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 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 Colleen Bawn was a twin screw passenger steamship operated by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway from 1903 to 1922.
TSS Scotia was a twin screw steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1902 to 1923.
TSS Cambria was a twin screw steamer passenger 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 Lily was a paddle steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1880 to 1900.
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 Slievemore was a twin screw steamer passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1904 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1932.
TSS Slieve Bawn was a twin screw steamer passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1904 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1935.
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.
TrSS Greenore was a steam turbine passenger and cargo vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1912 to 1923, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from 1923 to 1926.
SS Berlin was a freight vessel built for the Yorkshire Coal and Steamship Company in 1891.
SS Equity was a freight vessel built for the Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited in 1888.
SS Rawcliffe was a freight vessel built for the Weatherall Steamship Company in 1906.
TrSS St Petersburg was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1910.
PS Norfolk was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1900.
PS Suffolk was a passenger vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway in 1900.
TSS Alberta was a passenger vessel built for the London and South Western Railway in 1900.
PS Solent was a passenger vessel built for the London and South Western Railway in 1902.
