Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway: Ships
Note: This is a sub-section of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
‘Cross-Channel and Coastal Paddle Steamers’ by George Frank Burtt
In 1864, Parliament granted the M.S. & L.R. powers to run steamers to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Flushing, and other Continental ports, and the fleet of the Anglo-French Steamship Company having been purchased, the regular service between Grimsby and Hamburg was taken over in July, 1865.
The Grimsby-Hamburg service actually dates back to May, 1852 when the CITY OF NORWICH, belonging to the North of Europe Steamship Company, was despatched from Grimsby Docks. In September, 1856, this company withdrew its ships and a new service was started by the above mentioned Anglo-French Company.
So useful did the Hamburg venture prove, that in 1886 a service of boats was started to Rotterdam, and success having also attended this venture, a further service to Antwerp was established in the following year. Unfortunately, little information can be gathered as to what type of steamer was employed on these services. From enquiries made of the Marine Department of the London and North Eastern Railway, the present day successors of the old Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, the author was informed that the only information available of any of the old Grimsby paddle steamers was that of the SHEFFIELD, originally named the NIGHT HAWK, which was engaged prior to railway ownership as a blockade runner. This steamship was withdrawn in October, 1874, and broken up in April, 1879.
For service between Hull and Grimsby the Company had three paddle steamers, as follows: —
- LIVERPOOL. Built by M. Samuelson and Co., Hull, in 1855; length 159.6 feet, beam 18.7 feet, depth 8.4 feet, tonnage 164 (net) and 220 (gross); n.h.p. 90.
- DONCASTER. Built by M. Samuelson & Co., Hull, in 1856; length 160.5 beam 18.7 feet, depth 8.4 feet, tonnage 165 (net) and 216 (gross); n.h.p. 80.
- MANCHESTER. Built by Goole Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. in 1876; length 159.7 beam 18.9 feet, depth 8.4 feet, and tonnage 168 (net) and 221 (gross); n.h.p. 80.
These three steamers were registered at Hull and all had compound two-cylinder engines with a 36 inch piston stroke. They replaced earlier vessels built in 1849.
The LIVERPOOL was fitted with new engines in 1874 and with new boilers in 1883. The DONCASTER had new engines in 1875, and new boilers in 1892. The MANCHESTER had new boilers in 1887. The firm of Laird Brothers of Liverpool carried out the renewals in all cases.
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Sources of Information