Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape

M.V. Balmoral (1949)
Operating Area : Coastal Cruising in the U.K.
MV Balmoral on the River Usk at Newport, South Wales in 1992.
Balmoral has been one of the great "survivors" and now works in conjunction with PS Waverley in maintaining coastal cruising opportunities in the UK. Now owned on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and operated by Waverley Excursions, she spends the main summer season cruising on the Severn Estuary (also known as the Bristol Channel), but also provides cruises on the Clyde at key weekends when PS Waverley is away from her home waters and offers cruises in areas not normally visited by Waverley.

The success now enjoyed by Balmoral looked a distant prospect in 1968 and again in 1980, when cruising effectively was ended in the waters of the Solent and Bristol Channel respectively. In 1949, however, prospects were altogether more rosy as Balmoral was ordered to make good tonnage that was deemed not fit t be refurbished after the rigours of World War II. Similarly to the developments on the nearby Southern Railway service from Portsmouth to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, the Southampton services operated by the line known popularly as the "Red Funnel" line, diesel power was chosen and provision was made for car storage space aft. Balmoral ran on the Southampton-Cowes ferry before making her name on the Isle of Wight cruise service.

She became superfluous to the Red Funnel line needs in 1968 as dedicated car ferries were introduced to satisfy the booming demand for such services at the expense of traditional day-tripping. She was not long out of service, however as P & A Campbell, long term operators of cruises and ferry services on the Bristol Channel, chartered her for the 1969 season to make capacity after the withdrawal of the last two of a long line of paddle steamers. The Severn motorway Bridge had signalled the demise of the Cardiff - Weston ferry, but there remained significant potential for cruising down the channel to the resorts of Minehead and Ilfracombe. After a successful season, Balmoral was chartered for a further 10 years by campbell's until their own operations ceased and at the end of 1979 her future looked bleak. Chartered for the 1980 season by the new company "White Funnel Steamers" with support from the Landmark Trust, owners of Lundy Island, she provided the regular lifeline to the island, but at the end of one season, her future once again became uncertain.

She escaped the shipbreakers' torch when she was purchased for use as a floating restaurant in Dundee, Scotland and she made the long journey north in 1982. The venture was a short-lived disaster and in 1984 was once again for sale, this time by the bankers disposing of the assets of the failed restaurant company.

Had it not been for the operators of Waverley looking for a second vessel to support Waverley and build up the cruising market around the UK for Waverley to exploit, Balmoral would surely have faced the final curtain. A quick sale followed by her move to Glasgow under her own power in March 1985 led to her dry docking and refurbishment at Govan. After successful trials on March 31st, 1986, she sailed south and on April 12th she returned to Bristol and a new career.
VESSEL DETAILS
Built 1949 by J.I. Thornycroft at Southampton, England
Engines: Originally : 2 x 6 cyl Diesels (by Newbury Sirron) - 1200 BHP - 2 x screw : Replaced in April 2003 by Grenaa diesels
 Length : 203 ft 6 in. / Breadth : 32 ft
Tonnage : 736 GRT
Launched 27/6/49 for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd
Ordered to replace PS Balmoral of 1900 which was not reconditioned after World War II
Introduced on the Southampton-Cowes Ferry service, but from 1952 was more regularly the popular cruise around the Isle of Wight
Withdrawn in 1968 and laid up at Weymouth as her owners concentrated on car ferry services with new dedicated tonnage
Chartered to P & A Campbell for their services on the Bristol Channel in 1969
New 10 year charter concluded to keep Balmoral on the Bristol Channel, initially at Swansea but later in a more varied cruise role
Visited the South Coast, North Wales and Isle of Man on charter sailings
Campbell, by now a subsidiary of European Ferries, ceased Bristol Channel operations after the 1969 season
Ran to Lundy in 1980 supported by the Landmark Trust, the island's owners
Moved to Dundee, Scotland in 1982 for a failed restaurant venture.
For sale again in 1984, she was bought on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for continued work as a cruise vessel
Based on the Bristol Channel, where she spends the main summer season, she now cruises to all parts of the UK coast
On the Bristol Channel she has re-instigated calls abandoned even at the heyday of Campbell's operations and even made new ones.
In early 2003, her 54-year old engines were replaced by new units from Grenaa in Denmark
Operating more quietly and smoother, her new engines have also added an extra edge in speed
Annual refits have been used to continuously improve passenger facilities
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BALMORAL and the story of the Bristol Channel Steamers
By Jon Holyoak and other members of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society
Published : May 1988 by Waverley Excursions Ltd
ISBN : 0-9505177-2-0
Highly illustrated pamphlet style book summarising her career and placing it in the context of the history of Bristol Channel steamers.
Return to :
PSPS
P & A Campbell
Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company