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Tilbury-Gravesend Ferries
Page 1: The Railway Ferries - 1862-1984
This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Tilbury-Gravesend ferries. This pages covers the railway ferries which operated the service from 1862 to 1984.
A steam ferry service replaced the sail and rowed ferries between Tilbury and Gravesend in 1855, using the paddle ferries
Tilbury (1)
,
Earl of Essex
and
Earl of Leicester
of the Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry Company. The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) was formed in 1862, and took over operation of the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, along with the
Tilbury (1)
of the Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry Company. The LTSR built a new paddler, the
Tilbury (2)
, in 1883, followed by a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906, the
Carlotta
,
Rose (1)
,
Catherine (1)
and
Gertrude
. They were joined by a slightly larger steamer, the
Edith (1)
, in 1911. The following year the LTSR was acquired by the Midland Railway, although it maintained a separate identity until 1920. The Midland Railway did not need to provide additional tonnage, and
Tilbury (2)
was scrapped in 1922.
In 1923, the Midland Railway was amalgamated into the London, Midland & Scottish Railway, who provided the two car ferries
Tessa
and
Mimie
in 1924 and 1927.
Carlotta
was scrapped in 1930, followed by the sale of
Gertrude
in 1932, but the remaining passenger ferries
Catherine (1)
,
Rose (1)
and
Edith (1)
, and the car ferries
Tessa
and
Mimie
passed to British Railways (BR) in 1948. They then survived until 1961 when they were all replaced by three new diesel passenger ferries
Catherine (2)
,
Edith (2)
and
Rose (2)
. Three vessels proved to be excessive, and the
Rose (2)
was sold to the Caledonian Steam Packet Co in 1967, becoming their
Keppel
.
In 1979, the ownership of
Catherine (2)
and
Edith (2)
transferred to Sealink UK Ltd, in preparation for the privatisation of the railway fleet. In 1984, Sealink was acquired by Sea Containers Ltd, including the Tilbury-Gravesend service.
Catherine (2)
had been laid up as spare boat in 1981, and her passenger certificate expired in 1984, leaving
Edith (2)
to continue alone.
Catherine (2)
was sold in 1989 for further service on the Tyne. In May 1990, Stena Line took over Sealink from Sea Containers. They were keen to dispose of this smallest link in their empire, and White Horse Ferries took over the service in 1991. They chartered the
Edith (2)
from Stena until the catamaran
Great Expectations CD
was delivered in 1992.
Edith (2)
has subsequently served as a house boat near Tower Bridge. The history of the route in private hands continues on
Tilbury - Gravesend: Page 2
Sections on this Page:-
London, Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR)
Midland Railway
London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS)
British Railways
Sealink
Ferries on this Page:-
Carlotta
- 1893-1930
Catherine (1)
- 1903-1960
Catherine (2)
- 1961-1984
Earl of Essex
- 1855-18??
Earl of Leicester
- 1855-18??
Edith (1)
- 1911-1961
Edith (2)
- 1961-1984
Gertrude
- 1901-1934
Mimie
- 1927-1965
Rose (1)
- 1901-1961
Rose (2)
- 1961-1969
Tessa
- 1924-1965
Tilbury (1)
- 1855-1905 (LTSR from 1862)
Tilbury (2)
- 1883-1922
Associated Pages:-
Tilbury - Gravesend: Page 1
- Railway Ferries: 1862-1984
- this page!
Tilbury - Gravesend: Page 2
- Private Operators: 1984-
Tilbury - Gravesend: Page 3
- Piers
Invicta Line
Kingswear Castle - Page 1
Kingswear Castle - Page 2
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
www.gres.org.uk
- Gravesend Railway Enthusiasts Society
References:-
The Five Minute Crossing
- John M.Ormiston
- Thurrock Local History Society, 1998
London, Tilbury & Southend Railway
- R.J.Essery
- Oxford Publishing Co, 2001
London, Tilbury & Southend Album
- George Dow
- Ian Allan, 1981
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LTSR - Midland Railway
Earl of Essex
(1855-18??)
Earl of Leicester
(1855-18??)
Tilbury (1)
(1855-1905)
A steam ferry service started between Tilbury and Gravesend in 1855 with the paddle ferries
Tilbury (1), Earl of Essex
and
Earl of Leicester
of the Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry Company. The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway was formed in 1862, and took over operation of the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, along with the
Tilbury (1)
.
Early photograph of
Earl of Essex
at Gravesend Town Pier.
The withdrawal date of
Earl of Essex
is unknown, but it was before 1880.
Art card of
Earl of Essex
of the Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry Company.
Painting: Ian H.Boyd. Publisher: Leander FA-008.
Tilbury (2)
(1883-1922)
The first purpose-built ferry for the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway (LTSR) was the
Tilbury (2)
of 1883. She passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, and was scrapped in 1922.
Postcard of
Tilbury (2)
at Gravesend Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window
Art card of
Tilbury (2)
of the LTSR.
Painting: Ian H.Boyd. Publisher: Leander FA-006.
Carlotta
(1893-1930)
The LTSR built a new paddler, the
Tilbury (2)
, in 1883, followed by a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906, the
Carlotta,
Rose (1)
,
Catherine (1)
and
Gertrude
.
Carlotta
passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, and the LMS in 1923, and was scrapped in 1930.
Postcard of
Carlotta
, posted 1904
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Carlotta
, posted 1905
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Carlotta.
Postcard of one of the LTSR steamers at Greenwich Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window
Rose (1)
(1901-1961 )
The LTSR built a new paddler, the
Tilbury (2)
, in 1883, followed by a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906, the
Carlotta
, Rose (1),
Catherine (1)
and
Gertrude
.
Rose (1)
passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, the LMS in 1923, and British Railways in 1948. She was scrapped in 1961.
Postcard of one of the LTSR steamers at Greenwich Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Rose (1)
and
Catherine (1)
at Tilbury in 1922, before the building of the Riverside Terminal.
Photo: © NRM
Photograph of
Rose (1)
at Gravesend Town Pier.
Photo: © NRM
Postcard of
Rose (1).
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Rose (1).
Click to open larger image in new window
Photographic postcard of
Rose (1).
Photo: © A.Duncan
Bell's postcard 99559 of
Rose (1)
.
Click to open larger image in new window
Bell's postcard 99559 of
Rose (1)
.
Art postcard of
Rose (1)
.
Painting: Ian H.Boyd. Publisher: Leander FA-001.
Catherine (1)
(1903-1960)
The LTSR built a new paddler, the
Tilbury (2)
, in 1883, followed by a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906, the
Carlotta
,
Rose (1)
, Catherine (1)
and
Gertrude
.
Catherine (1)
passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, the LMS in 1923, and British Railways in 1948. She was scrapped in 1961.
Postcard of one of the LTSR steamers at Greenwich Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Rose (1)
and
Catherine (1)
at Tilbury in 1922, before the building of the Riverside Terminal.
Photo: © NRM
Photograph of
Catherine (1)
at Gravesend Town Pier.
Photo: © NRM
Photograph of
Catherine (1)
at Gravesend Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © NRM
Photographic postcard of
Catherine (1).
Photo: © A.Duncan
Photographic postcard of
Catherine (1).
Pamlin photographic postcard of
Catherine (1)
at Gravesend Town Pier.
Art postcard of
Catherine (1).
Painting: Ian H.Boyd. Publisher: Leander FA-002.
Gertrude
(1901-1934)
The LTSR built a new paddler, the
Tilbury (2)
, in 1883, followed by a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906, the
Carlotta
,
Rose (1)
,
Catherine (1)
and
Gertrude
.
Gertrude
had open an foredeck for the carriage of vehicles.
Gertrude
passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, and the LMS in 1923, and was sold in 1932 to
The New Medway SP Co
. they used her during the 1932 and 1933 seasons for Strood-Southend services, but she was sold at the end of the latter season for service with M.H.Bland of Gibraltar as the
Caid
.
Postcard of one of the LTSR steamers at Greenwich Town Pier.
Click to open larger image in new window