PS Richmond
The RICHMOND was built at Yarmouth by Lepingwell. According to the Waterman’s History the date is given as 1814, Sandham gives the year as 1818. As her boiler burst in 1817, no doubt 1814 is correct.
She was a vessel of 50 tons burthen fitted with a 10 n.h.p. engine by Maudslay. She worked between London and Richmond. On 28th June, 1817, her boiler burst - it had only recently been repaired - just above Westminster Bridge while returning to Richmond, the “conductor” of the boat was very badly injured as well as two other persons in charge.
Mr. George Dodd, in his work on the steam engine and steam packets, 1818, records that two of his Thames steamers, the LONDON and the RICHMOND, carried on their station within four months 10,000 passengers. He describes his plan for lowering the chimney of these steamers to enable them to pass under the bridges; and records his proposal of water-tight iron bulkheads for dividing wooden vessels into compartments.
See Also
Sources of Information
- 'Steamers of the Thames and Medway' by Frank Burtt