Great Western Railway ships
Encyclopedia
The Great Western Railway’s ships operated in connection with the company's trains to provide services to Ireland
, the Channel Islands
and France
. Powers were granted by Act of Parliament
for the Great Western Railway
(GWR) to operate ships in 1871. The following year the company took over the ships operated by Ford and Jackson on the route between Wales and Ireland. Services were operated between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France on the former Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Packet Company routes. Smaller GWR vessels were also used as tenders
at Plymouth
and on ferry routes on the River Severn
and River Dart
. The railway also operated tugs and other craft at their docks in Wales
and South West England
.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
, the GWR’s chief engineer, envisaged the railway linking London with the United States of America. He was responsible for designing three large ships, the (1837), (1843; now preserved at Bristol
), and (1858). The plans for the transatlantic
routes from Bristol failed to materialise but the ships found other uses. Although they were never owned by the Great Western Railway Company, several shareholders and officers of the railway also had interests in the ships.
The company’s first vessels were two tugs working on the River Dee
that were acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in 1854. Two years later a service between Neyland
in Wales
and Waterford
in Ireland
was established in connection with the railway. This was operated by Ford and Jackson until 1 February 1872 when they were transferred to the railway company under powers obtained by the Great Western Railway (Steam Vessels) Act
of 13 July 1871. The Act also allowed operation to the Channel Islands
and France. These services were eventually provided from Weymouth, although the French services were only operated on a regular basis from 1878 to 1885. After this only cargo services were provided, often on a seasonal basis. The Channel Islands services were operated for the GWR by the Weymouth and Channel Island Steam Packet Company until August 1889 when the railway took on the operation of the route.
Meanwhile, the New Passage Ferry of the River Severn had become a GWR service when the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
was amalgamated
in 1868. Another operation taken over by the GWR was the Plymouth Great Western Docks
in 1876. The South Devon Railway Company
held the majority of shares in the docks and was itself amalgamated with the GWR early in 1876. The docks used a fleet of tenders to land passengers and mails from [transatlantic liners moored off-shore; the lighters also operated excursions to coastal towns in Devon
and Cornwall
. Some cargo services were later operated form Plymouth to Nantes
in France. Also in Devon, in 1901 the GWR took over the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry
that linked Kingswear railway station with Dartmouth
. The GWR also acquired a large shareholding in the West Cornwall Railway
which itself owned a part of the West Cornwall Steam Ship Company
; GWR ships were occasionally used on its route from Penzance
.
On 30 August 1906 the GWR’s Welsh terminal was moved to a new harbour at Fishguard
. It was hoped that transatlantic liners would also call en route to Liverpool
but few did, Liverpool being forsaken for Southampton
within a few years but this increased the number of liner calls at Plymouth. A similar change saw Rosslare
become the principal railway harbour on the other side of Irish Sea
although some services were still provided to Waterford. This work was undertaken in a joint venture with the Great Southern and Western Railway
of Ireland known as the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours.
Although it had a reputation as the "Great Way Round", the GWR opened several new lines to shorten its traditional main lines to the ports. The Severn Tunnel
opened in 1886 to avoid a lengthy detour via Gloucester
, although this saw the end of the company’s ferry service across the River Severn. Further improvements to the route between London Paddington station and Neyland came in 1903 when the South Wales and Bristol Direct Railway
bypassed the congestion around , and again in 1913 when the Swansea District Lines allowed trains to avoid . In the meantime, trains to Weymouth had been speeded up following the opening of the Stert and Westbury Railway
in 1900, and the special trains carrying passengers and mails off the transatlantic liners at Plymouth used this and the Langport and Castle Cary Railway which opened in 1906.
The Railways Act 1921
brought a number of additional railway companies into the GWR, several of which operated docks and several had small vessels operating in these. The companies concerned were the Barry Railway, Cardiff Railway
, Taff Vale Railway
, Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, Port Talbot Railway and Docks and the Swansea Harbour Trust
. The GWR was nationalised on 1 January 1948 to become part of British Railways but the shipping services continued much the same as before for several years.
were painted black with red below the waterline; from 1889–1914 there was a white band at main deck level. Paddle-boxes and upper works were buff coloured, funnel
red, and the company’s coat of arms
was carried on the bow. Fishguard and Rosslare vessels were similar but had brown, later white, upper works. The flag was white with narrow red bands at top and bottom.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Powers were granted by Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
for the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) to operate ships in 1871. The following year the company took over the ships operated by Ford and Jackson on the route between Wales and Ireland. Services were operated between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France on the former Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Packet Company routes. Smaller GWR vessels were also used as tenders
Ship's tender
A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship used to service a ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies to and from shore or another ship...
at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and on ferry routes on the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
and River Dart
River Dart
The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...
. The railway also operated tugs and other craft at their docks in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and South West England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
, the GWR’s chief engineer, envisaged the railway linking London with the United States of America. He was responsible for designing three large ships, the (1837), (1843; now preserved at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
), and (1858). The plans for the transatlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
routes from Bristol failed to materialise but the ships found other uses. Although they were never owned by the Great Western Railway Company, several shareholders and officers of the railway also had interests in the ships.
The company’s first vessels were two tugs working on the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
that were acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in 1854. Two years later a service between Neyland
Neyland
Neyland is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Cleddau and the upstream end of the Milford Haven estuary. The nearby Cleddau Bridge crosses the river, linking Neyland to Pembroke Dock.-History:...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was established in connection with the railway. This was operated by Ford and Jackson until 1 February 1872 when they were transferred to the railway company under powers obtained by the Great Western Railway (Steam Vessels) Act
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of 13 July 1871. The Act also allowed operation to the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
and France. These services were eventually provided from Weymouth, although the French services were only operated on a regular basis from 1878 to 1885. After this only cargo services were provided, often on a seasonal basis. The Channel Islands services were operated for the GWR by the Weymouth and Channel Island Steam Packet Company until August 1889 when the railway took on the operation of the route.
Meanwhile, the New Passage Ferry of the River Severn had become a GWR service when the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway was built to connect Bristol, England, with south Wales. The route involved a ferry crossing of the River Severn but was considerably shorter than the alternative route through Gloucester...
was amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
in 1868. Another operation taken over by the GWR was the Plymouth Great Western Docks
Millbay
Millbay, also known as Millbay Docks, is an area of dockland in Plymouth, Devon, England. It lies south of Union Street, between West Hoe in the east and Stonehouse in the west.-Early history:Mill Bay was a natural inlet to the west of the Hoe...
in 1876. The South Devon Railway Company
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
held the majority of shares in the docks and was itself amalgamated with the GWR early in 1876. The docks used a fleet of tenders to land passengers and mails from [transatlantic liners moored off-shore; the lighters also operated excursions to coastal towns in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Some cargo services were later operated form Plymouth to Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
in France. Also in Devon, in 1901 the GWR took over the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry
Dartmouth Passenger Ferry
The Dartmouth Passenger Ferry, also known as the Dartmouth Steam Ferry, is a passenger ferry which crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. It is one of three ferries that cross the tidal river from Dartmouth to Kingswear, the others being the Higher Ferry and the Lower Ferry...
that linked Kingswear railway station with Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
. The GWR also acquired a large shareholding in the West Cornwall Railway
West Cornwall Railway
The West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, formed in 1846 to operate the existing Hayle Railway between Hayle and Redruth and extend the railway to Penzance and Truro....
which itself owned a part of the West Cornwall Steam Ship Company
West Cornwall Steam Ship Company
The West Cornwall Steam Ship Company was established in 1870 to operate ferry services between Penzance, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly.-History:The company was formed on 5 February 1870, principally by the shareholders in the West Cornwall Railway...
; GWR ships were occasionally used on its route from Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
.
On 30 August 1906 the GWR’s Welsh terminal was moved to a new harbour at Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
. It was hoped that transatlantic liners would also call en route to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
but few did, Liverpool being forsaken for Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
within a few years but this increased the number of liner calls at Plymouth. A similar change saw Rosslare
Rosslare Harbour
The village of Rosslare Harbour grew up to serve the needs of the harbour of the same name , first developed in 1906 by the Great Western Railway and the Great Southern and Western Railway to accommodate steamferry traffic between Great Britain and Ireland...
become the principal railway harbour on the other side of Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
although some services were still provided to Waterford. This work was undertaken in a joint venture with the Great Southern and Western Railway
Great Southern and Western Railway
The Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
of Ireland known as the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours.
Although it had a reputation as the "Great Way Round", the GWR opened several new lines to shorten its traditional main lines to the ports. The Severn Tunnel
Severn Tunnel
The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
opened in 1886 to avoid a lengthy detour via Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, although this saw the end of the company’s ferry service across the River Severn. Further improvements to the route between London Paddington station and Neyland came in 1903 when the South Wales and Bristol Direct Railway
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
bypassed the congestion around , and again in 1913 when the Swansea District Lines allowed trains to avoid . In the meantime, trains to Weymouth had been speeded up following the opening of the Stert and Westbury Railway
Stert and Westbury Railway
The Stert and Westbury Railway was opened by the Great Western Railway Company in 1900 in Wiltshire, England. It shortened the distance between London Paddington station and , and since 1906 has also formed part of the Reading to Taunton line for a shorter journey from London to .-History:The Great...
in 1900, and the special trains carrying passengers and mails off the transatlantic liners at Plymouth used this and the Langport and Castle Cary Railway which opened in 1906.
The Railways Act 1921
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
brought a number of additional railway companies into the GWR, several of which operated docks and several had small vessels operating in these. The companies concerned were the Barry Railway, Cardiff Railway
Cardiff Railway
The Cardiff Railway came into being from the need to service Bute Docks, so as to provide facilities for the traffic to and from the Docks. The railway was only 11 miles in length, a fact which belied its importance, since it provided both the Taff Vale Railway and the Rhymney Railway, inter alia,...
, Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
, Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, Port Talbot Railway and Docks and the Swansea Harbour Trust
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. The GWR was nationalised on 1 January 1948 to become part of British Railways but the shipping services continued much the same as before for several years.
A to G
(1889–1913) 596 tons- One of three ships built by Lairds of Birkenhead in 1889 for the GWR’s newly acquired Channel Island services. She was sold to a GreekGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
owner who renamed her Antromitos. (1910–1924) 577 tons - Built in 1907 for the London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western RailwayThe London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(LSWR), she was sold to the GWR in 1910 when the LSWR stopped providing tender services at Plymouth. She was used by the GWR at both Fishguard and Plymouth. From 1915 to 1919 she was hired by the Admiralty and operated as a rescue tug around the Isles of ScillyIsles of ScillyThe Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, named Atlanta III. She returned to Plymouth after the war but was laid up out of use until sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet CompanyRoyal Mail Steam Packet CompanyThe Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was a British shipping company founded in London in 1839 by Scot James Macqueen. After good and bad times it became the largest shipping group in the world in 1927 when it took over the White Star Line....
in 1923.- SS Bretonne (1910–1911) 1,635 tons
- Formerly the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern RailwayThe Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
’s Chelmsford, she was purchased in July 1910 to replace the Melmore on French cargo services but those from Weymouth were withdrawn at the end of September 1910 and the Bretonne was sold. (1905–1912) 387 tons - A former Mersey ferry, this paddle steamerPaddle steamerA paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
was added to the fleet of ship's tenderShip's tenderA ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship used to service a ship, generally by transporting people and/or supplies to and from shore or another ship...
s at Plymouth.- Fishguard (1932–1933)
- See St Andrew (1908). (1884–1891) 403 tons
- This paddle steamer was launched in 1867 and spent most of its years in Scotland, but for seven of them she was operated by the GWR, mainly on its Weymouth routes but also for a time at Milford and for a short while at Penzance. (1889–1925) 596 tons
- One of three ships built by LairdsCammell LairdCammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
of BirkenheadBirkenheadBirkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
in 1889 for the GWR’s newly acquired Channel Island services. In 1907 most of the passenger accommodation was removed and she was then operated on cargo services. She served as a minesweeper in the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean SeaThe Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was finally broken up after 36 years service. (1902–1934) 1,339 tons - A twin to the Great Western, this ship was intended for the Irish Sea route but also operated from Weymouth. (1872–1891) 466 tons
- A paddle steamer built for Ford and Jackson in 1867 by W. Simmons of RenfrewRenfrew-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
. Not to be confused with Isambard Kingdom BrunelIsambard Kingdom BrunelIsambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
’s of 1837, she was a twin-funnel sister to the South of Ireland. Like that ship she mainly worked out of Weymouth from 1878 to 1885. Six years later she was sold to David MacBrayne LtdDavid MacBrayne LtdDavid MacBrayne Ltd is a company owned by the Scottish Government. Formed in 1851 as a private shipping company, it became the main carrier for freight and passengers in the Hebrides...
and sailed on routes off the west coast of ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as the Lovedale. (1902–1933) 1,339 tons - The Great Western name was revived after a gap of eleven years for a twin-screw steamer for the Irish Sea ferry service although she also operated at Weymouth for some time. In 1933 she was renamed GWR No. 20 but she was sold for scrap in September that year. (1933–1947) 1,726 tons
- The replacement Great Western was built by Cammell LairdCammell LairdCammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
as a cargo carrier with limited passenger accommodation. She saw service as a troop ship from April to August 1944 and was finally taken out of service in 1966.
H to O
- Helper (1908–1919)
- See Sir Francis Drake (1876). (1891–1925) 1,160 tons
- An enlarged version of the three ships launched in 1889, Ibex joined them at Weymouth. She struck the Noirmontaise rocks off JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
on 16 April 1897 and was beached in Portlet Bay. Less than three years later, on 5 January 1900, struck a reef at St Peter PortSt Peter PortSaint Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2001 was 16,488. In Guernésiais and in French, historically the official language of Guernsey, the name of the town and its surrounding parish is St Pierre Port. The "port" distinguishes this parish from...
, GuernseyGuernseyGuernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, and sunk. One passenger and one crewman died. She was raised on 21 July 1900 and returned to service the following April after repairs. In 1916 a 12 pound gun was mounted on her stern; on 18 April 1918 she fired on and sunk a U-boatU-boatU-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
for which the crew received a £500 reward. She was cut up at SharpnessSharpnessSharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
. (1873–1874) 961 tons - One of an order for three paddle steamers built by Simmons of Renfrew in 1873, she was lost very early on and was replaced by a similar ship that was given the same name. (1874–1902) 961 tons
- A replacement for the 1873 ship of the same name, she lasted rather longer as she was not broken up until 1902. (1889–1925) 596 tons
- One of three ships built by Lairds of Birkenhead in 1889 for the GWR’s newly acquired Channel Island services. Most of the passenger accommodation was removed in 1910 after which she was operated as a cargo vessel. She served as minesweeper HMS Lynn in the Mediterranean during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was finally broken up after 36 years service. (1872–1884) 699 tons - This paddle steamer was originally launched in 1851 for the Antwerp Steam Navigation Company as the Baron Osy. She later undertook work for the British government during the Crimean WarCrimean WarThe Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
when she was renamed Malakhoff. She became part of Ford and Jackson’s fleet in 1856 and was broken up in 1884. (1905–1912) 412 tons - A 13-year old Scottish single-screw cargo ship acquired for services between Weymouth and the Channel islands, and also from Plymouth to Nantes. Her next owner intended to use her for a treasure hunt in the Cocos Islands and she was later registered in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. (1873–1901) 961 tons - One of three paddle steamers ordered from Simmons of Renfrew in 1873, she was badly damaged in a storm and broken up in 1901.
P to R
(1880–1925) 927 tons (976 when rebuilt)- This was the first of many ships built for the GWR by Laird’s in Birkenhead. She operated as a paddle steamer from 1880 to 1895; the following year returning to service with twin screws and new boilers, all this time on the Irish Sea. In 1916 Pembroke was transferred to work from Weymouth as a cargo boat but on 24 September she was attacked by a U-boat so the following January she was fitted with a gun for defence. She was sold for scrap in 1925. (1912–1927) 168 tons
- A paddle tug for tender operations at Fishguard when the GWR was hoping to attract calls from transatlantic liners. She was sold to a Sunderland owner who renamed her Ingleby Cross but was renamed a second time to Elle when sold on to ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.- Penlee (1931)
- See Sir Richard Grenville (1891). (1897–1928) 1,281 tons
- One of a pair of vessels built by the Naval Construction and Armaments Company in Barrow-in-FurnessBarrow-in-FurnessBarrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
for the Weymouth fleet in 1897. She operated as a minesweeper in the Mediterranean during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and returned to Weymouth afterwards. She was broken up at Briton FerryBriton FerryBriton Ferry is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. The town encompasses the electoral wards of Briton Ferry East and Briton Ferry West....
. (1897–1915) 1,281 tons - The second of the vessels added to the Weymouth fleet in 1897 proved unlucky. On 26 January 1905 she caught fire while moored at Milford. The weight of water used to put out the fire caused her to sink but she was raised nine days later and returned to service in June. She ran aground after leaving St Helier on 19 July 1911; she was refloated on 28 July and returned to service four months later. In 1914 she was converted for minesweeping and renamed HMS Roebuck. On 13 January 1915 she dragged her anchor at Scapa FlowScapa Flowright|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
and sank following a collision with ', the first railway ship to be lost on war service. (1925–1965) 776 tons - The old name was revived in 1925 for a new Weymouth-based cargo vessel built by Swann, Hunter and Richardson on Tyneside; she was followed by the identical Sambur. In 1940 she rescued more than 600 British troops from Dunkirk, after which she was used for war work in the Thames and around northern France for which she was temporarily renamed Roebuck II. She returned to railway service after the war and resumed operation at Weymouth until 27 February 1965; the previous November she had been disguised as the NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
SS Galtesund for a film.- Rosslare (1932–1933)
- See St David (1906).
S
(1908–1932) 2,495 tons- A fourth vessel to operate on the Fishguard service, this one was supplied by John Brown and Company in Scoltland and was similar to the ships they had built for the same service in 1906. She was used as a hospital ship during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation. In 1932 she was renamed Fishguard and sold for scrap the following year. (1932–1947) 2,702 tons - One of a pair of new vessels built by Cammell Laird for Fishguard services, an improved version of the recent St Patrick. She saw service as a hospital ship during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but returned to Fishguard service in 1946 and continued in railway service until 1967 when she was cut up. (1906–1932) 2,529 tons - One of three ships that started the new Fishguard to Rosslare service in 1906, St David was built by John Brown. She was used as a hospital ship during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1932 she was renamed Rosslare and was sold for scrap the following year. (1932–1944) 2,702 tons - One of a pair of new vessels built by Cammell Laird for Fishguard services, an improved version of the recent St Patrick. She saw service as a hospital ship during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, but was sunk on an operation to Italy in January 1944. (1947) 3,352 tons - A replacement St David was launched by Cammell Laird in February 1947 and entered service at Fishguard in July. Sold to a Greek owner in 1971, it left British waters carrying the new name Holyhead. (1906–1913) 2,456 tons
- One of three ships that started the new Fishguard to Rosslare service in 1906, St George was built by Cammell Laird and Company at Birkenhead. She was sold in May 1913 to the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
but six years later was sold again to the Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern RailwayThe Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
for use on their services from HarwichHarwichHarwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
. (1925–1947) 1,885 tons - One of a pair of vessels built by John Brown for the Weymouth services. She had two funnels but one was a dummy and this was removed in 1928. In 1939 she was transferred to Fishguard to replace the St Andrew which was already in government service, but she too was requisitioned by November for troop movements from Southampton. She took part in the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk and CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in 1940 following which members of the crew were awarded a Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
and two Distinguished Service MedalsDistinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service...
. She then saw government service between GourockGourockGourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
and the Isle of ManIsle of ManThe Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. She then moved to DartmouthDartmouth, DevonDartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
to support Motor Torpedo BoatMotor Torpedo BoatMotor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s before being converted as an assault ship for the D-DayD-DayD-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings. She then returned to Weymouth for further railway service which lasted until the end of 1960. (1925–1947) 1,885 tons - One of a pair of vessels built by John Brown for the Weymouth services. She had two funnels but one was a dummy and this was removed in 1928. When war broke out in 1939 she was put to use ferrying troops but very quickly converted into a hospital ship. She took part in the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk and Cherbourg in 1940. She spent the remainder of the war as a hospital ship, including a period operating in the Mediterranean and supporting the D Day landings. Afterwards she returned to Weymouth for further railway service which lasted until 1961. (1906–1929) 2,531 tons
- One of three ships that started the new Fishguard to Rosslare service in 1906, St Patrick was built by John Brown. She was used as a hospital ship during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She caught fire while moored at Fishgaurd on 7 April 1929 and was then sold for scrap the following year after her engines had been transferred to St Andrew (1908). (1930–1941) 1,922 tons - A replacement for the fire-wrecked St Patrick of 1906, she was herself sunk with the loss of 30 lives on Friday 13 June 1941 by an air attack near Fishguard. Although registered by the Fishguard and Rosslare Company, she also saw service from Weymouth, where one of her lifeboats was used as a harbour launch for some years after her sinking. (1947) 3,482 tons
- Another replacement St Patrick was launched by Cammell Laird in May 1947 for the Fishguard service but worked from Weymouth from 1948 to 1963 before being transferred to work at Dover and Folkestone. Sold in 1972 to Greece and renamed Thermopylae. (1925–1947) 776 tons
- One of a pair of cargo vessels built by Swann, Hunter and Wigham RichardsonSwan HunterSwan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
for Weymouth services. During World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she carried the name Toreador and worked in the River ThamesRiver ThamesThe River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
and the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. She returned to the GWR’s Channel Island services in September 1945 and operated until 1964. (1876–1908) 173 tons - A paddle steamer built for the Plymouth Great Western Docks in 1873 by William Allsup in Preston. In 1908 she was renamed Helper when a new Sir Francis Drake came on station; she was sold to Cosens of Weymouth in 1919. (1908–1954) 478 tons
- One of a pair of new twin-screw tenders with an unusually tall funnel for Plymouth built by Cammell Laird, she operated for 46 years both there and at Fishguard. She was hired to the Admiralty as a tug from 1914 to 1919. In August 1939 she was again hired to the Admiralty for use at Plymouth and later at Scapa Flow, returning to the GWR at Plymouth in 1946. She was broken up in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, in 1954. (1929–1947)
- A coal-fired tender built at HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
for use at Plymouth. On 27 August 1940 she was damaged during an air raid. Following repairs she was taken over by the Royal Navy in January 1941 and saw service at Plymouth, Scarpa Flow and Pentland FirthPentland FirthThe Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
. She was returned to the GWR at Plymouth on 22 November 1945 and remained stationed there until 1962 when she was sold for scrap. (1891–1931) - Another tender for Plymouth, similar to the Smeaton but this time built by Lairds of Birkenhead. She was advertised for sale in 1921 but was eventually returned to service until sold in 1931, renamed Penlee then moved on to the DoverDoverDover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
Harbour Board where she was renamed a second time to Lady Saville. (1931–1947) - A replacement tender was built to the same style as Sir John Hawkins although she was oil-fired and had a shorter funnel. During World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she was used by the Admiralty at Plymouth, Scapa Flow and Pentland Firth. After returning to railway service early in 1946 she resumed service at Plymouth until 31 October 1963, the last tender in use at that dock. She eventually found a new owner and was renamed La Duchesse de Bretagne for services around the Channel Islands. (1876–1896) 151 tons - This was a small paddle steamer built by William Allsup of Preston for use as a tender at the Plymouth Great Western Docks. She was sold as a tug to a South Shields owner. (1908–1946) 478 tons
- One of a pair of new twin-screw tenders with an unusually tall funnel built by Cammell Laird for use at both Plymouth and Fishguard. She was hired to the Admiralty as a tug from 1914 to 1919. In August 1939 she was again taken on by the Admiralty but operated from Plymouth. She was damaged during an air raid on 15 December 1940 when 8 crew were injured. In 1942 alterations were made to her superstructure for use as a mining tender. She returned to the GWR at the end of 1945 but the following year was sold and found use with various salvage operators until cut up in 1968. (1883–1929) 369 tons
- A tender built by William Allsup of Preston for operation at Plymouth, this was the first such vessel to have screw propulsion. She spent a short while working at Fishguard in 1909-10. In 1914 she was hired to the Admiralty as a tug and in 1917 was working for the United States forces at BrestBrest, FranceBrest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
in France. She was laid up when she was returned to the GWR and advertised for sale in 1921 but was eventually returned to service for a few more years until sold to a BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
owner in 1929 who operated her until cut up in 1947. (1872–1883) 474 tons - W. Simons of Renfrew built this 200 ton single-funnel paddle steamer for Ford and Jackson in 1867 alongside the Great Western, but from 1878 she was mainly sailing on the Weymouth routes. She was wrecked on the Warbarrow Rocks near LulworthLulworthLulworth is the popular name for an area on the coast of Dorset, South West England notable for its castle and cove. However there is no actual place or feature called simply "Lulworth", the villages are East and West Lulworth and the coastal feature is Lulworth Cove.See:*East Lulworth *Lulworth...
on a foggy 25 December 1883.
T to Z
(1879–1882) 125 tons- This paddle steamer was originally built for the London and North Western RailwayLondon and North Western RailwayThe London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
’s River MerseyRiver MerseyThe River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
services in 1868, and was sold on to the London, Tilbury and Southend RailwayLondon, Tilbury and Southend RailwayThe London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
after four years with the GWR during which time she operated as part of the Plymouth tender fleet. (1872–1886) 793 tons - This paddle steamer was built by J. Aitken in Glasgow in 1864. She became a part of the Ford and Jackson fleet six years later and was broken up in 1886. (1874–1905) 963 tons
- The last of the paddle steamers ordered from Simmons of Renfrew in 1873, she was in service by June 1874. She was broken up in 1905 although she only carried goods traffic in its last years. (1912–1924) 1,204 tons
- A new vessel for the Fishguard to Waterford service, she also sailed occasionally from Weymouth. She was the only one ever owned by the GWR with quadruple-expansion engines. She was sold for further service in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and renamed Panay.
River ferries
- Chepstow (1874–1890) 188 tons
- A new paddle steamer was delivered to the New Passage Ferry in 1874. She was made redundant by the new Severn TunnelSevern TunnelThe Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
railway line at the end of 1886. She was sold to a CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
owner who converted her to screw propulsion and renamed her Rover.- Christopher Thomas (1868–1890) 168 tons
- Named after the company’s chairman, this paddle steamer was built for the Bristol and South Wales Union RailwayBristol and South Wales Union RailwayThe Bristol and South Wales Union Railway was built to connect Bristol, England, with south Wales. The route involved a ferry crossing of the River Severn but was considerably shorter than the alternative route through Gloucester...
by Henderson, Coulborn and Company at Renfrew in 1854. She was transferred to the GWR when the B&SWUR was amalgamated ten years later, she was redundant after 1886. (1901–1908) 61 tons - This paddle steamer had been built in 1869 for the to service and was transferred to the GWR when the railway took on its operation. On 7 March 1902 she conveyed King Edward VIIEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
to Dartmouth to lay the foundation stone of the Britannia Royal Naval CollegeBritannia Royal Naval CollegeBritannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
. For this duty she was fitted with a carpet, curtains, a table and upholstered chairs.- Ferry No. 2 (1922–1947) 8 tons
- A small ferry used on Bute Docks at Cardiff, acquired with the Cardiff RailwayCardiff RailwayThe Cardiff Railway came into being from the need to service Bute Docks, so as to provide facilities for the traffic to and from the Docks. The railway was only 11 miles in length, a fact which belied its importance, since it provided both the Taff Vale Railway and the Rhymney Railway, inter alia,...
.- Ilton Castle (1927 – ca.1930) 53 tons
- Originally built in 1906, this paddle steamer came to the GWR from March and Southwood of SalcombeSalcombeSalcombe is a town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, built mostly on the steep west side of the estuary and lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
and was used for excursions from Salcombe.- Kenwith Castle (1927–1932) 53 tons
- Built in 1914 for the Kingsbridge ferry, this paddle steamer came to the GWR from March and Southwood of Salcombe and was used for excursions from Salcombe. She was sold to the Tamar Transport Company who sold her in 1935 to the Millbrook and Steamboat & Trading Company at Plymouth who operated in 1936 on the Millbrook Ferry as the Whitsand Castle. (1908–1947) 117 tons
- A replacement vessel for the Dartmouth ferry, she was built at Falmouth and was a familiar sight on the service for 47 years until withdrawn by British Railways on 8 October 1954.
A to M
- Archibald Hood (1922–1947) 164 tons
- A Barry Railway tug, built in 1898 at FalmouthFalmouth, CornwallFalmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
, she served with British Railways until 1950.- Armine (1899–1936) 7 tons
- A small, CowesCowesCowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
-built 13 year old launch added to the Weymouth fleet in 1899. She was mainly used to move coaling barges around the harbour but held a certificate for 12 passengers. The last coal-fired at Weymouth, the Great Western (1902) left in 1932 and the Armine was sold in September 1936 for conversion to a motor boat.- Baron Glanely (1946–1947)
- See Lord Glanely.
- Basingstoke (1920 - ?) 402 tons
- A double-grab excavator-dredger purchased from the London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western RailwayThe London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
.- Beaufort (1923 – ?) 119 tons
- A former Swansea Harbour Trustees vessel.
- Bruce (1922 - ?) 141 tons
- A dredger at Alexandra Docks, Newport.
- Clevedon (1876–1886) 167 tons
- A paddle steamer used around BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
by the Bristol and Exeter RailwayBristol and Exeter RailwayThe Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
from 1875.- Cymro (1854 – ca.1881) 70 tons
- A wooden paddle tug acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. She was launched in 1826 and taken out of service sometime after 1878.
- David Davies (1925–1947) 962 tons
- A bucket dredger for Barry Docks.
- Don Frederico (1923–1947) 481 tons
- A Swansea Harbour Trustees dredger.
- The Earl (1922 – ca. 1931) 101 tons
- A former Cardiff RailwayCardiff RailwayThe Cardiff Railway came into being from the need to service Bute Docks, so as to provide facilities for the traffic to and from the Docks. The railway was only 11 miles in length, a fact which belied its importance, since it provided both the Taff Vale Railway and the Rhymney Railway, inter alia,...
tug.- The Earl (1931–1947) 148 tons
- A replacement tug for Cardiff.
- Emily Charlotte (1922–1933) 122 tons
- A tug acquired with Port Talbot docks.
- Foremost 27 (1925–1947) 512 tons
- A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks.
- Francis Gilbertson (1928–1947) 275 tons
- A grab dredger used at Bristol Channel ports.
- Horace (1922–1947) 141 tons
- A tug at Alexandra Docks, Newport.
- Lady Tredegar (1922–1947) 105 tons
- A tug at Alexandra Docks, Newport.
- Lord Glanely (1927–1946) 156 tons
- A tug for use at Cardiff, she was renamed Baron Glanely on his lordship’s elevation in 1946.
- Manxman (1891 – ca.1897) 56 tons
- A tug for the River Dee at ChesterChesterChester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, built at Middlesbrough by R Craggs and Son.- Mudeford (1924–1947) 232 tons
- A grab dredger for Cardiff docks.
N to Z
- Palmerston (1883 - ?) 109 tons
- Originally built in 1864, she was purchased from the Dover Harbour Board and normally worked in West Wales.
- Porteur No. 5 (1899 – ?)
- A small ship for the Fishguard and Rosslare works.
- Robert Vassall (1922–1947) 317 tons
- A bucket-dredger acquired with the Taff Vale RailwayTaff Vale RailwayThe Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
.- St Baruch (1922–1947) 177 tons
- A tug built at Falmouth in 1916 for the Barry Railway.
- Sir Ernest Palmer (1924–1947) 753 tons
- A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks.
- Sir Henry Mather Jackson (1924–1947) 735 tons
- A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks.
- Sir John R. Wright (1921–1938) 95 tons
- A tug stationed at Fishguard.
- Swansea (1923–1947) 147 tons
- A former Swansea Harbour Trustees tug.
- Test (1854 – ?)
- A wooden paddle tug acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in 1854; she was withdrawn from service in the 1880s.
- Thames (1886–1903) 103 tons
- This tug was twenty years old when she came into Great Western ownership.
- Trusty (1923–1947) 148 tons
- A former Swansea Harbour Trustees tug.
- Viscount Churchill (1924–1947) 735 tons
- A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks.
- Voltaic (1896–1900) 580 tons
- Built in 1867, this steamer was the first owned by the Fishguard and Rosslare Harbours and Railways Company and was employed by them on a service from Bristol to WexfordWexfordWexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
.- Weston (1876–1885) 166 tons
- A paddle steamer built for the Bristol and Exeter RailwayBristol and Exeter RailwayThe Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
in 1875 for use around Bristol.- Windsor (1932–1947) 150 tons
- A tug for use at Barry Docks.
Colours
HullsHull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
were painted black with red below the waterline; from 1889–1914 there was a white band at main deck level. Paddle-boxes and upper works were buff coloured, funnel
Funnel (ship)
A funnel is the smokestack or chimney on a ship used to expel boiler steam and smoke or engine exhaust. They can also be known in as stacks.-Purpose:...
red, and the company’s coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was carried on the bow. Fishguard and Rosslare vessels were similar but had brown, later white, upper works. The flag was white with narrow red bands at top and bottom.