Duke of Argyll
 
 
Duke of Argyll - Neptunia - Corinthia
 
 
The Duke of Argyll was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, in 1956, the first of three Dukes (the others being Rothesay & Lancaster) to replace a 1928 trio with the same names on the Heysham-Belfast night service of British Railways (London Midland Region). She was 376 ft long, 4797 gross tons, and carried 1800 passengers (600 first class, 1200 second). Sleeping berths were provided for 240 first class and 214 second, with open berths, rugs and pillows available for the rest. Her speed was 21 knots.
 
In 1965, British Railways was rebranded British Rail, and new corporate colours and logo were introduced. In 1968, an Act of Parliament separated the shipping interests of British Rail into a new division, for which the marketing name Sealink was adopted in 1970.
 
In 1970 Duke of Argyll was converted to a car ferry, with a vehicle deck of only 6ft 6in height, loaded from the stern. Passenger capacity was 1200, in one class, with 400 berths, although first class was reintroduced from 1972. Day services were also run from this time. The Heysham-Belfast route was closed on 5th April, 1975, with the Duke of Argyll running the final sailing to Ulster. She was sold to Greece in the same year as Neptunia for Libra Maritime, becoming Hellenic Maritime Lines (HML) Corinthia in 1987. Subsequent names were Faith Power, Fairy Princess and Zenith. Zenith was burnt out in Hong Kong in 1995, and scrapped the following year.
 
 
Ship Names on this Page:-
Duke of Argyll - BR/Sealink: 1956-75
Neptunia - Libra Maritime: 1975-87
Corinthia - HML: 1987-1994
 
Associated Pages:-
British Railway Steamers
Hellenic Maritime Lines (HML)
Ferry Postcards Header Page
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
 
 
Duke of Argyll
(BR/Sealink: 1956-75)
 
The Duke of Argyll was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, in 1956, the first of three Dukes (the others being Rothesay & Lancaster) to replace a 1928 trio with the same names on the Heysham-Belfast night service of British Railways (London Midland Region). She was 376 ft long, 4797 gross tons, and carried 1800 passengers (600 first class, 1200 second). Sleeping berths were provided for 240 first class and 214 second, with open berths, rugs and pillows available for the rest. Her speed was 21 knots.
 
In 1965, British Railways was rebranded British Rail, and new corporate colours and logo were introduced. In 1968, an Act of Parliament separated the shipping interests of British Rail into a new division, for which the marketing name Sealink was adopted in 1970. In the same year, Duke of Argyll was converted into a car ferry, with a vehicle deck of only 6ft 6in height, loaded from the stern. Passenger capacity was 1200, in one class, with 400 berths, although first class was reintroduced from 1972. Day services were also run from this time. The Heysham-Belfast route was closed on 5th April, 1975, with the Duke of Argyll running the final sailing to Ulster. She was sold to Greece in the same year as Neptunia for Libra Maritime.
 
 
British Railways (London Midland Region) official card of Duke of Argyll, printed by McCorquodale.
The same card was issued as Duke of Lancaster
 
The same card as above, reissued in the new 1965 British Rail colours as serial No. BR35145. The title still refers to British Railways (London Midland Region), and it was printed by Jesse Broad. The same card was issued as Duke of Lancaster
 
Sealink official postcard published by J.Arthur Dixon (serial no. L6/SP. 2855).
The photo used dates from the pre-Sealink British Rail era without the hull logo.
 
Eason postcard of Duke of Argyll leaving Belfast, plus enlarged image.
 
Photographic postcard on board the Duke of Argyll.
 
 
 
 
 
Neptunia
(Libra Maritime: 1975-87)
 
The Heysham-Belfast route was closed on 5th April, 1975, with the Duke of Argyll running the final sailing to Ulster. She was sold to Greece in the same year as Neptunia for Libra Maritime, becoming the Corinthia of Hellenic Maritime Lines (HML) in 1987. Subsequent names were Faith Power, Fairy Princess and Zenith. Zenith was burnt out in Hong Kong in 1995, and scrapped the following year.
 
 
Official Libra Maritime card of Neptunia
 
Another official Libra Maritime card of Neptunia
 
 
 
 
 
Corinthia
(HML: 1987- )
 
The Heysham-Belfast route was closed on 5th April, 1975, with the Duke of Argyll running the final sailing to Ulster. She was sold to Greece in the same year as Neptunia for Libra Maritime, becoming the Corinthia of Hellenic Maritime Lines (HML) in 1987. Subsequent names were Faith Power, Fairy Princess and Zenith. Zenith was burnt out in Hong Kong in 1995, and scrapped the following year.
 
 
Simplon Postcards sp1040 of Corinthia.
Follow this link to see a complete list of Simplon Postcards ferry issues.
 
Ramsey Postcards Nr.02 of Corinthia, Patras-Brindisi service.
Follow this link to see a complete list of Ramsey Postcards issues.
 
 
 
 
 
Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
 
Please credit to www.simplonpc.co.uk if you take images from this website!
 
 
 
 
©1999-2005 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site)
All Rights Reserved