PS Kate & PS Jane

[Channel]

Does anyone have any information on these two padlers that worked between Cardiff and Penarth in the late 1800's ?

Thanks
Chris

[Waverley]

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

[Channel]

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

[Waverley]

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

[Channel]

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

[thewharfonline]

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

[lner]

Rename it Titanic II.  That'll fix 'em

MArtin

[Waverley]

It !!! (shock, horror etc)

Surely she's a she.

David

[lner]

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?

[lner]

Furthering that thought, what do you do when like the old North BRitish Steam Packet ship was renamed from Sheila to Guy Mannering!!!!?!??! :lol:

[rayman]

what a little beauty, just do it man, tell the shiny shoes to go jump//

[Channel]

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

[Channel]

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!

[mjt60a]

that's interesting, anyone built a model to that plan, just to see how it would look?  

[Channel]

Could well be a winter project . . .