Farther along the east coast, the Great Central Railway Company maintains a service between Grimsby and several of the Continental ports. The company in 1864 secured parliamentary powers to run steamers to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, Lubeck, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Revel, Cronstadt, St. Petersburg, and Königsberg. Subsequently they purchased the Anglo-French Company’s fleet and began to run steamers to Hamburg in July 1865. In April 1866, the railway company initiated a new service of steamers between Grimsby and Rotterdam, and in the August of the following year the service was extended to Antwerp. On December 1, 1885, the sailings between Grimsby and Hamburg were increased from two to four per week; and on July 1, 1891, a daily service was established. The sailings between Grimsby and Rotterdam were increased in September 1906 from two to three per week, and early in 1907 two new 18-knot turbine steamers Marylebone and Immingham were placed on this service.
In essential particulars these are sister ships, though differing somewhat in their internal arrangements. The Immingham has a length over all of 282 feet, beam 41 feet, and depth moulded 21 feet 6 inches. Accommodation is provided for seventy first and twenty-four second-class passengers, and three hundred in the third class, besides one thousand tons of cargo. She is driven by three Parsons turbines actuating three shafts. These two steamers marked a new era in the Continental service from the Humber, being far in advance in accommodation and speed of anything hitherto employed.
London and North-Western Rly. Co.
On the west coast the principal part of the cross-channel, Irish mail, passenger, and cargo traffic is divided between the services organised by the London and North-Western Railway Company, the Midland Railway Company, and the Great Western Railway Company. For four years after the London and North-Western Railway Company had absorbed the Chester and Holyhead Railway, they continued to work the Irish service with the boats acquired from the latter company. A new type of paddle-boat, 230 feet in length, with carrying capacity of 700 tons, their speed being fourteen knots per hour, and conveying both passengers and cargo, was then put on for the service. The first of these, the Stanley, was built by Messrs. Caird of Greenock, and had as sister boat the Alexandra, constructed by Laird of Birkenhead. These vessels did excellent work and were afterwards supplemented by the Countess of Erne, Admiral Moorsom, Duke of Sutherland, Duchess of Sutherland, and Edith, all boats of a similar type. Two of these, the Duchess of Sutherland and the Edith, were in 1888 and 1892 respectively converted into twin-screw steamers. The Duchess was sold in 1908, but the Edith is still employed in the North Wall cargo service. This service was, in 1876, supplemented by a day express boat in each direction between Holyhead and Dublin North Wall, two paddle-steamers, Rose and Shamrock, being built by Messrs. Laird Bros. of Birkenhead. A night service in each direction was started in 1880 with the Lily and Violet, built by Messrs. Laird. They were each 310 feet long and had a gross tonnage of 1035 tons, with a speed of 19 knots per hour. The Lily was sold in 1900 and ran for some time between Liverpool and the Isle of Man. The Violet was also disposed of two years later. In 1884, the Banshee, another paddle-boat of the Lily type, was built for the company by Messrs. Laird, and ran until February 1906, when she was sold out of the service. On December 15, 1897, the Cambria, the first of a new class of steel twin-screw steamers which almost equal the great ocean liners in speed, magnificence, and comfort, was placed on the North Wall service. She was followed by the Hibernia on February 2, the Anglia on May 2, 1900, and by the Scotia on April 23, 1902. The Scotia is 337 feet 6 inches in length, has a moulded breadth of 39 feet, with a depth to the awning deck of 29 feet 6 inches. The twin screws are driven by two sets of triple-expansion engines of 7000 horse-power, the eight single-ended boilers giving steam at a pressure of 160 lb. per square inch. There are four cylinders to each set of engines, which are balanced on the new Schlick principle, so as to avoid vibration. Even in the worst weather she can accomplish a speed of 21 knots. Her accommodation provides for 600 saloon and 700 third-class passengers.
A direct service between Holyhead and Greenore was opened in 1873 with the three paddle-driven boats Eleanor, Isabella, and Earl Spencer. These served until 1895, when, at the suggestion of Captain Binney, the company’s Marine Superintendent, three new steamers of greater speed and capacity—the Rosstrevor, Connemara, and Galtee-More—were ordered for the service. These vessels are 280 feet in length, with a gross tonnage of 1000 tons, and a maximum speed of 18 knots. The engines are triple-expansion of 2500 horse-power, and the boats are propelled by twin screws. In 1908 the Rosstrevor was replaced by the Rathmore, the former vessel being converted into a cargo and cattle steamer. The Rathmore is 300 feet long, and has a gross tonnage of 1600 tons; her engines are of 6180 horse-power and give a speed of 20¹⁄₂ knots per hour.
The “Scotia” (L. & N.W. Railway).
The goods, cattle, and general cargo traffic between Holyhead and North Wall, Dublin, is served by eight cargo boats, all of which are twin-screw ships. They convey third-class passengers but are not provided with any first-class accommodation.
For very many years the Midland Railway Company were partners in the Barrow Steam Navigation Company, whose fleet maintained a daily service between Barrow and Belfast and, during the season, between Barrow and the Isle of Man. When Heysham Harbour was opened in September 1904, the Midland Company put on a fleet of seven powerful and magnificently fitted steamers of the most modern type for their Heysham-Belfast service. They also bought out the other partners in the Barrow Steam Navigation Company, which has now been dissolved. Two of the vessels formerly belonging to the Barrow Steam Navigation Company were disposed of at a comparatively recent date and have been broken up. As regards the existing fleet, the Londonderry is installed with the Lodge-Muirhead system of wireless telegraphy. The Antrim and the Donegal will shortly be similarly equipped. There is a wireless telegraphic station at Heysham and wireless communication was first established on the company’s service nearly six years ago. The Londonderry and Manxman are propelled by turbines, whilst the Antrim, Donegal, Duchess of Devonshire, and City of Belfast are twin screws. During the season, the Isle of Man service between Heysham and Douglas is maintained by the Manxman and the Duchess of Devonshire. Except on Sundays, a nightly service between Heysham and Belfast is carried on regularly by the Antrim, Donegal, and Londonderry, whilst the City of Belfast runs on alternate days from Barrow and Belfast.