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Excursion Ships of the North West
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of miscellaneous excursion ships of the North West coastal areas of England and Wales, with the emphasis on Blackpool. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table is a Ships List in chronological order. In general, ships from major ferry and railway companies are not shown on this page unless based locally - there are links to the major company pages.
 
 
Excursion Ships of the North West
The majority of sea excursions taken from the Lancashire and North Wales coast resorts were with the two dominant companies in the area, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co (IOMSPCo) and the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co (L&NWSS). Apart from the Tynwald and Snowdon, briefly based at Blackpool, these companies have their own pages. The major railway companies, Furness Railway, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway and Midland Railway operated a network of ferry services across the Irish Sea, and all also operated local excursion ships. The area was also covered by a network of passenger services run by Coast Lines. Due to the dominance of these major ferry companies, it is not surprising that no other major local excursion operators, such as Cosens on the South Coast, or P&A Campbell on the Bristol Channel, were ever established in the area.
 
 
Blackpool Excursion Steamers
Blackpool had the largest number of local vessels, which used the first of its three piers, the North Pier, built in 1863. Steamers were operated from the pier from the start, initially by the pier owners, and later the North Pier Steamship Co. Vessels included the Ocean Bride of 1858, Clifton of 1871, Queen of the Bay (1) of 1867 and the Queen of the Bay (2) of 1871. William Allsup supplied the Wellington to the South Blackpool Jetty Co in 1871, followed by the Nelson in 1875. Nelson was sold in 1883 to Samuel Little who operated her between Newport & Cardiff. The South Blackpool Jetty Co was acquired by the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co in in 1894, and Wellington remained in the fleet until c.1911.
 
The fleet was joined by the Belle in 1895, and the Greyhound, the finest of the Blackpool paddle steamers. She was joined by the twin-screw steamer Deerhound in 1901.
 
Other early steamers included the Dhu Heartach (W.H.Cocker: 1875-1884) and the Bickerstaffe (1879-1928). Bickerstaffe was joined by the similar, but larger Queen of the North in 1895. Bickerstaffe and Queen of the North were owned by J.Bickerstaffe, who formed the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co in 1894. The Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co took over the South Blackpool Jetty Co in 1894 and the North Pier Steamship Co fleet in 1905, giving them a monopoly in the resort. The Deerhound was sold soon afterwards, leaving the fleet as Bickerstaffe, Queen of the North, Belle, Wellington and Greyhound until the start of the war (apart from Wellington sold 1911). Only the Queen of the North was lost in the war, but Belle and Greyhound were sold in 1921 and 1923, leaving just the long-lived Bickerstaffe to continue until 1928, latterly under the name of H.D.Bickerstaffe (to whom the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co passed to c.1923). Robina was chartered to the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co in 1919, to the Blackpool Steam Shipping Co in 1923 and H.D.Bickerstaffe in 1924.
 
The IOMSPCo tried the elderly Tynwald at Blackpool in 1929, but she did not return and was laid up the following year. The L&NWSS then brought their elderly Snowdon during the illuminations in 1930. Again she did not return, and again she was withdrawn the following year. It was was 1933 before a ship was based at Blackpool again when Blackpool Pleasure Steamers Ltd (later Blackpool Steam Navigation Co) brought the Mersey ferry Minden to the resort. They later acquired the Queen of the Bay (2) and the Atalanta, although 1937 was the only year when all three steamers were in the fleet. None of these vessels reappeared after the Second World War, but Blackpool Steam Navigation Co (1947) was formed out of the old company, and used the Fairmile launch Pendennis until 1961. Since then, Waverley and Balmoral have made occasional calls.
 
 
Morecambe Excursion Steamers
One of the earliest steamers in the area was the Helvellyn, owned by the Furness Railway. Others included the paddle steamer Morecambe Queen (1), and the Queen of the Bay (1), which moved to Blackpool. The Morecambe Steamboat Co had the twin-screw steamers Morecambe Queen (2), Sunbeam and Britannia, plus the paddle steamer Roses. The twin screw steamer Britannia operated with the Morecambe Steamboat Co between 1888-1904. She was later renamed Duke of Abercorn, and served at Dublin, Southend and with David MacBrayne. From 1908, excursions were offered from adjacent port Heysham by the Midland Railway on their tug Wyvern. The Clyde steamer Isle of Bute ran for a short while in 1912, but was damaged against against a pier and was scrapped in 1913. Her place was taken by the Robina, which built in Ardrossan for the Morecambe Central Pier Co in 1914. She was registered for them until 1922, when she was transferred to W.A.& P.Cordingly. In 1919, Robina was chartered to the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co, and the following year for Bristol Channel service. This was followed by charters to the Blackpool Steam Shipping Co in 1923 and H.D.Bickerstaffe in 1924. Robina was sold in 1925.
 
 
Fleetwood Excursion Steamers
Shipping services from Fleetwood are covered on the Fleetwood page. The Fleetwood-Knott End ferries, which crossed the River Wyre, are covered on the Fleetwood Ferries page.
 
Sir Peter Hesketh, founder of Fleetwood, owned three former Clyde steamers, Cupid, Express and James Dennistoun, in the 1840s. There were brief services from Fleetwood to Scotland from 1847-1851 whilst through rail links were still being built. The fleet of the Barrow SN Co, which also ran from Fleetwood, later became part of the Midland Railway, and is covered on that page. Fleetwood became a major port for services to Ireland, which started in 1843, and were later run by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (jointly with the LNWR). They maintained the excursion steamer Lune at Fleetwood from 1892-1913.
 
The Furness Railway was a relatively minor English railway company, which founded its early prosperity on the carriage of iron ore. As this traffic declined towards the end of the 19th Century, the Company sought to increase the tourist passenger traffic to the English Lake District, the area in which its trains operated. In 1900 they introduced a passenger ferry service across Morecambe Bay, between Barrow and Fleetwood. There were tram connections onwards from Fleetwood to Blackpool. This service operated successfully, using a total of four paddle steamers, until the outbreak of war in 1914. The service was not revived after the war. These ships are covered on the Furness Railway page.
 
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co (IOMSPCo) ran summer services to Douglas from Fleetwood, frequently using their newest and best steamers, some built for the route. The most popular excursion for visitors to Fleetwood was always a day trip to the Isle of Man. Norwest Hovercraft services from Fleetwood to Douglas will be covered on a future page, currently under construction.
 
 
Preston Excursion Steamers
Excursion services from Preston were never very successful, although Blackpool steamers often ran from there during the annual Wakes holiday weeks. The Ribble Passenger Transport Co had two vessels named Ribble Queen based in Preston. The Ribble Queen (1) was a twin-screw steamer built in 1903, which was used between 1903-1905. The second attempt came in 1922, when the 1896-built paddle steamer Ribble Queen (2) was tried until 1925. She had previously been the Cloghmore and Greenore.
 
 
North Wales Excursion Steamers
The Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co (L&NWSS) and its competitors are covered on their own pages. The River Conway steamers of the St George Steam Packet Company will be covered on a future page, currently under construction.
 
In December 1934, MacBrayne's Fusilier was sold to The Cambrian Shipping Company, and she appeared as Lady Orme at Llandudno in June 1935. She ran short excursions to the Menai Straits, filling a gap left by the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co following the departure of the small paddle steamer Snowdon (2) in 1931, not filled until the St Silio (later St Trillo (2)) arrived in 1936. Lady Orme was not a success however, and she spent the following year at Ramsgate. 1937 found a further return to Llandudno, for the Ormes Cruising Company. Lady Orme ran short morning, afternoon and evening cruises during July, August and September. In her final season of 1938, she repeated the pattern of cruises, but as the Crestawave for John H.Oliver. This lasted only until August of the same year, when she was sold for breaking up.
 
 
Mersey Excursion Steamers
The famous Mersey ferries will be covered on a series of future web pages, currently under construction. The Jubilee Queen was acquired in November 1935 by the Mersey & Blackpool Steamship Company, for a short-lived service from Liverpool to New Brighton, Blackpool and Fleetwood as the Jubilee Queen. The service operated from Easter 1936 until June only. In July Jubilee Queen was transferred to the Jubilee Shipping Company who also ran a few trips from Liverpool to Blackpool, but this was even more short-lived than the previous venture. the colours at this time were black hull, white saloons and a yellow funnel with red band and black top. At the end of July, Jubilee Queen was acquired by S.B.Kelly, and on 9th August initiated a service from Barrow to Blackpool and/or Fleetwood (when tidal conditions prevented access to Blackpool North Pier). In practice the calls at Blackpool ceased the following day, and subsequent trips were all to Fleetwood, the last being on 13th September. Jubilee Queen was sold for scrap in 1937.
 
 
Manchester Ship Canal Excursion Steamers
The Manchester Ship Canal was opened in 1893, and a large number of vessels were brought to start cruises along its length. These included the Falmouth Castle, former Clyde steamers Eagle and Shandon (as Daniel Adamson), Manx Fairy, Fairy Queen (From Douglas), and the John Stirling from the Forth. In 1894 they were joined by the large chartered Clyde steamer Ivanhoe, as shown in the postcard below. Smaller boats included the Irlam, Mode Wheel and Annie, the latter later serving at Maldon for cruises to Osea Island. None of the services were profitable, and all vessels moved on to further employment elsewhere.
 
 
Ships on This Page:-
Annie - Excursions on the Manchester Ship Canal
Atalanta - Excursions from Blackpool
Belle - Excursions from Blackpool
Bickerstaffe - Excursions from Blackpool
Britannia - Excursions from Morecambe
Crestawave - Excursions from Llandudno in 1935 and 1937
Greyhound - Excursions from Blackpool
Ivanhoe - Excursions on the Manchester Ship Canal
Jubilee Queen - Excursions from Liverpool to Blackpool in 1935-1936
Lady Orme - Excursions from Llandudno in 1935 and 1937
Lune - LYR/LNWR - Excursions from Fleetwood to Blackpool & Morecambe
Minden - Excursions from Blackpool
Nelson - Excursions from Blackpool
Queen of the Bay (2) - Excursions from Blackpool
Queen of the North - Excursions from Blackpool
Robina - Excursions from Blackpool and Morecambe
Snowdon (2) - L&NWSS - Excursions from Blackpool in 1930
Sunbeam - Excursions from Morecambe
Tynwald (3) - IOMSPCo - Excursions from Blackpool to Douglas (IOM) in 1929
Wyvern - Midland Railway/LMS - Excursions from Heysham to Fleetwood etc
 
North West Companies Running Excursions:-
Coast Lines - Passenger services from Liverpool and Heysham to Ireland.
Furness Railway - Barrow-Fleetwood service with paddle steamers.
IOMSPCo - Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway - Fleetwood-Ireland Services
L&NWSS - Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company
London Midland & Scottish Railway - Heysham-Belfast Services
Midland Railway - Heysham-Belfast & Heysham-Douglas Services
 
Associated Pages:-
Fleetwood - Shipping Services from the port.
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
References:-
British Pleasure Steamers 1920-1939 by Geoffrey Grimshaw
Lancashire Coast Pleasure Steamers by Andrew Gladwell
 
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Table of Ship Histories

Name

Other names

 Built
 Tynwald (3)  

 1891
 
 
 
 
 
North West Excursion Ships
 
Nelson
(South Blackpool Jetty Co: 1875-1883)
 
Dim 140’0” x 19’8” x 9’0” draft. Grt 190t. Official No.69709.
 
Yard No.27. Built May 1875 by William Allsup at Preston for South Blackpool Jetty Co. Ltd., and fitted with an 80 Nhp steam engine she was used as an excursion steamer at Blackpool. Around 1883 she was sold to Samuel Little who operated her between Newport & Cardiff. In 1886 she was acquired by the Bristol Channel Steam Towing & Firing Co. Ltd., who used her extensively for towing, however within a year she had been sold again this time to be used as a pleasure steamer operating out of Plymouth. She never actually sailed from there because she was chartered by Hastings St.Leonards & Eastbourne Steamboat Co. who used her for excursions out of Hastings. She was sold to Mr Collard of Hastings for South Coast excursion work and was acquired by A.T.C.L. on 3rd June 1892 for a figure of £1600.00 she was immediately chartered back to Mr Collard. A.T.C.L. sold her to Mr J.H.Williams of Manchester in June 1894 for double her purchase price. She was sold some time later to Belgian owners who used her for excursions from Blankenberge up until 1919. Her ultimate fate is unknown. (supplied by Mark Butler)
 
 
The Nelson at Blankenberge
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bickerstaffe
(Blackpool: 1879-1928)
 
Bickerstaffe was built for John Bickerstaffe in 1879, and served at Blackpool for almost fifty years. She passed to the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Company in 1895, then back to Harold Bickerstaffe in 1922. She was broken up in 1928. Bickerstaffe was mainly used for local excursions from Blackpool, known for her afternoon sailing being timed to coincide with the closing time of the local public houses.
 
 
G.W.H. (Blackpool) postcard of Bickerstaffe, posted September 1909.
 
 
Postcard of Bickerstaffe.
 
 
Advance postcard 503 of Bickerstaffe, with the Blackpool coat of arms, posted August 1908.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Bickerstaffe.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Bickerstaffe.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sunbeam
(Morecambe: 1885-1909 - 85 grt)
 
The screw steamer Sunbeam served at Morecambe for the Morecambe Steamboat Co between 1885-1909.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Sunbeam, apparently on the Thames (Southend?).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Britannia
(Morecambe: 1888-1904 - 144 grt)
 
The twin screw steamer Britannia was built for J.Brown, Robert Birkett and R.Wilson of Lancaster in 1888, and served at Morecambe for their Morecambe Steamboat Co until 1904. Britannia ran excurions to Fleetwood and Blackpool plus local trips. She then served in Dublin for Duke Shipping Co and was renamed Duke of Abercorn. She ran aground on Dalkey Island in 1910, but was refloated on the next tide. In 1911 she moved to Southend for Henry Cooney's Southend Steam Packet Co, where she replaced the burnt out Sunbeam. In 1914 she was bought by David MacBrayne for summer excursions. She also briefly operated the Ballachulish-Kinlochleven run but her boilers were troublesome and she was sold for scrap in February 1915.
 
 
Postcard of Duke of Abercorn, after she left Morecambe.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lune
(LYR/LNWR Joint: 1892-1913 - 253 grt)
 
The small paddle steamer Lune was delivered in 1892 to operate trips to Blackpool and Morecambe from Fleetwood. She was sold in 1913 to Cosens & Co, becoming the Melcombe Regis. Other L&YR/LNWR Fleetwood steamers are shown on Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.
 
 
Sankey photograph of Lune arriving at Fleetwood, with the North Euston Hotel in the background.
 
 
Postcard of Lune off Blackpool with Greyhound in the background, plus an enlarged image.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ivanhoe
(Manchester Ship Canal: 1894)
 
The Manchester Ship Canal was opened in 1893, and a large number of vessels were brought to start cruises along its length. These included the Falmouth Castle, former Clyde steamers Eagle and Shandon (as Daniel Adamson), Manx Fairy, Fairy Queen (From Douglas), and the John Stirling from the Forth. In 1894 they were joined by the large chartered Clyde steamer Ivanhoe, as shown in the postcard below. Smaller boats included the Irlam, Mode Wheel and Annie, the latter later serving at Maldon for cruises to Osea Island. None of the services were profitable, and all vessels moved on to further employment elsewhere.
 
 
Nuttall (Eccles) postcard of Ivanhoe passing Barton Aqueduct.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annie
(Manchester Ship Canal: 1893)
 
The Manchester Ship Canal was opened in 1893, and Annie was one of a large number of vessels were brought to start cruises along its length. These included the Falmouth Castle, former Clyde steamers Eagle and Shandon (as Daniel Adamson), Manx Fairy, Fairy Queen (From Douglas), and the John Stirling from the Forth. In 1894 they were joined by the large chartered Clyde steamer Ivanhoe, as shown in the postcard below. Smaller boats included the Irlam, Mode Wheel and Annie, the latter later serving at Maldon for cruises to Osea Island. None of the services were profitable, and all vessels moved on to further employment elsewhere.
 
 
Postcard of Annie, whilst serving at Maldon.
 
 
Postcard of Annie, whilst serving at Maldon.
 
 
Postcard of Annie, whilst serving at Maldon.
 
 
Postcard of Annie, whilst serving at Maldon.
 
 
Postcard of Annie, whilst serving at Maldon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Queen of the North
(Blackpool: 1895-1914)
 
Bickerstaffe was joined in the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co fleet by the similar, but larger, Queen of the North in 1895. She had unusual machinery with four cylinders, two oscillating and two fixed. She made excursions to Douglas etc until the First World War, when she served as a minesweeper. She was lost in 1917. Like the Bickerstaffe, she was not an attractive steamer.
 
 
Cooper & Sons (Central Pier, Blackpool) postcard of Queen of the North.
Posted 1904.
 
 
Postcard of Queen of the North.
Posted September 1909.
 
 
Herald (Blackpool) postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
Postcard of Queen of the North.
Posted August 1911.
 
 
Postcard of Queen of the North.
Posted August 1910.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of the North.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belle
(Blackpool: 1895-1921)
 
Belle (launched as Llandudno Belle) was built for the Llandudno & Carnarvon Steamboat Co in 1892, but was not successful in North Wales service. She soon moved to a service between Blackpool and Southport, and passed to the North Pier Steamship Co, Blackpool, Ltd in 1895, joining the Greyhound and Clifden. After some years of competition, the North Pier vessels were bought by the rival Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co in 1905. Belle was broken up in 1921.
 
 
Postcard of Belle at Blackpool, posted August 1912.
 
 
Postcard of Belle.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greyhound
(Blackpool: 1895-1921)
 
Greyhound was the finest of the limited number of steamers based in Blackpool. She was built in 1895 for the North Pier Steamship Co, and passed to the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co after about 10 years. Greyhound operated services from Blackpool to Llandudno and Douglas (Isle of Man). On Sundays she sailed from Liverpool to Blackpool. During the Preston Wakes holiday week she would undertake sailings from Preston. She returned to Blackpool after WW1, but was no longer profitable, and was sold to Belfast owners in 1923. Following a boiler accident in 1924, she was sold for service in Turkey as Buyuk Ada.
 
 
Postcard of Greyhound.
 
 
Postcard of Greyhound.
Posted from Southport, 2nd August 1914, having returned from a sail to Llandudno.
 
 
Postcard of Greyhound, posted February 1906.
 
 
Postcard of Greyhound.
 
 
Postcard of Buyuk Ada in Turkish service.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Robina
(Morecambe: 1914-1925)
(Blackpool: 1919 & 1923-1924)
 
Robina was a much travelled vessel which was built in Ardrossan for the Morecambe Central Pier Co in 1914. The war started before she could complete her first season. Robina was chartered to the Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co in 1919, and the following year for Bristol Channel service. She returned to Blackpool again in 1923, in competion with the Bickerstaffe. The following year Robina was chartered by Harold Bickerstaffe, sailing in consort with Bickerstaffe. Robina was sold to Belfast owners in 1925, where she worked as a tender until the war, which was spent on similar duties on the Clyde. After the war, Robina was bought by Coast Lines, who intended to use her at Falmouth. This fell through, and she was chartered to David MacBrayne in 1947-48, and to Coast Lines associates Island Shipping (Guernsey) in 1949. Robina was then sold to the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail SP Co (Red Funnel Steamers) who sold her in 1952 to Italian owners. However she was broken up in Holland the following year.
 
 
Kingsway postcard of Robina at Belfast in 1925 or 1926.
 
 
Robina off Barrow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tynwald
(Blackpool: 1929)
 
 
Tynwald (3) was built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo) by the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co in 1891, intended for all year service (much of the fleet was used during the summer months only). She was intended to cover Ardrossan-Douglas services in the summer, plus be the main winter boat on Liverpool-Douglas services. Tynwald (3) was a twin screw steamer powered by two sets of triple-expansion engines - the IOMSPCo was still building paddle steamers for its fast summer services at this time. However, she achieved the very creditable speed of 19.5 knots on trial. Tynwald (3) proved to be very popular on her summer Ardrossan services, but was not well liked on her winter route due to her tendency to roll. She was a very versatile ships, and sailed on virtually every IOMSPCo route in the pre-WW1 years. She remained on the Liverpool station throughout the war, maintaining the vital lifeline to the Isle of Man. After the war, Tynwald (3) was initially used in summers only, reverting to an all year boat on the loss of the Douglas (3) in 1923. This continued until she was replaced on winter duties by the Rushen Castle in 1928. In 1929, the Tynwald (3) was used for excursions from Blackpool to Douglas and Llandudno, plus local trips around Morecambe Bay. They were not repeated the following year, and she was laid up in Barrow from 1930 until her sale in 1933.
 
Complete history of Tynwald (3)
 
 
Official IOMSPCo postcard of Tynwald (3).
 
 
Photographic postcard of Tynwald (3) at Llandudno.
This is a very clear photo, as can be seen in the larger image.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
 
Snowdon (2)
(Blackpool: 1930)
 
The Snowdon Passenger Steamboat Company started in 1892 with the small paddle steamer Snowdon (2) (338gt). She was built by Laird Brothers of Birkenhead. The Snowdon Passenger Steamboat Company, and the Snowdon (2), were taken over by the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co in 1899. In September 1930, Snowdon (2) was stationed at Blackpool for a few weeks during the illuminations. She had offered short cruises from Blackpool previously, whilst passengers on cruises from Llandudno were allowed time ashore, but had never been based there before. The trips were not repeated, and Snowdon (2) was withdrawn the following year.
 
Complete history of Snowdon (2)
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snowdon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jubliee Queen
(Liverpool & Blackpool: 1935-1936)
 
Jubilee Queen was built as the Duchess of Kent in 1897, for Isle of Wight services from Portsmouth. She served in this area until 1933, when she was sold to the New Medway SP Co as the Clacton Queen in the autumn of 1933. She took the place of the City of Rochester on the Ipswich-Clacton run, and also appeared on the Strood-Southend route.
 
The Clacton Queen was sold in November 1935 to Mersey & Blackpool Steamship Company, for a short-lived service from Liverpool to New Brighton, Blackpool and Fleetwood as the Jubilee Queen. The service operated from Easter 1936 until June only. In July Jubilee Queen was transferred to the Jubilee Shipping Company who also ran a few trips from Liverpool to Blackpool, but this was even more short-lived than the previous venture. The colours at this time were black hull, white saloons and a yellow funnel with red band and black top. At the end of July, Jubilee Queen was acquired by S.B.Kelly, and on 9th August initiated a service from Barrow to Blackpool and/or Fleetwood (when tidal conditions prevented access to Blackpool North Pier). In practice the calls at Blackpool ceased the following day, and subsequent trips were all to Fleetwood, the last being on 13th September. Jubilee Queen was sold for scrap in 1937.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Jubilee Queen in 1936, with red funnel band.
 
 
Official postcard of Jubilee Queen, possibly using a photo of Clacton Queen since she is without black funnel top?
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lady Orme - Crestawave
(Liverpool & Llandudno: 1935, 1937-38)
 
Lady Orme was built as the Fusilier of David MacBrayne in 1888. She was powered by a single cylinder diagonal engine, which survived with change to the end of her 51 year career, although she had a new boiler in 1901 and 1928. She was a general purpose ship, running on various MacBrayne services, although she spent much of her time on the Oban-Fort William route. The Oban-Staffa-Iona vessel Grenadier was lost in 1927 (one of her boilers was retrieved for Fusilier's 1928 reboilering), and Fusilier deputised on this prestige route until 1930, when the new Lochfyne arrived. She covered the winter Glasgow-Ardrishaig route during the same period. In 1931 Fusilier moved to the Mallaig-Kyle-Portree service, until sold in 1934 for excursion service from Granton on the Forth. She retained her MacBrayne colours for this service, which only lasted for the 1934 season.
 
In December 1934, Fusilier was sold to The Cambrian Shipping Company, and she appeared as Lady Orme at Llandudno in June 1935. She ran short excursions to the Menai Straits, filling a gap in the Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Co fleet following the departure of the Snowdon (2) from Llandudno in 1931, not filled until the St Silio (later St Trillo (2)) arrived in 1936. Lady Orme was not a success however, and she spent the following year at Ramsgate, with her funnel now reverting to red. 1937 found a further return to Llandudno, for the Ormes Cruising Company. Her funnel reverted to yellow, but her lower hull was now black. She ran short morning, afternoon and evening cruises during July, August and September. In her final season of 1938, she repeated the pattern of cruises, but as the Crestawave for John H.Oliver. This lasted only until August of the same year, when she was sold for breaking up.
 
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
She is in 1935 Cambrian Shipping colours of white hull and yellow funnel with black top.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
B.& A.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Lady Orme.
 
 
Modern "Friends of the Ferries" postcard of Lady Orme, in 1937 with black hull.
Photo: Keith P.Lewis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wyvern
(Heysham: 1906-1960)
 
Wyvern was a tug built for the Midland Railway at Heysham in 1905. She started excursions between Heysham and Fleetwood in 1908, and later served in this capacity only. She passed to the London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923, and continued running excursions until WW2. Ownership passed to British Railways in 1948, and she was not scrapped until 1960, presumably having reverted to towing duties after the war.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Wyvern at Heysham in Midland Railway colours, with passengers.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Wyvern at Heysham in Midland Railway colours, with passengers.
 
 
Postcard of Wyvern (at Fleetwood?) in LMS colours, with passengers and a canvas shelter erected.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Wyvern (at Fleetwood?) in LMS colours, with passengers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minden
(Blackpool: 1933-1938)
 
Minden was built as the Birkenhead ferry Bidston in 1903. In 1933, she was renamed Old Bidston to release the name for a new ferry. In June that year, Old Bidston was sold to Blackpool Pleasure Steamers and renamed Minden, for excursion work from Blackpool. She was superseded in 1937 by the Atalanta, but continued in the area principally from Morecambe, but also Fleetwood. In 1938, Minden was transferred to the Blackpool Steam Navigation Co Ltd, but was sold for scrap in October of that year.
 
 
Postcard of Minden at Blackpool, with yellow funnel.
 
 
Postcard of Minden in Liverpool docks, with yellow funnel.
 
 
Postcard of Minden in Liverpool docks, with yellow funnel.
 
 
Postcard of Minden in Liverpool docks, with yellow funnel.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Minden.
 
 
Postcard of Minden at Blackpool, with black funnel top, received in 1937.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Postcard of Minden at Blackpool, with black funnel top, received in 1937.
Card appears to have been taken at the same time as the one above.
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Postcard of Minden at Blackpool, with black funnel top.
 
 
Blackpool Pleasure Steamers fleet postcard showing Minden, Queen of the Bay and Atalanta.
The three ships existed simultaneously at Blackpool in 1937 only.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Queen of the Bay
(Blackpool: 1935-1937)
 
Queen of the Bay was built as the twin screw minesweeper Ventnor in 1919. She was sold to South Africa soon after completion, carrying the names Verwood, Crozier, Grozier and Protea. From 1925 she worked as a survey ship, and between 1932-1935 as a pleasure steamer in Table Bay. She arrived back at the UK in December 1935, after a stormy 98 day passage. Originally owned by Blackpool Pleasure Steamers, she passed to the Blackpool Steam Navigation Co in May 1936, renamed Queen of the Bay. She revived Blackpool-Llandudno sailings, and had a white hull and yellow funnel in her first season. Her hull was black in 1937, with a black top added to her funnel. In 1937, she also sailed from Barrow. She was sold in October 1937, eventually passing to French owners.
 
 
B.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Queen of the Bay, with white hull and yellow funnel.
 
 
B.Fielden (Southport) photographic postcard of Queen of the Bay, with white hull and yellow funnel.
 
 
Real Photographs postcard of Queen of the Bay, after arrival from South Africa?
 
 
Blackpool Pleasure Steamers fleet postcard showing Queen of the Bay, Minden and Atalanta.
The three ships existed simultaneously at Blackpool in 1937 only. Card posted 1938.
 
 
Enlarged image of Queen of the Bay from the postcard above.
 
 
Photograph of Queen of the Bay.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Atalanta
(Blackpool: 1937-1939)
 
Atalanta was built for the Glasgow & South Western Railway (GSWR) in 1906. Her engines were supposedly built to give the personnel of the Clydebank engine shops experience of building turbine machinery prior to the building of the Lusitania. The GSWR then ordered a hull using the experimental engines, with the option to return her to her builders if not satisfactory. She was smaller and slower than other pre-WW1 turbines, and was designed to be equivalent to the GSWR paddle steamer Mars. Atalanta ran excursions from Ayr in the summer, and on the Ardrossan-Brodick (Arran) mail service in the winter. She required new boilers after her first season, since her speed was below expectations, and she was renowned for rolling in the winter seas, for which modifications were made in 1908. Overall, Atalanta was not considered a very successful steamer in pre-WW1 years. After use as a minesweeper in WW1, she served all year round on the Arran mail services, until replaced by the Marchioness of Graham in 1936, in which season she ran from Wemyss Bay to Largs, Millport and Kilchatten Bay. Her ownership had passed from the GSWR to the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923.
 
Atalanta was sold in March 1937 to the Blackpool Steam Navigation Co, who used her for local trips from Blackpool and Morecambe, replacing the Minden, plus longer trips to Llandudno and Barrow (the latter from Fleetwood). She was the last steamer in the Blackpool fleet for her final 1939 season. After serving throughout a second war in Rosyth and Scapa Flow, she was not deemed fit for further service, and was scrapped in 1945.
 
 
Blackpool Pleasure Steamers postcard of Atalanta at Blackpool in 1937.
 
 
Blackpool Pleasure Steamers fleet postcard showing Atalanta, Queen of the Bay and Minden.
The three ships existed simultaneously at Blackpool in 1937 only.
 
 
Photograph of Atalanta after war service at Methil, 30th May 1946.
Photo: Alistair Deayton collection.
 
 
Photograph of Atalanta after war service at Methil, 30th May 1946.
Photo: Alistair Deayton collection.
 
 
 
 
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