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Brightlingsea
Page 2:- History as a Ferry 1925-1996
Brightlingsea
returned to service from Harwich in 2007 and 2008. She does not appear to be operating in 2009.
This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Harwich-Felixstowe/Shotley ferry
Brightlingsea
. This page gives her history in railway and private ownership up to her withdrawal in the 1990s.
Brightlingsea - Page 1
contains a brief overview and details of her Harwich excursions from 2007.
Brightlingsea - Page 3
shows additional images from her restoration on services from Harwich.
Brightlingsea
was built for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1925, by the Rowhedge Ironworks near Colchester (although her hull was wooden). She was the first new vessel delivered to the LNER, which had been formed in 1923 by the amalgamation of the Great Eastern (GER), Great Central (GCR), Great Northern (GNR), North Eastern (NER) and other railways.
Brightlingsea
was 51 gross tons, and had saloons for 152 passengers.
The Harwich-Felixstowe ferry had been inaugurated in 1912 by the GER, using the smaller launch
Pin Mill
. Later GER additions were the
Hainault
and
Epping
.
Brightlingsea
passed to British Railways in 1948. From May 1964, the service was assigned to George Goodhew's Orwell & Harwich Navigation Co, for which
Brightlingsea
operated during the summer. The smaller launch
Orwell Haven
was used in winter. In 1967,
Brightlingsea
was joined by the
Torbay Prince
of 91 gross tons, which was generally used on excursions. When I first visited Harwich in June 1976,
Torbay Prince
had moved on.
In 1979, the Goodhew concern was taken over by the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Co, which was owned by European Ferries (who also owned
Townsend-Thoresen
). In 1983/84,
Brightlingsea
was re-engined. In 1984, the Orwell Bridge was opened, providing faster road links to Felixstowe, and passenger numbers declined significantly. In 1985,
Brightlingsea
was sold to Harry Rodger, former superintendent of the Orwell & Harwich Nav.Co. She was withdrawn on August 15th of the same year due to engines problems, but reappeared the following year.
Brightlingsea
continued to maintain the route until the mid-1990s when she was denied access to her protected berth in Felixstowe Dock, due to port re-development. Eventually, the service re-opened with the landing-craft style ferry
Explorer 12
, which could run up on the beach at Felixstowe. However this location is very exposed, and the
Harwich, Felixstowe & Shotley Foot Ferry Society
continue to campaign for a protected jetty at Felixstowe, and a return to full year operations. Subsequently,
Brightlingsea
has been undergoing restoration in Woodbridge, with plans to run from Harwich again from 2007. She appeared at the
Woodbridge Maritime Festival
on 9th/10th September 2006, where she was used as a floating bar and cafe. The owners are keen to gain their passenger certificate very soon, to run some short cruises from Woodbridge before the end of the year. Bookings are being invited for lunch cruises later in 2006.
On 12th August 2007
Brightlingsea
resumed harbour cruises from Harwich Halfpenny Pier, being featured on Anglia TV. The 90 minute cruise costs £12 and sails from the ferry pontoon, Halfpenny Pier, at Harwich. The tour sails out towards Languard Point, turning back to pass close along the container terminals at Felixstowe, before turning again in the River Orwell to round Shotley Point and sail towards Harwich International Port (previously Parkeston Quay) and finally back to Halfpenny Pier.
The 2008 brochure is shown below
.
She does not appear to be running in 2009.
Contact:-
www.msbrightlingsea.com
Sections on this Page:-
Brightlingsea
- Postcards
Brightlingsea
- Photographs
Brightlingsea
- Timetables
Brightlingsea Pages:-
Brightlingsea - Page 1
- Harwich Services 2007
Brightlingsea - Page 2
- History as ferry 1925-1993
- this page
Brightlingsea - Page 3
- Restoration and Service 2002-
Brochure Archive:-
2008 Brochure
- 1mb PDF file - requires Adobe Reader
2007 Brochure
- 1mb PDF file - requires Adobe Reader
1991 Brochure
- 1mb PDF file - requires Adobe Reader
- new!
Associated Simplon Pages:-
Great Eastern Railway
- Continental Ferry Services from Harwich
Great Eastern Railway
- Local Ferry & Excursion Services
Harwich
- Piers, Lifeboats, Lighthouses etc
London & North Eastern Railway
- Continental Ferry Services from Harwich
Trinity House
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
Associated Pages On Other Web Sites:-
www.msbrightlingsea.com
- Official Brightlingsea website
Harwich, Felixstowe & Shotley Foot Ferry Society
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Brightlingsea
Postcards
A.Duncan photographic postcard of
Brightlingsea
arriving at Harwich.
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Brightlingsea
in Orwell & Harwich Navigation Company colours.
Photo: © Philip Cone
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
at her berth in Felixstowe Dock, with
River Lady II
.
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Postcard of
Brightlingsea
at her berth in Felixstowe Dock.
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
inside Felixstowe Dock.
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
alongside the Halfpenny Pier at Harwich.
There is a Trinity House tender and a Sealink train ferry in the background.
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
alongside the Halfpenny Pier at Harwich.
A Sealink dredger is also at the pier, and the funnel of
Prins Oberon
is visible on the right.
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
at Harwich.
Postcard of
Brightlingsea
arriving at Harwich.
The Sealink ferry
St Nicholas
passing on her way to the Hook of Holland.
Simplon Postcards release sp1183 of
Brightlingsea
arriving at Felixstowe Dock.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.
Photographs of Brightlingsea
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
at Harwich pier.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, June 1976.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
at Felixstowe.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, June 1976.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
at Harwich pier.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1987.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
at Harwich pier, with the DFDS ferry
Hamburg
passing behind.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1987.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Marvin Jensen, 1994.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1994.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1994.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1994.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1994.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
and the
Hamburg
of
DFDS
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
and the
Hamburg
of
DFDS
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
and the
Hamburg
of
DFDS
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1995.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1996
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Brightlingsea
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1996
Click to open larger image in new window
Timetables
Summer 1991 Orwell & Harwich Navigation Co brochure for
Brightlingsea.
Also available as a 1 Mb PDF file:-
1991 Brochure
Click on image for a larger version in a new window.
Summer 1992 Orwell & Harwich Navigation Co timetable for
Brightlingsea.
Click on image for a larger version in a new window.
www.msbrightlingsea.com
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