Paddler Cleddau Queen

[Walter Snowdon]

Hi folks, sorry for resurecting an old topic, but here goes!. I am looking for photographs of the " twin engined paddler" CLEDDAU QUEEN and details of her service history and fate. The only picture I have seen is one I posted via Eddy a long time ago! Why is so little known about this, the last?  paddler built for domestic sevice in the UK Bulit same year as Maid of the Loch, so it may be a draw!).  Anyone out there know of a source of photos and/or plans?. Did she have a name change?. Please put me out of my misery, I am a poor teetotal old man.!.  By  the way, I found a mention of her (crew lists only), covering a period of service in Wales of about 6 years.  regards, Walter.

[Eddy Matthews]

Walter, after a quick search, all I can find are the following pics, and I read somewhere that the boat was in service until 1975...

[Eddy Matthews]

The only other info I've been able to find is that she had a sistership, the Cleddau King (surprising eh?). They ran a ferry service crossing the River Cleddau at Neyland (near Milford Haven), and were in service until 1975 when the opening of the Cleddau bridge sounded their death nell....

It seems their history, and the boats themselves, were very similar to the Sir William Wallace that I'm currently building!

[Waverley]

Theres a bit about these boats in Graham Farr's "West Country Passenger Steamers" (2nd edition), including a photo of CLEDDAU QUEEN. They were in service on the Neyland - Hobb's Point ferry, across Milford Haven.


CLEDDAU QUEEN - built 1956.   Two sets of compound engines each connected to one paddle.  158 tons.

CLEDDAU KING - built 1962.   Diesel with Voith Schneider propulsion.   151 tons.


My edition of the book is dated 1967 so final disposal is not given - however, at the time there was a possibility that CLEDDAU QUEEN would be converted to diesel.  

The ferry was replaced by a bridge in 1975 (thanks google)


A google search on "CLEDDAU QUEEN" only provided one site with a photo of her - in Paddleducks last year!




Worth noting that a previous member of the fleet was beached and laid up in 1956 when CLEDDAU QUEEN entered service.    This was ALUMCHINE (ex MENNA) - the subject of the first attempt at preservation by the PSPS in 1962.


Regards

David

[mjt60a]

....there was a possibility that CLEDDAU QUEEN would be converted to diesel....

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that was in fact done, I'll have to check my books - though it could have been online....
* couple of (not very good as you're supposed to buy them) pics here, of Cleddau Queen and Cleddau King - http://www.francisfrith.com/search/wales/dyfed/pembroke+dock/photos/pembroke+dock_photos.htm

[lofty46]

cleddau queen built 1956 twin compound engines built in pembroke dock for the hobbs point neyland to pembroke  run changed by harland and wolf in 1964 to screw propeller was in service till 1975 then sold was last know being an inshore survey vessel at portland in the 80's    sister ship cleddaua king built 1962 in sevice at neyland till 1975 the sold  renamed porta ferry and used in service till 2002 at portaferry northern ireland predecessor aumchime and lady magdalene  lady magdalene being a clyde river ferry alumchime was broken up in 1965

[Ptarmigan]

Its interesting you mentioning the Cleddau Queen as recall many trips on her during my childhood .  I remember on one occasion a car loading on the steep  ramp on the Pembroke dock side  slid  into the sea after driving onto  exposed seaweed during low tide .  Note the collapsed Cleddau box girder bridge in the background on the photo above ,  this occurred around 1970 when I was still living there .  There was also a newer ferry called  Cleddau King in service around this time prior to the bridge opening and the ferries being phased out .  Cleddau  Queen  spent most of her time during this period laid up on the  Neyland side  while the newer King was in service.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan_harris/5509863652/in/photostream/