Formed in 1997, Goole Model Boat Club occupies a site on South Dock, Goole, where many years ago a pond was built for the club members to exercise their fleet of impressively turned out model craft. The club meets every Saturday morning throughout the year and is opening its gates to the public as part of the Waterways Heritage weekend. Demonstrations will run throughout the weekend and there will be a small pop-up pond created for children to have a go at piloting model craft.

Historic Objects

Throughout the weekend there will be the opportunity to get up close with items from the industrial history of Goole as the home of Goole Model Boat Club is also the site of Goole’s iconic No 5 Coal Hoist, a grade II listed building, and also one of the last surviving Tom Pudding compartment boats. The Apex light and a dolphin – not the mammal – from Goole Docks are also located there. Together these form a poignant reminder of the importance played by the movement of coal in the development of the port of Goole. While we are not allowed to access the coal hoist it is still an impressive monument to an industry that lasted over 150 years.

Bicentenary Flotilla Viewpoint

On the afternoon of Saturday 18 July, between 2pm and 4pm,  the GMBC site will be an ideal viewpoint for the Bicentenary Flotilla of vessels which will convoy around Goole Docks emulating the opening of the port in 1826. Take the opportunity to enter our photography competition.

Pop-up Exhibition – Railway on the Water

View our collection of amazing photographs taken in 1974 by photography student Duncan Davies who spent a day onboard the tom pudding tug, Wheldale. This portfolio captures the crew’s journey between Goole and Doncaster and their return loaded with coal. They make what was dangerous work look easy. 

We will also be running a video of the coal hoist operating and a former coal hoist operator will be available to answer all your questions. 

Access during this weekend

The site will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The site must be accessed on foot from Dutch River Side where there is roadside parking.  There is no public parking on site this weekend. 

There is limited wheelchair access at the site and no disabled toilet.