TSS Duke of Rothesay

Last updated

SS Duke of Rothesay.jpg
Duke of Rothesay at Holyhead
History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameTSS Duke of Rothesay
Owner
Operator
Port of registry Lancaster, United Kingdom Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Route
Builder William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton
Launched10 February 1956
Completed1956
Maiden voyage1956
In service1956
Out of service1975
FateScrapped in 1975.
General characteristics
TypeTurbine steam ship
Tonnage4,797  GT
Length114.63 m (376 ft 1 in)
Beam17.46 m (57 ft 3 in)
Draught4.54 m (14 ft 11 in)
Installed power2 x Parmetrada steam turbines
Speed21 Knots
Capacity1800 passengers

The TSS Duke of Rothesay was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1975.

In service

Duke of Rothesay at Fishguard in August 1969. Duke of Rothesay at Fishguard - geograph.org.uk - 1034071.jpg
Duke of Rothesay at Fishguard in August 1969.

Along with her sister ships the TSS Duke of Lancaster and the TSS Duke of Argyll she was amongst the last passenger-only steamers built for British Railways (at that time, also a ferry operator). [1] She was a replacement for the 1928 steamer built by the London Midland & Scottish Railway, RMS Duke of Rothesay.

Built at William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton and completed in 1956, she was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham-Belfast route) and as a cruise ship. [2] [3]

She provided some relief services between Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire in 1965 and 1966. In March 1967, she was converted to a side loading car ferry by Cammell Laird to be used on the Fishguard to Rosslare service, which continued until the Caledonian Princess took over in 1971. The main deck was gutted and space made for 100 cars.

In October 1975, she was towed from Holyhead to Faslane to scrapped.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stena Line</span> Swedish ferry operator

Stena Line is a Swedish shipping line company and one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It services Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sealink</span> Former ferry company in the United Kingdom

Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heysham Port railway station</span> Railway station in Lancashire, England

Heysham Port is a railway station on the Morecambe Branch Line, which runs between Lancaster and Heysham Port. The station, situated 7+34 miles (12 km) west of Lancaster, serves Heysham Port in Lancashire. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Man Steam Packet Company</span> Manx shipping company

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, having been founded in 1830.

TSS <i>Duke of Lancaster</i> (1955)

TSS Duke of Lancaster is a former railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1979, and is beached near Mostyn Docks, on the River Dee, north-east Wales. It replaced an earlier 3,600-ton ship of the same name operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway company between Heysham and Belfast.

The Duke of Argyll was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1975.

RMS <i>Duke of Argyll</i> (1928)

RMS Duke of Argyll was an Irish Sea ferry that operated from 1928 to 1956. William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton on the Firth of Clyde built her for the London Midland and Scottish Railway. When the LMS was nationalised in 1948 she passed to the British Transport Commission.

RMS Duke of Lancaster was a steam turbine passenger ship operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1928 to 1956 between England and Northern Ireland across the Irish Sea.

The RMS Duke of Rothesay was a steamer passenger ship operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1928 to 1956.

The Duke of York was a steamer passenger ship initially operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway which saw service from 1935 to 1964. She was renamed HMS Duke of Wellington for the duration of World War II.

TSS Duke of Albany was a passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1907 to 1914. and also as HMS Duke of Albany from 1914 to 1916.

TSS Duke of Connaught was a passenger vessel operated jointly by the London and North Western Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1902 to 1922. In the LYR-LNWR naming system, she was named for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942), a younger son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

TSS Duke of Argyll was a passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1909 to 1923. and also as Alsacien by Angleterre-Lorraine-Alsace from 1927 to 1936.

TSS Duke of Cumberland was a passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1909 to 1923. and also as Picard by Angleterre-Lorraine-Alsace from 1927 to 1936.

TSS Colleen Bawn was a twin screw passenger steamship operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1903 to 1922.

TSS Mellifont was a twin screw passenger steamship operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1903 to 1928.

TSS Curraghmore was a twin screw steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1919 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1935.

TSS <i>Rathmore</i> (1908) Twin screw steamer passenger vessel

TSS Rathmore was a twin screw steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1908 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1927.

SS <i>Holyhead Ferry I</i>

TSS Holyhead Ferry I was a passenger vessel built for British Railways in 1965.

TSS Princess Maud was a ferry that operated from 1934 usually in the Irish Sea apart from a period as a troop ship in the Second World War and before being sold outside the United Kingdom in 1965. She was built by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton on the Firth of Clyde for the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). When the LMS was nationalised in 1948 she passed to the British Transport Commission and onward to British Rail in 1962. She was sold to Lefkosia Compania Naviera, Panama in 1965. Renamed Venus she was for service in Greek waters. It is understood she saw use as an accommodation ship in Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen.

References

  1. Duke of Lancaster, hhvferry.com, retrieved 12 December 2007
  2. Third New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 6 April 1956 page 174
  3. Sea breezes: the ship lovers' digest, Pacific Steam Navigation Company. 1997