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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
Great Western Railway : Wales to Ireland Ferries
This
railway company grew to dominate railway services from London to the
south-west and west of England and to Wales, and from 1872 they had
statutory powers to run ships to Ireland and France. The Irish Sea
service ran from Neyland on Milford Haven to Waterford and had been
established by Ford & Jackson, whose business and vessels were
taken over. Services were operated to the Channel
Islands and French ports from Weymouth. Irish services were
transferred to the port of Fishguard in 1906, shortly after the
end of the paddle steamer era, with the Irish terminal moved to
Rosslare.
Above
: Paddle Steamer Milford, one of three sisters ordered from Simons of
Renfrew immediately after the Great Western Railway took over the
Milford - Waterford crossing in 1872. Milford was scrapped
in 1901 after it was deemed not worth repairing storm damage. Already
antiquated at twenty-eight years, the turbine steamer revolution was
about to begin and spelt a quick replacement for her two sisters.
The
photo, courtesy of the National Library of Ireland is from a glass
plate by commercial photographers AH Poole of Waterford and published
by the NLI with no known copyright restrictions. The date of the photo
would have been after 1884
Vessels taken over from Ford & Jackson in 1872
Malakhoff
(1872-1884, built in 1851 for use at Antwerp. After use by the British
government in the Crimean war she was taken over by Ford & Jackson
in 1856)
Great Western (1872-1878, built in 1867 by Simons of Renfrew 220.4 ft : 447 GRT. Oscillating. On Cherbourg route after 1878. Sold to David MacBrayne in 1891)
South of Ireland
(1872-1883, built in 1867 by Simons of Renfrew 220.2 ft : 475 GRT.
Oscillating. On Cherbourg route after 1872. Wrecked off Dorset coast on
Dec 25th 1883)
Vulture (1872-1886,
built in 1864 by Aitken & Mansell of Glasgow 243.2 ft : 382 GRT.
Oscillating. To Ford & Jackson in 1870. Operated from Weymouth from
1879 until 1886)
New Build
Milford (1873-1901, built by Simons of Renfrew. 250.6 ft : 961 GRT. Compound diagonal 52 x 90 in x 70 in)
Limerick (1873-1874, built by Simons of Renfrew. 250.6 ft : 961 GRT. Compound diagonal 52 x 90 in x 70 in, lost)
Limerick (1874-1902, built by Simons of Renfrew. 251.8 ft : 961 GRT. Compound diagonal 52 x 90 in x 70 in)
Waterford (1874-1905. built by Simons of Renfrew. 251.4 ft : 963 GRT. Compound diagonal 52 x 90 in x 70 in)
Other Purchases
Gael
(1884-1888, built in 1867 by Robertson & Co of Greenock. 211
ft : 361 GRT. Oscillating 45 and 45 in x 63 in by Rankin &
Blackmore. ex- Campbeltown & Glasgow Joint Stock Steamship Co. Sold
to David MacBrayne for service in Scotland)
Harbour tender at Milford Haven
Pen Cw (1912-27)
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Historical Database