steam ferry ETNA

[terry smith]

Hello to all, I have just finished constructing a model of a steam ferry called the Etna 1817.She was built for the Tranmere ferry steam picket company. On the river mersey .The Etna was the first locally-built steamer to be built on merseyside .Designed by a Birkenhead Inn Keeper, George La French. Built by Dawson and company.and constructed form two mersey flat boats 63 feet long, which had planks place across the two hulls. The paddle wheel was set between the two hulls,the engine was built by Fawcett of Prescot Liverpool. Engine in one hull and boiler in the other hull she had deck house in the middle of the deck a squat and ungainly craft with scarcely two foot of free broad She ran for 15 years doing half hour service. A model can be found in the Liverpool Maritime museum. Sorry no pic;s yet.