Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Research => Topic started by: Channel on July 28, 2006, 06:42:35 AM
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Does anyone have any information on these two padlers that worked between Cardiff and Penarth in the late 1800's ?
Thanks
Chris
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Hi Chris and others
The Cardiff - Penarth ferry is described in Graham Farr's "West Country Passenger Steamers". This is a very brief summary.
The ferry ran from Cardiff across the River Ely to Penarth Dock (not the steamer pier used now by BALMORAL and WAVERLEY). It started while the dock was being constructed using a small vessel CONQUEROR about which nothing is known.
Once the dock was opened, the ferry was re-established in 1865 and was operated by a number of companies in succession : eventually a subway (presumably for pedestrians) was opened under the River Ely (1900) - the ferry was thus redundant and closed in October 1903.
The vessels used were
KATE (1) 1865 - double ended paddle steamer, 227 passengers 40 tons. Relief boat from 1893 (she does not appear to have been re-named when the new KATE appeared) and converted to a lighter in 1896.
LA BELLE MARIE (1866) - twin screw - acquired 1873, 31 tons. Sold to Belfast owners 1891 and lasted till World War 1.
IONA (not JANE) 1883 - double ended paddle steamer, 64 tons. Last steamer on the ferry service.
KATE (2) 1893 - double ended paddle steamer - 99 tons - sold to Lough Swilly (County Donegal) 1896, in service till about 1912.
There is a photograph (plate 31) in the second edition of the above book showing the first KATE, LA BELLE MARIE and IONA at Cardiff - can't help with a picture as I have no scanner.
Trust this is of relevance
Regards
David
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Hi David,
Thanks very much for the information. I am trying to trace pictures of the vessels.
The link is now served by Cardiff Waterbus who I am a skipper for - www.cardiffwaterbus.com
Regards
Chris
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Hi Chris - looks like a nice job you have there.
Can't suggest much for photographs although the book I mentioned really ought to be in every library in Cardiff - at least in the reference section as it's the standard work on your area's passenger shipping.
Graham Farr's book (both editions, as it happens) contains the only picture I have seen of these vessels (there may well be others published but the Bristol Channel area of my library is woefully incomplete) but I expect that photos are few and far between - they could perhaps be described as insignificant vessels compared to the Campbell paddlers that passed close by, never in the limelight and unlikely subjects for the photographer.
Libraries or museums, perhaps?
If you find anything, please let us know as I would be most interested to see it.
Regards
David
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No problem David, my Uncle Chris Collard is having a dig through his
collection too.
It is my aim to purchase the paddle steamer Monarch and operate her within Cardiff Bay next season although a rather hard MCA regulation requirement will have to be overcome . . . . they want a unsinkable paddle steamer!
Regards
Chris
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Wow what a neat little paddle steamer! And you're going to purchase her (hopefully) fantastic!
I've been thinking lately how great it would be to run a fleet of boats from a town on the Murray, there are lots of little towns and if they were willing to boost tourism numbers I could run a boat from one town to the other, dropping passengers off for a stay! I think it would be great!
Good luck with your dreams of the Monarch
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Rename it Titanic II. That'll fix 'em
MArtin
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It !!! (shock, horror etc)
Surely she's a she.
David
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Ummm yeah alright!!
What happens if a paddler was named for instance Captain Sturt, Guy Mannering or for that matter Wingfield Castle???? Are they still regarded as She/He/It/Something ???????
Funny the things people pick up on eh?
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Furthering that thought, what do you do when like the old North BRitish Steam Packet ship was renamed from Sheila to Guy Mannering!!!!????!??! :lol:
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what a little beauty, just do it man, tell the shiny shoes to go jump//
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If only it were that easy !!!
We only came across PS Moanrch whilst researching a project . . . . if we can't use Monarch here we'll revert back to this plan.
Here is a CAD drawing of a 15m passenger paddler . . . designed to carry around 24 and diesel hydraulic powered.
The biggest problem with 'plan a' is this would cost around 160-180,000GBP to build !!
Chris
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Ps - if you're wondering what the circle at the bow is, thats a bow thruster. Also at the stern there is a pipe . . . this is best described as a 'water jet' which is designed to increase flow to the rudder and improve steering at low speeds. It could also be used as a 'get you home' drive unit!
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that's interesting, anyone built a model to that plan, just to see how it would look? :D
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Could well be a winter project . . .
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Here is another version of our design, this time with the wheelhouse forward of the funnel and a few minor changes.
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Hi All,
My plans to operate a paddle steamer in Cardiff Bay are progressing. I've recently been in talks regarding the project and now have a very clear plan of the steps we need to make for it to happen.
Sadly the PS Monarch in Kent couldn't be brought into the regulations we need such a vessel to comply to. As a result we are pushing forward with our own design that we hope will be able to carry 24 people. Sadly she won't b steam driven - maybe diesel electric or diesel hydraulic but this isn't a full drawn concluson yet.
Obviously the whole project is subject to the financial viability of the boat. Once we have drawings completed we can look at the final build cost and come up with a full business plan !
Chris
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Sounds like a very exciting project. I saw Monarch was being sold through Preston services...is it still for sale or does she have new owners now?
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Still for sale as far as I know.
Nice boat but she isn't very stable. You'd need to operate her in a river/canal.
Chris
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If your plans go ahead, and you build your own paddler, will there be any chance of getting hold of a set of drawings so I could model her Chris?
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Hi Eddy,
Yeh sure, I can supply you with some. I'm speaking with a naval architecht this week about the project.
I'm going to build one to take to see the bank with when we go for funding too . . .
Cheers
Chris
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Hi Eddy,
Yeh sure, I can supply you with some. I'm speaking with a naval architecht this week about the project.
I'm going to build one to take to see the bank with when we go for funding too . . .
Cheers
Chris
Thanks Chris, you've just made my day!!! :D
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Will see if I can print out the CAD drawings a friend did and blow them up for you. It would give you a rough idea and i could re-draw the known alterations as it stands on the prints
What size would you like to build the model to be ? Will look into printing. You'd have hull lined and shape - just the deck layout that is tbc by the look of it.
I still fancy having Monarch but can;t get her coded for here . . . . great shame, she's so cute!
Chris
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Will see if I can print out the CAD drawings a friend did and blow them up for you. It would give you a rough idea and i could re-draw the known alterations as it stands on the prints
What size would you like to build the model to be ? Will look into printing. You'd have hull lined and shape - just the deck layout that is tbc by the look of it.
I still fancy having Monarch but can;t get her coded for here . . . . great shame, she's so cute!
Chris
Cheers Chris - I prefer models around 4-5 foot in length, so something around that size would be great. What length will the real vessel be? I'd prefer to stick to normal modelling scales if possible ie. 1:32, 1:24 or whatever....
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Initial calculations suggest a vessel around 45-50ft LOA maybe a little more.
It mainly depends if we go down the 12 passenger or 24 passenger route - big difference in operations if over 12 but hopefully easier to make her pay and maybe make a living for me !
Chris
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So drawings at 1:12 scale would be ideal Chris..... Plenty of scope to add lots of details at that size! :)