PS CARDIFF QUEEN.

[Walter Snowdon]

Is there anyone out there with personal knowldge of Cardiff Qeen. She had an open bridge which would be a prominent feature on a model. I have searched all the usual suspects - books by Chis Collard, Nigel Coombes, nick james and none of them show a clear picture of the bridge. Also, early in her career the square paddle boxes only sported her name board. Later photos show two prominent portholes either side of her name board. Were these freeing ports as I know she suffered from hydralicking when going astern. The pale pink upper hull and superstructure, anyone know the official name of this colour and now the impossible, the methuen colour chart number!!!!  Oh, another thing, she has prominent rings around all her portholes, were these painted or brass?. I have read one very brief mention of " ...fitted with brass porthole surrounds...." Thanks in anticipation, walter.

[Eddy Matthews]

The only photos I managed to find after a quick search are these.... Not very clear, but they may help?

Regards
Eddy

[tonyh]

Walter,
         A photograph of her appears on the front of the DVD 'Paddle Steamer Memories'. Colour footage of her sailing is featured on this DVD.
Hope this may help.

Tony

[mjt60a]

isn't there a book available about them that I've seen in waverley's souvenir shop?

[Channel]

I have a shot looking down on one of the Queen's bridge's, will try to find it! It was taken by my late grandfather Terry Collard . . . Chris Collards father.

The 2 extra portholes on the paddle boxes were freeing ports. I think the portholes were painted.

If you join my forum www.bristolchannelshipping.co.uk and contact Tony Breach he may be able to help further - I'm pretty sure he was AB on her.

Chris

[Channel]

By the way, if you're modelling her keep us posted on the build - I fancy a crack at her too!

[Channel]

Have found the slide in question of Cardiff Queen, will set the slide scanner up one evening this week.

Chris

[ancoaster78]

Hi Walter,

Only just seen this thread, Its not often i'm able to assit in this section, my choice of ships is quite specialised, but Cardiff Queen is a personal favorite so in case you havn't solved all the questions by now I thought i'd add a word or two!

Are you familar with 'White Funnel Merories' By George Gunn? Excellent little book has a good photo, sadly black and white, on page 49 looking into the bridge and a excellent quality full colour front cover of the ship entetering Ilfracombe.

The porthole surrounds were painted, tricky to model, I am considering having them made as transfers as there is a thick ring of a yellowey colour around the porthole itself, then a darker colour in a very thin edging ring around the outside of that. The cover of the George Gunn book shows that, as does a excellent colour side view ion page 40 of Ian Allens 'Coastal Steam Vessels of the British Isles' by AE Bennett and Barry J Eagles.

Also, the second version of Chris Collards 'White Funnels - The Sotry of P&A Campbell Steamers 1946-1968' has a great colour section indluding shots of the ship being broken up, some great details for modelling, and on pages 176/177 some close ups of the portholes showing as I describe.

The extra holes in the paddle box were ventilation, as per the previous answers. Unfortunatly the pink/grey colour scheme is a bit of a mystery, I believe Cambells refered to it as French Grey and that MV Balmoral is painted in as closer match as they were able to find, maybe a trip or visit to that ship would help, I have a model of Balmoral, I mixed the colour myself, it came out attractive enough and a pretty good match.

One day I plan to build both Cardiff Queen and Bristol Queen at large scale, full steam....One day! Although some way off from the build to other projects and time constraints, I am collecting all the information I can on this ship and have started drawing up the plans in readyness!

Hope this helps, if I can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to get in touch!

Cheers, Andrew

[Channel]

Just noticed I never posted these pictures Walter. Better late than never! 

Two of the Bristol and 1 of the Cardiff.







Just sorting through a lot more of the Queens including some distressing ones of Cardiff at the scrapyard :-( A lot of my grandfathers collection will appear in my book which I hope to launch next year assuming I get time to finish it by then . . . . when can I retire?! 

[Channel]

I should add - pictures by the late W T Collard who told me so much about the ships and sparked my interest.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's........Chris...in the last snap we see three engine telegraphs.........I understand the mid ships telegraph for general engine orders when steaming & the need for STDB bridge wing telegraph for engine orders when manouvering or berthing STDB side on.......

But   ...what is the third telegraph @ 90 degrees to the other two.....and located just aft & inboard of the STDB bridge wing telegraph & why is it not at STOP..."Finish with Engines" station???

PS...retirement? ... .or did your superannuation miss out on the global economic FIZZ out? ....Derek

[Channel]

I expect the telegraph you refer to is for the mooring station orders.

Chris

[mjt60a]

...so they'd be to operate these 'clocks' that can be seen by the crew at the windlass/capstan (though these ones are on waverley)

[R.G.Y.]

The dark colour around the port holes, out side the yellow was brown. the inside of the ventilator navy blue with a pinstripe of gold on the edge. This infomat ion was given to me by the 2nd engineer on the Bristol Queen, now unfortunately deceased. I have attached  photo of my model Glen Usk powered by a Cheddar steam plant, she sails on a scale draft of 1.75 inches. R.G.Y.

[Channel]

Yep - they are quite reassuring too . . . especially when you're down the aft end away from all the action.

By the way in the pictures - Top Capt Phill Power, Middle Tony O'Brian, Bottom Capt George Gunn.

Chris