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The Great Western Railway's ships operated in connection with the company's trains to provide services to
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, the
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and
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. Powers were granted by
Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
for the Great Western Railway (GWR) to operate ships in 1871. The following year the company took over the ships operated by Ford and Jackson on the route between Wales and Ireland. Services were operated between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France on the former Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Packet Company routes. Smaller GWR vessels were also used as tenders at Plymouth and on ferry routes on the
River Severn , name_etymology = , image = SevernFromCastleCB.JPG , image_size = 288 , image_caption = The river seen from Shrewsbury Castle , map = RiverSevernMap.jpg , map_size = 288 , map_c ...
and
River Dart The River Dart is a river in Devon, England, that rises high on Dartmoor and flows for to the sea at Dartmouth. Name Most hydronyms in England derive from the Brythonic language (from which the river's subsequent names ultimately derive fr ...
. The railway also operated tugs and other craft at their docks in
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and South West
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.


History

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Isambard Kingdom Brunel (; 9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859) was a British civil engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history," "one of the 19th-century engineering giants," and "on ...
, the GWR's chief engineer, envisaged the railway linking London with the United States of America. He was responsible for designing three large ships, the (1837), (1843; now preserved at
Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
), and (1858). The plans for the
transatlantic Transatlantic, Trans-Atlantic or TransAtlantic may refer to: Film * Transatlantic Pictures, a film production company from 1948 to 1950 * Transatlantic Enterprises, an American production company in the late 1970s * ''Transatlantic'' (1931 film) ...
routes from Bristol failed to materialise but the ships found other uses. Although they were never owned by the Great Western Railway Company, several shareholders and officers of the railway also had interests in the ships. The company's first vessels were two tugs working on the River Dee that were acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in 1854. Two years later a service between Neyland in
Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
and
Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" , mapsize = 220px , pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe , pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe , pushpin_relief = 1 , coordinates ...
in
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
was established in connection with the railway. This was operated by Ford and Jackson until 1 February 1872 when they were transferred to the railway company under powers obtained by the Great Western Railway (Steam Vessels) Act of 13 July 1871. The Act also allowed operation to the
Channel Islands The Channel Islands ( nrf, Îles d'la Manche; french: îles Anglo-Normandes or ''îles de la Manche'') are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey, ...
and France. These services were eventually provided from Weymouth, although the French services were only operated on a regular basis from 1878 to 1885. After this only cargo services were provided, often on a seasonal basis. The Channel Islands services were operated for the GWR by the Weymouth and Channel Island Steam Packet Company until August 1889 when the railway took on the operation of the route. Meanwhile, the New Passage Ferry of the River Severn had become a GWR service when the
Bristol and South Wales Union Railway The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway was built to connect Bristol, England, with south Wales. The route involved a ferry crossing of the River Severn but was considerably shorter than the alternative route through Gloucester. The ferry wa ...
was
amalgamated Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form. Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to: Mathematics and science * Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal **Pan am ...
in 1868. Another operation taken over by the GWR was the Plymouth Great Western Docks in 1876. The
South Devon Railway Company The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The line had to traverse difficult hilly terrain, and the compa ...
held the majority of shares in the docks and was itself amalgamated with the GWR early in 1876. The docks used a fleet of tenders to land passengers and mails from transatlantic liners moored off-shore; the lighters also operated excursions to coastal towns in
Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devo ...
and
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
. Some cargo services were later operated form Plymouth to Nantes in France. Also in Devon, in 1901 the GWR took over the
Dartmouth Passenger Ferry The Dartmouth Passenger Ferry, also known as the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat company, is a passenger ferry that crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. It is one of three ferries that cross the tidal river from Dartmout ...
that linked Kingswear railway station with Dartmouth. The GWR also acquired a large shareholding in the
West Cornwall Railway The West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, Great Britain, formed in 1846 to construct a railway between Penzance and Truro. It purchased the existing Hayle Railway, and improved its main line, and built new sections between Penz ...
which itself owned a part of the West Cornwall Steam Ship Company; GWR ships were occasionally used on its route from Penzance. On 30 August 1906 the GWR's Welsh terminal was moved to a new harbour at
Fishguard Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two p ...
. It was hoped that transatlantic liners would also call ''en route'' to
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
but few did, Liverpool being forsaken for
Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...
within a few years but this increased the number of liner calls at Plymouth. A similar change saw Rosslare become the principal railway harbour on the other side of
Irish Sea The Irish Sea or , gv, Y Keayn Yernagh, sco, Erse Sie, gd, Muir Èireann , Ulster-Scots: ''Airish Sea'', cy, Môr Iwerddon . is an extensive body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is linked to the Ce ...
although some services were still provided to Waterford. This work was undertaken in a joint venture with the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland known as the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. Although it had a reputation as the "Great Way Round", the GWR opened several new lines to shorten its traditional main lines to the ports. The
Severn Tunnel The Severn Tunnel ( cy, Twnnel Hafren) is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn. It was constructed by the Great Western ...
opened in 1886 to avoid a lengthy detour via
Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west, east of Monmouth and east ...
, although this saw the end of the company's ferry service across the River Severn. Further improvements to the route between
London Paddington station Paddington, also known as London Paddington, is a Central London railway terminus and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. The site has been the London terminus of services provided by the Great W ...
and Neyland came in 1903 when the South Wales and Bristol Direct Railway bypassed the congestion around , and again in 1913 when the Swansea District Lines allowed trains to avoid . In the meantime, trains to Weymouth had been speeded up following the opening of the
Stert and Westbury Railway The Stert and Westbury Railway was opened by the Great Western Railway Company in 1900 in Wiltshire, England. It shortened the distance between London Paddington station and , and since 1906 has also formed part of the Reading to Taunton line fo ...
in 1900, and the special trains carrying passengers and mails off the transatlantic liners at Plymouth used this and the
Langport and Castle Cary Railway The Langport and Castle Cary Railway is a railway line from Castle Cary railway station to Cogload Junction near Taunton, Somerset, England, which reduced the length of the journey from London to Penzance by . History Through trains from Lond ...
which opened in 1906. The Railways Act 1921 brought a number of additional railway companies into the GWR, several of which operated docks and several had small vessels operating in these. The companies concerned were the Barry Railway, Cardiff Railway,
Taff Vale Railway The Taff Vale Railway (TVR) was a standard gauge railway in South Wales, built by the Taff Vale Railway Company to serve the iron and coal industries around Merthyr Tydfil and to connect them with docks in Cardiff. It was opened in st ...
, Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, Port Talbot Railway and Docks and the Swansea Harbour Trust. The GWR was nationalised on 1 January 1948 to become part of British Railways but the shipping services continued much the same as before for several years.


Sea-going ships


River ferries

* ''Chepstow'' (1874–1890) 188 tons :A new paddle steamer was delivered to the New Passage Ferry in 1874. She was made redundant by the new
Severn Tunnel The Severn Tunnel ( cy, Twnnel Hafren) is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn. It was constructed by the Great Western ...
railway line at the end of 1886. She was sold to a
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
owner who converted her to screw propulsion and renamed her ''Rover''.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 187. * ''Christopher Thomas'' (1868–1890) 168 tons :Named after the company’s chairman, this paddle steamer was built for the
Bristol and South Wales Union Railway The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway was built to connect Bristol, England, with south Wales. The route involved a ferry crossing of the River Severn but was considerably shorter than the alternative route through Gloucester. The ferry wa ...
by Henderson, Coulborn and Company at Renfrew in 1854. She was transferred to the GWR when the B&SWUR was amalgamated ten years later, she was redundant after 1886. * (1901–1908) 61 tons :This paddle steamer had been built in 1869 by Harveys of Hayle for the to service and was transferred to the GWR when the railway took on its operation. On 7 March 1902 she conveyed
King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...
to Dartmouth to lay the foundation stone of the
Britannia Royal Naval College Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), commonly known as Dartmouth, is the naval academy of the United Kingdom and the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy. It is located on a hill overlooking the port of Dartmouth, Devon, En ...
. For this duty she was fitted with a carpet, curtains, a table and upholstered chairs. * ''Ferry No. 2'' (1922–1947) 8 tons :A small ferry used on Bute Docks at Cardiff, acquired with the Cardiff Railway.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), pages 381–3. * ''Ilton Castle'' (1927 – ca.1930) 53 tons :Originally built in 1906, this paddle steamer came to the GWR from March and Southwood of
Salcombe Salcombe is a popular resort town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, mostly built on the steep west side of the estuary. It lies within the South Devon Area o ...
and was used for excursions from Salcombe.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 199. * ''Kenwith Castle'' (1927–1932) 53 tons :Built in 1914 for the
Kingsbridge Kingsbridge is a market town and tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of 6,116 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards bear the name of ''Kingsbridge'' (East & North). Their combined population at the ab ...
ferry, this paddle steamer came to the GWR from March and Southwood of Salcombe and was used for excursions from Salcombe. She was sold to the Tamar Transport Company who sold her in 1935 to the Millbrook Steamboat and Trading Company at Plymouth who operated her on the Millbrook Ferry as the ''Whitsand Castle''. * (1908–1947) 117 tons :A replacement vessel for the Dartmouth ferry, she was built at Falmouth and was a familiar sight on the service for 47 years until withdrawn by British Railways on 8 October 1954.


Tugs and work boats


A to M

* ''Archibald Hood'' (1922–1947) 164 tons :A Barry Railway tug, built in 1898 at Falmouth, she served with British Railways until 1950. * ''Armine'' (1899–1936) 7 tons :A small, Cowes-built 13-year-old launch added to the Weymouth fleet in 1899. She was mainly used to move coaling barges around the harbour but held a certificate for 12 passengers. The last coal-fired vessel at Weymouth, the ''Great Western'' (1902) left in 1932 and the ''Armine'' was sold in September 1936 for conversion to a motor boat. * ''Baron Glanely'' (1946–1947) :See ''Lord Glanely''. * ''Basingstoke'' (1920 - ?) 402 tons :A double-grab excavator-dredger purchased from the
London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway (LSWR, sometimes written L&SWR) was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Originating as the London and Southampton Railway, its network extended to Dorchester and Weymouth, to Salisbury, Exeter ...
. * ''Beaufort'' (1923 – ?) 119 tons :A former Swansea Harbour Trustees vessel.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 198. * ''Bruce'' (1922 - ?) 141 tons :A dredger at Alexandra Docks, Newport. * ''Clevedon'' (1876–1886) 167 tons :A paddle steamer used around
Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
by the Bristol and Exeter Railway from 1875. * ''Cymro'' (1854 – ca.1881) 70 tons :A wooden paddle tug acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. She was launched in 1826 and taken out of service sometime after 1878. * ''David Davies'' (1925–1947) 962 tons :A bucket dredger for Barry Docks. * ''Don Frederico'' (1923–1947) 481 tons :A Swansea Harbour Trustees dredger. * ''The Earl'' (1922 – ca. 1931) 101 tons :A former Cardiff Railway tug. * ''The Earl'' (1931–1947) 148 tons :A replacement tug for Cardiff. * ''Emily Charlotte'' (1922–1933) 122 tons :A tug acquired with Port Talbot docks. * ''Foremost 27'' (1925–1947) 512 tons :A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks. * ''Francis Gilbertson'' (1928–1947) 275 tons :A grab dredger used at Bristol Channel ports. * ''Horace'' (1922–1947) 141 tons :A tug at Alexandra Docks, Newport. * ''Lady Tredegar'' (1922–1947) 105 tons :A tug at Alexandra Docks, Newport. * ''Lord Glanely'' (1927–1946) 156 tons :A tug for use at Cardiff, she was renamed ''Baron Glanely'' on his lordship’s elevation in 1946. * ''Manxman'' (1891 – ca.1897) 56 tons :A tug for the River Dee at Chester, built at Middlesbrough by R Craggs and Son.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 191. * ''Mudeford'' (1924–1947) 232 tons :A grab dredger for Cardiff docks.


N to Z

* ''Palmerston'' (1883 - ?) 109 tons :Originally built in 1864, she was purchased from the Dover Harbour Board and normally worked in West Wales. * ''Porteur No. 5'' (1899 – ?) :A small ship for the Fishguard and Rosslare works. * ''Robert Vassall'' (1922–1947) 317 tons :A bucket-dredger acquired with the
Taff Vale Railway The Taff Vale Railway (TVR) was a standard gauge railway in South Wales, built by the Taff Vale Railway Company to serve the iron and coal industries around Merthyr Tydfil and to connect them with docks in Cardiff. It was opened in st ...
.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 197. * ''St Baruch'' (1922–1947) 177 tons :A tug built at Falmouth in 1916 for the Barry Railway. * ''Sir Ernest Palmer'' (1924–1947) 753 tons :A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks. * ''Sir Henry Mather Jackson'' (1924–1947) 735 tons :A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks. * ''Sir John R. Wright'' (1921–1938) 95 tons :A tug stationed at Fishguard. * ''Swansea'' (1923–1947) 147 tons :A former Swansea Harbour Trustees tug. * ''Test'' (1854 – ?) :A wooden paddle tug acquired with the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in 1854; she was withdrawn from service in the 1880s.Duckworth and Langmuir (1968), page 184. * ''Thames'' (1886–1903) 103 tons :This tug was twenty years old when she came into Great Western ownership. * ''Trusty'' (1923–1947) 148 tons :A former Swansea Harbour Trustees tug. * ''Viscount Churchill'' (1924–1947) 735 tons :A self-powered hopper barge used at Cardiff Docks. * ''Voltaic'' (1896–1900) 580 tons :Built in 1867, this steamer was the first owned by the Fishguard and Rosslare Harbours and Railways Company and was employed by them on a service from Bristol to
Wexford Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 ...
. * ''Weston'' (1876–1885) 166 tons :A paddle steamer built for the Bristol and Exeter Railway in 1875 for use around Bristol. * ''Windsor'' (1932–1947) 150 tons :A tug for use at Barry Docks.


Liveries

Hulls were painted black with red below the waterline; from 1889 to 1914 there was a white band at main deck level. Paddle-boxes and upper works were buff coloured,
funnel A funnel is a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening. Funnels are usually made of stainless steel, aluminium, glass, or plastic. The material used in its construct ...
red, and the company's
coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
was carried on the bow. Fishguard and Rosslare vessels were similar but had brown, later white, upper works. The flag was white with narrow red bands at top and bottom.


References

{{Reflist


See also

* Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II Shipping services Great Western Railway Lists of ships of the United Kingdom