Barbara

Barbara (the Barge) is a steam barge that works on the River Severn.

Unlike the other Tug characters, Barbara is an independent steam barge who can be hired by any company to undertake other important contracts, though she does despise doing dirty work.

Although she can be hired by any company, she has been hired mostly by the West Port, where she has gotten to known the West Port Tugboats.

Bio
She first arrived at Tiger bay to deal with contracts connected with a forestry up river. She in later years was bought by a separate branch in Chepstow, an extension of the (GWR) to form a harbour; this would later become the West Port.

This would technically make Barbara the first boat to be operated by the West Port, which would explain her chosen number - 1.

Persona
Barbara is a very stroppy and displeased barge, she normally wants to look her best to impress other tugs like Samuel. She is mostly obsessed with her looks, though most of her work is carrying rubbish, coal, logs, sand, scrap etc to their destinations.

Though she has known Big Matt and Samuel for a long time, she is particularly interested with Monkey (as he was made in New York, a different place that from the Bristol Channel). She would often catch Monkey whilst he pulling the Severn Princess and would want to ask him many questions, as she hasn't seen a tug like him before.

Trivia

 * She is also known as Babs Barge or Barbara Barge.
 * Her number is 1, as a mark from her help for the foundations of the West Port.
 * She is the only tug character to not have any head wear.