PS Bristol Queen (1946)

PS Bristol Queen was a passenger excursion vessel built for P & A Campbell in 1946.

Bristol Queen in the Camel Estuary in August 1965
History
United Kingdom
NameBristol Queen
OperatorP & A Campbell
Port of registryBristol
RouteBristol – Ilfracombe
BuilderCharles Hill & Sons
Yard number334
Launched4 April 1946
CompletedSeptember 1946
In service24 September 1946
Out of service26 August 1967
Identification
FateScrapped 1968
General characteristics
Tonnage961 GRT, 387 NRT
Length
  • 258.7 ft (78.9 m) overall
  • 244.7 ft (74.6 m) registered
Beam31.2 ft (9.5 m)
Depth10.5 ft (3.2 m)
Decks1
Installed power2,700 ihp (2,014kW)
PropulsionRankin & Blackmore triple expansion three crank diagonal engines
Speed19.4 knots (35.9 km/h; 22.3 mph) trial speed (1946)

History

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Construction of the Bristol Queen began at Charles Hill & Sons yard, Bristol as yard number 334.[1] She was launched on 4 April 1946[2] by the Lady Mayoress of Bristol, Mrs J. Owen, with a bottle of Bristol Cream sherry. The engines were made by Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock, works number 517. R&B also built Waverley’s engine.[3]

The Queen was built as a replacement for P & A Campbell ships lost during the Second World War, and operated pleasure cruises in the Bristol Channel, often to Ilfracombe.

On 20 August 1966, the paddle steamer struck Penarth Pier damaging the pier head.[4]

On 26 August 1967, Bristol Queen was taken out of service after an accident to a paddle wheel, the vessel was retired, then scrapped the following year.

References

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  1. ^ "Bristol Queen". Shipping and Shipbuilding. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  2. ^ Dumpleton, Bernard (2002). The Story of the Paddle Steamer. Intellect Books. p. 185. ISBN 1841508012.
  3. ^ "Big Crowd Sees Dock Ceremony". Western Daily Press. England. 5 April 1946. Retrieved 21 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ Easdown, Martin (2013). Piers of Wales. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 1445623854.

Bibliography

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  • Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over, Steamers and Motorships under 300 tons, trawlers, tugs, dredgers, &c, Sailing Vessels, List of ship owners, &c. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1946 – via Internet Archive.
  • Register Book. Vol. I Register of Ships. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1959 – via Internet Archive.