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Humber Railway Ferries
GCR - LNER - BTC - AHL - BR - Sealink


Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a new window

This page is under construction




 
This page shows postcards and images of the local River Humber railway ferries of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) and its predecessors and successors.

Railway services from Hull to New Holland across the Humber began when the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway built the paddle steamers PS Manchester (1) and PS Sheffield (1) in 1849 and 1950. They were double-ended vessels which proved difficult to handle and had a funnel either side of the paddles, similar to the original steam Woolwich ferries. PS Sheffield (1) was lengthened by 17ft before delivery to try and improve manoeuvrability, apparently without success. The were replaced in 1854 with two more conventional vessels from the Clyde which took the same names (their former names are not recorded). The first two ferries were renamed Old Manchester and Old Sheffield although they remained registered in their original names - the replacements PS Manchester (2) and PS Sheffield (2)were never registered. Sheffield (2) was withdrawn and then sold in 1864 and Manchester (2) in 1875, although she had seen little use in later years being expensive to run. They were replaced with the PS Liverpool and PS Doncaster in 1855/56 which had long lives, lasting until 1905 and 1913. The PS Grimsby (2) was built for the ferry in 1888 and remained on the ferry until 1924.

The Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) became the Great Central Railway (GCR) in 1897 ready for their London extension opening. They built the PS Cleethorpes in 1903 for the New Holland ferry. She lasted 31 years followed by an unsuccessful season at Leith as the Cruising Queen.

Two new paddle steamers were built in 1912, the PS Brocklesby & Killingholme, universally reviled as two of the ugliest paddlers ever. On the arrival of the two new LNER ships in 1934, Killingholme was retained a spare and for excursions until 1945. Brocklesby replaced Cruising Queen (ex-Cleethorpes) on the Forth but was no more successful, being scrapped in 1935.

From 1st January 1923 the Great Central Railway became part of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). In 1928 the LNER transferred the ex-North British Railway Clyde paddle steamer Dandie Dinmont (1895) to the Humber and renamed her Frodingham. She was modified to carry cars by removal of the fore-saloon before entering service and ran until the two new LNER steamers had fully settled in 1936 before being sold for scrap in Ghent.

The first two 'Castles' arrived in 1934, Tattershall Castle & Wingfield Castle, built by Grays of West Hartlepool. These ran until the 1970s and both survive on the Thames and at West Hartlepool respectively. They were joined by the Lincoln Castle in 1940 which was also preserved, at Hessle and Grimsby, but was demolished in some controversy in 2011.

The first diesel vessel used on the ferry was the Farringford in 1974. The Farringford had been delivered to British Railways (the British Transport Commission) in 1948 for service between Lymington and Yarmouth. She was driven by two paddlewheels, which could be controlled independently. In 1974 Farringford was rebuilt as a side loader and transferred to the Hull-New Holland route on the River Humber. She was withdrawn in 1981 - replaced y the new Humber Bridge. Farringford was sold to Western Ferries for use on their Gourock-Dunoon route. Sold in 1984, she was broken up in Hull.



 

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Humber Railway Ferries
GCR - LNER - BTC - AHL - BR - Sealink

Each image links to a larger copy which opens in a new window



Tattershall Castle
(LNER/BTC/AHL/BR/Sealink: 1934-72)

The Tattershall Castle was built by William Gray of West Hartlepool in 1934 for the LNER. she passed to the British Transport Commission (BTC) in 1948. Associated Humber Lines took over Humber ferry operations in 1959 and she received the red AHL band on her BTC/BR yellow and black funnel. The tripod mast on the funnel was added in 1964. She was sold in 1972, refitted at Immingham and eventually ended up on the Thames, where she remains as a floating bar in 2013.


Photo postcards of Tattershall Castle in LNER livery
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Post-1964 photo postcards of Tattershall Castle in BR livery
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Chantry Classics postcard of  Tattershall Castle  in Sealink Colours
Photo: ©Brian Todd
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Tattershall Castle being refitted at Immingham for use on the Thames
Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Official postcard of Tattershall Castle on the Thames, initially in use as an art gallery
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Tattershall Castle on the Thames, initially in use as an art gallery
Photos: ©1978 Ian Boyle, March 1978
PS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle, March 1978 - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.ukPS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle, March 1978 - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.ukPS TATTERSHALL CASTLE - Photo: ©1978 Ian Boyle, March 1978 - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk







Wingfield Castle
(LNER/BTC/AHL//Sealink: 1934-75)

The Wingfield Castle was built by William Gray of West Hartlepool in 1934 for the LNER. she passed to the British transport Commission (BTC) in 1948. Associated Humber Lines took over Humber ferry operations in 1959 and she received the red AHL band on her BTC/BR yellow and black funnel. The tripod mast on the funnel was added in 1964. She became the reserve ship in 1972, when Lincoln Castle ran a one-ship service, but was in service on my first Humber visit in 1974. Her final trip was in March 1974 so I was very lucky to travel on her. DEPV Farringford replaced Wingfield Castle.

Wingfield Castle then had various owner with plans for her to be based in stationary use at Brighton, Texas, Cardiff and operational on the Thames. None of these proposals succeeded. Pounds scrapyard at Portsmouth bought her in 1985 but resold to Hartlepool Borough Council whilst her lying derelict in Swansea. She returned to Hartlepool in June 1986 for restoration and was moored at the site of the former William Gray & Co shipyard where she had been built, as an exhibit of Hartlepool Museum.
Refurbished in 2006/2007 with the help of the Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the HMS Trincomalee Trust. She remains there in 2013.

Website: hartlepoolsmaritimeexperience.com


Photo postcard of Wingfield Castle in LNER livery
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Post-1964 photo postcard of Wingfield Castle in AHL livery
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Post-1964 photo postcard of Wingfield Castle in BR livery
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Wingfield Castle on the New Holland ferry in 1974
Photos: ©1974 Ian Boyle
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Chantry Classics postcard of Wingfield Castle in Sealink colours
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Chantry Classics postcard of Wingfield Castle (after withdrawal in 1972 with Sealink arrows removed?)
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Postcards of Wingfield Castle preserved at Hartlepool
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Photos of Wingfield Castle preserved at Hartlepool
Photos: ©1998 Hilton Davis
PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photos: ©1998 Hilton Davis - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photos: ©1998 Hilton Davis - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS WINGFIELD CASTLE - Photos: ©1998 Hilton Davis - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -







Lincoln Castle
(LNER/BTC/AHL//Sealink: 1934-78)

The Lincoln Castle was built for the LNER in 1940 by A.& J.Inglis on the Clyde with engines by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co of Troon. She had much better proportions than the previous two LNER paddlers with the boiler moved forward of engine.

1948-01-01: To British Transport Commission (BTC) Eastern Region
1959-01-01: Managed by Associated Humber Lines (AHL) and received red band on funnel
1965: received a mainmast
1972: Service became single ship with Wingfield Castle as spare vessel, replaced by Farringford in 1974
1978: Boiler failed at winter overhaul and withdrawn.

Eventually opened as a bar/restaurant at Hessle and later moved to Grimsby. She was scrapped in 2010 despite various offers to buy the ship and restore it.


Official BR postcard of Lincoln Castle
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Postcard of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Chantry Classics postcard of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Chantry Classics postcard of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Ramsey postcard of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



Humberside Libraries postcard of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
Painting by Colin Verity

PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk



Photo postcards of Lincoln Castle in Sealink livery
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Lincoln Castle at New Holland Pier in 1974
Photos: ©1974 Ian Boyle
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1974 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Lincoln Castle arriving at New Holland Pier in 1975
Photos: ©1975 Ian Boyle
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -



 Lincoln Castle in 1975
Photos: ©1975 Ian Boyle
PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -PS LINCOLN CASTLE - Photo: ©1975 Ian Boyle - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -







Farringford
(Sealink: 1934-78)

The first diesel vessel used on the ferry was the Farringford in 1974. The Farringford had been delivered to British Railways (the British Transport Commission) in 1948 for service between Lymington and Yarmouth. She was driven by two paddlewheels, which could be controlled independently. In 1974 Farringford was rebuilt as a side loader and transferred to the Hull-New Holland route on the River Humber. She was withdrawn in 1981 - replaced y the new Humber Bridge. Farringford was sold to Western Ferries for use on their Gourock-Dunoon route. Sold in 1984, she was broken up in Hull.

Postcard of Farringford ion the Humber
DEPV FARRINGFORD - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -DEPV FARRINGFORD - Simplon Postcards - simplonpc.co.uk -

















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