tugs used in the coal ports of Northern England to tow barges and shipping. Similar paddle tugs were used in San Francisco during the 1850s and 1860s.
The boat is powered by to single cylinder "grasshopper" type steam engines. The design dates from the mid-19th century. Independent engine controls gave these tugs great maneuverability.
Eppleton Hall worked in England on the River Wear until she was retired in 1968. After extensive restoration she was steamed to San Francisco under her own power in 1970.
BASIC FACTS:
Built: 1914, South Shields, England
Builder: William Hepple and Company
Length Overall - 100 feet
Beam Over Guards - 33 feet
Draft - 7 feet, 4 inches
Gross Tonnage - 166
Erected by U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 37° 48.568′ N, 122° 25.312′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ship Balclutha (a few steps from this marker); The Cathead... (within shouting distance of this marker); Schooner C.A. Thayer (within shouting distance of this marker); The Forecastle... (within shouting distance of this marker); Steam Tug Hercules (within shouting distance of this marker); Towing in the Open Ocean (within shouting distance of this marker); Workin' on the Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); The Half-Deck (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
More about this marker. The paddle tug Eppleton Hall, part of the San Francisco Maritime Nation Historical Park, is located on the Hyde Street Pier at the bottom of Hyde Street.
Also see . . . Eppleton Hall (1914) - Wikipedia. Sold to shipbreakers Clayton and Davie Ltd for scrap in 1967, she was left sitting on a mud bank in Dunston. As part of the scrapping process her wooden afterdeck and interior were destroyed by fire prior to being broken up. The tug
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017
2. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall and Marker
Additional keywords. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017
3. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017
4. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall
Photographed By SF Gate, 1970
5. Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall entering San Francisco Bay
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 7, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
