The Great Western Railway's ships operated in connection with the company's trains to provide services to Ireland, the Channel Islands and France. Powers were granted by Act of Parliament for the Great Western Railway (GWR) to operate ships in 1871. The following year the company took over the ships operated by Ford and Jackson on the route between Wales and Ireland. Services were operated between Weymouth, the Channel Islands and France on the former Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Packet Company routes. Smaller GWR vessels were also used as tenders at Plymouth and on ferry routes on the River Severn and River Dart. The railway also operated tugs and other craft at their docks in Wales and South West England.
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 by the London and North Western Railway and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1902 to 1923.
PS Cambria was a paddle steamer passenger vessel operated by the Chester and Holyhead Railway from 1848 to 1859 and the London and North Western Railway from 1859 to 1861.
PS/TSS Duchess of Sutherland was a paddle steamer cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1868 to 1908.
PS Violet was a paddle steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1880 to 1902.
TSS Slieve Bloom was a twin screw steamer cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1908 to 1918.
TSS Slieve Gallion was a twin screw steamer cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1908 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1937.
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.
TSS Irene was a steam turbine cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1885 to 1906.
TSS Anglesey was a steam turbine cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1888 to 1911.
TSS Rosstrevor was a steam turbine passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1895 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1926.
TSS Slieve Donard was a steam turbine passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1921 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1948.
PS Ocean was a paddle steamer built for and operated by the St. George Steam Packet Company from 1836, then the Cork Steamship Company and then the Chester and Holyhead Railway from 1853 to 1859 and the London and North Western Railway from 1859 to 1862.
The SS Yarmouth was a steel-hulled steamship owned by the Great Eastern Railway. She was built in 1903 for use on their cargo service between Harwich, Essex, and the Hook of Holland and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She was lost at sea with all hands on 27 October 1908.
SS Spen was a freight vessel built for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1908.
SS Derwent was a passenger and freight vessel built for the Goole Steam Shipping Company in 1888.
TSS Amsterdam was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1894.
TSS Bruges was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1920.
TrSS Munich was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1908.
