L.C.C. - London City Council - Thames Excursion Boats

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Ferry services along the Thames had long provided an important part of London's transport system, but they were rarely been profitable. In 1876, the major operator became the London Steamboat Company, formed by an amalgamation of the Woolwich, Citizen and Waterman Companies. The London Steamboat Company failed in 1884, having never recovered from the Princess Alice disaster of 1878, when nearly 700 people lost their lives. Assets were bought by the River Thames Steamboat Company, which was itself soon in difficulties. In 1890, surviving boats passed to the Victoria Steamboat Association, which went into liquidation in 1896, to be replaced by the Victoria Steamboat Company in 1897, and the Thames Steamboat Company in 1898. All services had ceased by 1902.

London County Council (LCC) promoted a Parliamentary Bill in 1902 to empower them to run a replacement service, but it was thrown out. They tried again and succeeded in 1904, and the service started on 17th June 1905, running between Hammersmith and Greenwich with a fleet of 30 purpose-built paddle steamers from four builders. The service ran at a loss, and also extracted traffic from the competing LCC tramways. Services ceased in October 1907 and all the vessels were offered for sail on December 15th 1907. Fourteen boats were sold to the City Steamboat Company, which provided a similar service from 1909 until the outbreak of World War One. the fleet was eventually scattered throughout the world, including Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Mesopotamia, Russia, Italy, France and Belgium.

A complete list of LCC steamers is:-
ALLEYN - BOYDELL - BRUNEL - BEN JONSON - CARLYLE - CAXTON - CHAUCER - CHRISTOPHER WREN - COLECHURCH - EARL GODWIN - EDMUND IRONSIDE - FITZAILWIN - FRANCIS DRAKE - GIBBON - GRESHAM - KING ALFRED - MARLOWE - MORRIS - OLAF - PEPYS - PURCELL - RALEIGH - RENNIE - SHAKESPEARE - SLOANE - THOMAS MORE - TURNER - VANBRUGH - WHITTINGTON