PS Alfred (1863)

(Redirected from P.S. Alfred (1863))

PS Alfred was a passenger paddle steamer that was launched in 1863. She was renamed Old Dominion in 1864, Sheffield in 1865 and Prince Arthur in 1867. The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) acquired her in 1871 and operated her until 1877.[1]

The PS Alfred as the blockade runner Old Dominion.
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • 1863–1864: Alfred
  • 1864–1865: Old Dominion
  • 1865–1867: Sheffield
  • 1867–1885: Prince Arthur
Owner
Operator
  • 1863–1864: Bristol General Steam Navigation Company
  • 1864–1865: George Campbell & Henry Collis
  • 1865–1867: Liverpool & Dublin Steam Navigation Company
  • 1867–1871: Thomas Carr & Frederick Kemp
  • 1871–1877: Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
  • 1877–1883: Thomas Seed
  • 1883–1885: Robert Bruce
Port of registry
  • 1864: Bristol
  • 1865: Liverpool
  • 1867: Fleetwood
  • 1871: London
  • 1877: Fleetwood
  • 1883: Glasgow
Route1871–1877: BelfastFleetwood
BuilderCaird & Company, Greenock
Yard number106
Launched31 October 1863
Out of service1885
IdentificationUK official number 45721
FateHulked 1885
General characteristics
Tonnage703 GRT, 519 NRT
Length227.8 ft (69.4 m)
Beam26.2 ft (8.0 m)
Depth14.2 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsionoscillating steam engine

History

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The Bristol General Steam Navigation Company ordered the ship from Caird & Company of Greenock. She was launched on 31 October 1863.[2] Before she was put into service she was purchased in May 1864 by George Campbell and Henry Collis, acting for the Virginia Importing and Exporting Company. She was renamed Old Dominion and used as a blockade runner.

She arrived at Wilmington, North Carolina on 28 June 1864 from Bermuda, and sailed back on 15 July 1864. A second voyage from Bermuda saw her arrive on 10 August 1864 again in Wilmington, North Carolina. She was used in the blockade running until February 1865. She made six successful runs through the blockade.[citation needed]

On her return to the UK, she was re-registered as Sheffield for the Liverpool and Dublin Steam Navigation Company. In 1867 Thomas Carr and Frederick Kemp acquired her and renamed her Prince Arthur.[2]

In 1871 the LNWR and L&YR acquired Prince Arthur for their Fleetwood to Belfast and Londonderry service. In 1877 Thomas Seed bought her and registered her in Fleetwood. In 1883 Robert Bruce acquired her and registered her in Glasgow. In 1885 she was hulked.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Langmuir, GE; Duckworth, CLD (1968). Railway and Other Steamers. Prescot: T Stephenson & Sons. ISBN 978-0901314123.[page needed]
  2. ^ a b c "Old Dominion". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian MaritimeResearch Trust. Retrieved 29 November 2022.