 Twickenham Ferry | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Route |
|
| Builder | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd |
| Yard number | 1446 |
| Launched | 15 March 1934 |
| Completed | July 1934 |
| In service | 1934 |
| Out of service | 1974 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 346 ft 8 in (105.66 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft 7 in (18.47 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Depth | 18 ft 2 in (5.54 m) |
| Installed power | Four steam turbines, single reduction geared |
| Propulsion | Twin screw propellers |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Notes | Sister shipsHampton Ferry andShepperton Ferry. |
Twickenham Ferry was a train ferry built in 1934 for theSouthern Railway. She served during theSecond World War as aminesweeper and returned to merchant service post-war, serving until 1974 when she was scrapped.
Twickenham Ferry was one of three ships built to the same design. Her sister ships wereHampton Ferry andShepperton Ferry.[1] She was 346 feet 8 inches (105.66 m) long, with a beam of 60 feet 7 inches (18.47 m). She had a depth of 18 feet 2 inches (5.54 m) and a draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m). She was 2,839 GRT, 1,044 NRT,[2] and 1,200 DWT.[3]
She was powered by fourParsonsturbines, which were built by Parsons.[2] Steam was supplied by boilers made byYarrows Ltd,Scotstoun.[3] The four turbines drove twin screw propellers through single reduction gearing[2] and they had a total power output of 948 nhp (3,300 kW).[3] She had a service speed of 16 knots (30 km/h).[1]
Twickenham Ferry could carry 12sleeping cars or 40 goods wagons, with space for 25 cars.[1] Accommodation was provided for 500 passengers.[3]
Twickenham Ferry was built bySwan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd as yard number 1446. Launched on 15 March 1934,[3] completion was in July.[2] Jointly owned by theSouthern Railway &Angleterre-Lorraine-Alsace, she was built for service on theDover - Dunkerque route,[1] but initially operated out ofSouthampton as the new facilities at Dover were not ready.[3] Her port of registry wasLondon and thecode letters GWTQ were allocated.[2] On 22 September 1936,[3] she was reflagged toFrance.[1] Her port of registry was changed toDunkerque and her code letters were changed to FOSA.[4]Twickenham Ferry commenced service between Dover and Dunkerque on 6 October 1936. She served on this route until 25 August 1939.[3]
The next day,Twickenham Ferry was requisitioned by theAdmiralty as HMSTwickenham.[3] Her port of registry was changed to London and the code letters BCYF were allocated. She was re-allocated theOfficial Number 163500.[5] She was converted to aminesweeper,[3] and initially based at Southampton.[6] She was put into service betweenLarne andStranraer from July to December 1940, and again from March 1941 to January 1944.[3] By November 1944,Twickenham was employed in takinglocomotives toCalais being able to carry 16 locomotives and 16 wagons. She could also carry an ambulance train of 14 carriages and four wagons., with the associated personnel.[6] On 24 January 1945, HMSTwickenham was involved in a collision with thetugEmpire Rupert 10 nautical miles (19 km) off Dover (51°03′N1°32′E / 51.050°N 1.533°E /51.050; 1.533).Empire Rupert sank.[7]
On 31 October 1945, HMSTwickenham was returned toAngleterre-Lorraine-Alsace and regained her former name ofTwickenham Ferry.[3] She was the first Southern Railway ship to enterCherbourg post-war.[1] In 1947,Twickenham Ferry was converted fromcoal tooil burning.[1] On the formation ofBritish Railways in 1948,Twickenham Ferry was registered to theBritish Transport Commission.[3] With the introduction ofIMO Numbers,Twickenham Ferry was allocated the number 5371478.[3] With the introduction ofTOPS in 1968,Sealink ships were classed aslocomotives for TOPS purposes, being allocatedClass 99.Twickenham Ferry was allocated 99 006.[citation needed] She was withdrawn from service in 1974 as her boilers were life-expired.[1] Her final day of service was 5 May 1974.[3] On 24 May, she was sold for scrap, arriving on 26 May atSan Esteban de Pravia,Spain, where she was scrapped by Stellnortem.[8]
