Red Funnel Castle Class Ferry Postcards

This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of Red Funnel Ferries, previously the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. (reputedly the longest title in the UK Companies Register).
An alphabetical list of ships covered on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships shown on this page. Below this are postcards and photos of the fleet in chronological order.

Ships on This Page:-
Bergen Castle - 2003-2004
Carisbrooke Castle - 1959-74
Cowes Castle - 1965-94
Netley Castle - 1974-97
Norris Castle (2) - 1947-62
Norris Castle (3) - 1968-94
Osborne Castle - 1962-78

Timetables & Brochures:-
Red Funnel Timetables

Red Funnel Pages:-
Red Funnel - Header Page
Red Funnel - Paddle Steamers
Red Funnel - Screw Steamers
Red Funnel - Motor Vessels
Red Funnel - Tugs & Tenders
Red Funnel - Castle Car Ferries - this page
Red Funnel - Raptor Class Ferries
Red Funnel - Red Jet Fast Ferries

Associated Pages:-
Jadrolinija Page 3
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page

References:-
Red Funnel & Before - by R.B.Adams - Kingfisher Railway Publications (1986)


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powered by FreeFind Table of Ship Histories Name Other names Built Bergen Castle Nordhordland 1975 Carisbrooke Castle Citta di Meta, Giglio Expresso II 1959 Cowes Castle Nehaj 1965 Netley Castle Sis 1974 Norris Castle (3) Lovrjenac 1968 Osborne Castle Le Gobelet D'Argent 1962 Castle Car Ferries


Norris Castle (2)
(Red Funnel: 1947-1962)


Red Funnel postcard of Norris Castle (2) at Southampton, with a fine collection of 1940s/50s cars.
.




Frith's postcard CS20 of Norris Castle (2) at East Cowes.


Beken (Cowes) photographic postcard of Norris Castle (2).





Photographic postcard of Norris Castle (2).





Photographic postcard of Norris Castle (2).


Duncan postcard of Norris Castle (2).





Photographic postcard of Norris Castle (2).






Carisbrooke Castle
(Red Funnel: 1959-1974)

672 grt - 58.27m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 673 passengers - 25 cars

Carisbrooke Castle was built by Thornycroft & Co, Southampton, in 1959, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She entered service between Southampton and East Cowes (Isle of Wight). From 1964, she also called at West Cowes. Carisbrooke Castle was withdrawn in 1974, and sold to Societa Partenopea di Navigazione S.p.A., Naples, and renamed Citta di Meta. She served between Naples and Ischia. In 1989 she was sold to Maregiglio S.r.l., Naples, and renamed Giglio Expresso II, for services between Porto S. Stefano-Isola del Giglio. In 1980, she was sold to Transporti Regionali Marittimi (T.RE.MAR.), Naples, for services between Calasetta-Carloforte.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

J.Arthur Dixon postcard SS111 of Carisbrooke Castle.
Photo: Beken & Son, Cowes.





Salmon postcard 2304c of Carisbrooke Castle.


Frith postcard CS62 of Carisbrooke Castle at East Cowes.





Enlarged image from J.Arthur Dixon postcard PIW/87796 of Carisbrooke Castle.


Unidentified postcard of Carisbrooke Castle.
A later photo taken after the boat deck was extended to the stern.







Osborne Castle
(Red Funnel: 1962-1978)

736 grt - 191 ft long - 14 knots - 673 passengers - 25 cars

Osborne Castle was built by Thornycroft & Co, Southampton, in 1962, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She entered service between Southampton and Cowes (Isle of Wight). She was held as reserve ship throughout 1976, but was reactivated during the summer of 1977 to provide extra weekend capacity. Osborne Castle was sold in 1978 to Canadian owners as Le Gobelet D'Argent, used between Trois-Pistoles and les Escoumins on the St Lawrence Seaway. Her new owners rebuilt her as a drive-through ferry.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Frith's postcard CS.74 of Osborne Castle.





J.Arthur Dixon postcard SS2116 of Osborne Castle.
Photo: Beken & Son, Cowes.






Duncan postcard of Osborne Castle.








Cowes Castle
(Red Funnel: 1965-1994)

786 grt - 58.21m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 500 passengers - 25 cars
After 1975:- 912 grt - 67.36m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 900 passengers - 30 cars

Cowes Castle was built by Thornycroft & Co, Southampton, in 1965, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She entered service between Southampton and Cowes (Isle of Wight). In 1975, Cowes Castle was rebuilt in Belgium as a drive-through ferry. In 1994, she was sold to Jadrolinija, Rijeka,Croatia, and renamed Nehaj.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


J.Arthur Dixon postcard SS6401 of Cowes Castle.
Photo: Beken & Son, Cowes.


Duncan postcard of Cowes Castle.





Seapost postcard (serial No.12) of Cowes Castle after rebuilding as a drive-through ferry.





Duncan postcard of Cowes Castle.





Red Funnel postcard (Fincom X0148) of Cowes Castle after rebuilding as a drive-through ferry.





Simplon Postcards release sp1242 (issued January 1998) of Cowes Castle in later red livery.
Photo: © Jenny Williamson.









Norris Castle (3)
(Red Funnel: 1968-1994)

734 grt - 58.29m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 500 passengers - 25 cars
After 1976:- 922 grt - 67.41m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 900 passengers - 30 cars

Norris Castle (3) was built by Thornycroft & Co, Southampton, in 1968, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She entered service between Southampton and Cowes (Isle of Wight). Norris Castle had a smaller area of passenger accommodation than her predecessors to allow greater freight capacity. In 1975, Norris Castle (3) was rebuilt in Belgium as a drive-through ferry. In 1994, she was sold to Jadrolinija, Rijeka,Croatia, and renamed Lovrjenac.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


J.Arthur Dixon postcard PS1/21298 of Norris Castle (3).
Photo: Beken & Son, Cowes.





Enlarged image from Collins (Portsmouth) postcard E5AW of Norris Castle (3).
Photo: W.L.C.Baker.





Red Funnel postcard (Bouldens 4014) of Norris Castle after rebuilding as a drive-through ferry.





Duncan postcard of Norris Castle





Red Funnel postcard (Fincom X0146) of Norris Castle after rebuilding as a drive-through ferry.





Enlarged image from J.Arthur Dixon postcard PW27235 of Norris Castle (3) at Cowes.
Photo: Terry Grimshaw.





Enlarged image from J.Arthur Dixon postcard PW27236 of Norris Castle (3) at Cowes.
Photo: Terry Grimshaw.





Simplon Postcards release sp1241 (issued January 1998) of Norris Castle in later red livery.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.









Netley Castle
(Red Funnel: 1974-1997)

734 grt - 58.29m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 500 passengers - 25 cars
After 1976:- 922 grt - 67.41m long - 1324 kW=14 knots - 900 passengers - 30 cars

Netley Castle was built by Ryton Marine Ltd, Wallsend on Tyne, in 1974, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. She entered service between Southampton and Cowes (Isle of Wight). In 1994, Netley Castle was sold to Jadrolinija, Rijeka, Croatia, and renamed Sis.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


J.Arthur Dixon postcard PS1/22188 of Netley Castle.





Seapost postcard (serial No.10) of Netley Castle.





Duncan postcard of Netley Castle.





Red Funnel official postcard (Fincom X0149) of Netley Castle.





M.N.W.Edwards postcard Br.f.6 of Netley Castle in later red livery.
Photo: © M.N.W.Edwards.





John Stranger postcard (no serial number) of Netley Castle in King George V dry dock at Southampton in 1991.
Photo: © Mike Insall.





Certificate issued for the final sailing of Netley Castle in linal red livery.





Enlarged image of Netley Castle as used on the certificate above.









Bergen Castle
(Red Funnel: 2003-2005)

Bergen Castle was acquired whilst Red Falcon and Red Osprey were being lengthened in Poland between October 2003-March 2004. She was previously the 1975-built Nordhordland of Norwegian operator HSD. In late 2004 it was announced that Bergen Castle would not be used whilst the Red Eagle received her extra deck from December 15th. Ship was offered for sale with brokers in 2005.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southampton, 25th October 2003.





Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southampton, 25th October 2003.





Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southampton, 25th October 2003.





Photo: © Ian Boyle, Southampton, 25th October 2003.





Photo: © Ian Boyle, 31st December 2003.





Photo: © Ian Boyle, 31st December 2003.









Red Funnel Timetables


The 1966 Red Funnel timetable.
Click on the image to see more pages at a larger scale.







The 1969 Red Funnel Services timetable.
Click on the image to see more pages at a larger scale.






The 1973 Red Funnel timetable.
Click on the image to see more pages at a larger scale.
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Name	Other names	Built
Bergen Castle	Nordhordland	1975
Carisbrooke Castle	Citta di Meta, Giglio Expresso II	1959
Cowes Castle	Nehaj	1965
Netley Castle	Sis	1974
Norris Castle (3)	Lovrjenac	1968
Osborne Castle	Le Gobelet D'Argent	1962