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Belfast SS Co

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the passenger ferries of the Belfast SS Co. This one of a series of pages on the various lines associated with the Coast Lines Group, which eventually became part of P&O Ferries.

 

An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are postcards of the fleet in chronological order.

 

 

Ships on this Page:-

Caloric (1) (1885-1914)

Classic (1919-1924)

Comic (1896-1921)

Graphic (1906-1929)

Heroic (1906-1930)

Logic (1) (1898-1921)

Mystic (1893-1910)

Magic (1893-1919)

Optic (1) (1885-1907)

Patriotic (1911-1930)

Ulster Monarch (1929-1966)

Ulster Queen (1929-194x)

Ulster Prince (1) (1929-194x)

Ulster Prince (2) (1946-1966)

 

Coast Lines Pages:-

Coast Lines - Coast Lines Header Page

P&O Ferries - P&O Ferries Header Page

Belfast SS History - Overview of the Liverpool-Belfast night boats - this page!

Belfast SS Motorships - More detailed history of the Liverpool-Belfast motorships

Belfast SS Car Ferries - Irish Sea car ferry services between Liverpool-Belfast.

British & Irish SP Co - Overview of the B&I SP Co

British & Irish SP Co Motorships - More detailed history of the Liverpool-Dublin night motorships

British & Irish Line Car Ferries - History of B&I after the split from Coast Lines in 1965

Burns & Laird Motorships - Glasgow-Belfast and Dublin night services

Burns & Laird Car Ferries - Irish Sea car ferry services between Ardrossan-Belfast

City of Cork Motorships - More detailed history of the Swansea-Cork night motorships

City of Dublin SP Co - History of the Dublin Company, taken over by B&I in 1919

Coast Lines Car Ferries - Irish Sea car ferry services from Liverpool and Ardrossan

 

Associated Pages:-

Ferry Postcards

Cruise Ship Postcards

Ocean Liner Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

References:-

The B&I Line: by Hazel P.Smyth - Gill & Macmillan 1984

Across the Irish Sea: by Robert Sinclair - Conway Maritime 1990

Irish Passenger Steamship Services - Volumes 1 & 2: by D.B.McNeil - David & Charles 1969

 

         

 

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Classic	Magic, Killarney, Attiki	1893
Heroic	Lady Connaught (1), Longford (2)	1906
Graphic	Lady Munster, Louth (2), Ulster Duke	1906
Magic	Classic, Killarney, Attiki	1893
Patriotic	Lady Leinster, Lady Connaught (2), Lady Killarney	1912
Ulster Duke	Graphic, Lady Munster, Louth (2)	1906
Ulster Monarch		1928

 

 

 

 

 

Belfast SS Co

Fleet List

 

 

Caloric (1) (Belfast SS: 1885-1914)

Optic (1) (Belfast SS: 1885-1907)

 

To be added

 

 

 

 

Mystic

(Belfast SS: 1893-1910)

 

To be added

 

 

 

 

Magic (Belfast SS: 1893-1919)

Classic (Belfast SS: 1919-1924)

Killarney (City of Cork: 1924-1931)

Killarney (Coast Lines: 1931-1947)

 

Magic was built in 1893 by Harland & Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Company. It was originally planned to name her Electric (she would have been the second ship of this name in the fleet). Magic was the most impressive ship in the fleet, and her cost was a substantial £65000 at a time when the company was facing serious financial difficulties. Triple expansion engines drove her at a claimed 19 knots, which reduced passage times to just over 8 hours, compared to the 11 hours of her running mates Optic and Caloric, and so schedules clearly showed which sailings were taken by the Magic. This disparity remained until the arrival of Graphic and Heroic in 1905. In 1899, Magic was chartered for a cruise to the Hebrides and Orkneys, a foretaste of her later employment as Killarney. Magic was very much the third ship once the larger and faster Graphic and Heroic were delivered. When the even larger Patriotic arrived in 1912, she was laid up for much of the year except for relief duties.

 

Magic served as a hospital ship during the 1914-18 war. The Royal Navy launched a destroyer named HMS Magic in 1915, which caused some confusion. At some point in 1916, Magic was renamed Magic II, The Admiralty initially decided to to call her the Magician, but later settled upon Classic from June 1918. this became official when she was returned to the Belfast Steamship Company in 1919. Since Heroic remained in naval service until 1920, Classic resumed regular Liverpool-Belfast service with the Graphic and Patriotic. When Heroic finally returned, Graphic was sent to run between Ardrossan-Belfast through the summer of 1920, and so Classic remained in daily use. When Graphic returned to Liverpool, Classic was chartered to the City of Cork SP Co for their Liverpool and Fishguard to Cork services. Classic reverted to the Belfast service when Graphic was sunk near Belfast in June 1923. Classic was reboilered and converted to oil firing after the return to service of Graphic, and was then officially transferred to the City of Cork SP Co, who renamed her the Killarney. She remained with the Cork company until 1930, having been displaced by the motorship Innisfallen. Killarney was converted into a "cruising yacht" for cruises form Liverpool to Scotland, which she maintained until the 1939 war started. After was service, Killarney was laid up until sale in 1947 to Epirotiki Lines. Her place as cruising yacht was taken by the ex-Patriotic, now Lady Killarney. Epirotiki renamed Killarney as Attiki, but she was wrecked in October 1951.

 

Complete history of Magic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comic (Belfast SS: 1896-1921)

Logic (1) (Belfast SS: 1898-1921)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic (Belfast SS: 1906-1929)

Ulster Duke (Belfast SS: 1949-1951)

 

Graphic and her sister Heroic, were built in 1906 by Harland & Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Company. They both had careers of over 40 years with various Coast Lines companies. They were the first Belfast SS ships with quadruple expansion engines, and were followed by the slightly larger Patriotic in 1912, although she reverted to triple-expansion engines. Graphic was 1800 gross tons and 325 feet long (Patriotic was only 5 feet longer, but 2300 gross tons). Graphic continued on the Liverpool-Belfast route throughout the First World War, and had an encounter with a surfaced U-Boat, which she managed to escape. In the summer of 1920, according to D.B.McNeil, Graphic operated on the Ardrossan-Belfast daylight route. However, Duckworth and Langmuir, writing in 1939, refer to her operating this service in the summers of 1921 and 1922. In 1923 she was involved in a collision with with a freighter off Holywood, and sank in the Victoria Channel. She was refloated and repaired at her builders.

 

Graphic was withdrawn from Belfast SS service in 1929 on the delivery of the three new Belfast SS Motorships, Ulster Monarch, Ulster Queen and Ulster Prince (1). She was given an extensive overhaul, which included a rearward extension of the boat deck, and the provision of two shorter and more modern funnels (one of which was a dummy) to match those of the new motorships. She was renamed Lady Munster and joined the British & Irish SP Co fleet between Liverpool and Dublin until again displaced by new motorships, the Munster (3) and Leinster (3) of 1938. The Lady Munster then became the Louth (2) until soon after the 1939-45 war. In 1938, Louth (2) had her funnels painted yellow (Coast Lines cruising colours) and began a service from Liverpool to Glasgow (actually Greenock) twice weekly with passengers for the Empire Exhibition at Bellahouston. These runs were soon abandoned. During the war, Louth (2) had run on the LMS railway route between Heysham and Belfast. Only of the Ulster Monarch from the 1929 trio returned to Belfast SS service, and so Louth (2) became the Ulster Duke and again ran between Liverpool and Belfast until 1951. She was immediately sold for scrapping in La Spezia, but sank in the Bay of Biscay whilst being towed en route.

 

Complete history of Graphic/Ulster Duke

 

 

Belfast SS advertising postcard for Heroic.

The same design was issued for Graphic and Patriotic.

 

 

Art postcard of Heroic.

 

 

Belfast SS advertising postcard for Graphic, Heroic and Magic.

 

 

L&NWR official Belfast SS advertising postcard for Graphic, Heroic and Magic. and Magic.

 

 

Postcard showing Graphic or Heroic, using the same image as the L&NWR card above.

 

 

Advertising postcard showing Graphic, Heroic or Patriotic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heroic

(Belfast SS: 1906-1930)

 

Heroic and her sister Graphic, were built in 1906 by Harland & Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Company. They both had careers of over 40 years with various Coast Lines companies. They were the first Belfast SS ships with quadruple expansion engines, and were followed by the slightly larger Patriotic in 1912, although she reverted to triple-expansion engines. Heroic was 1800 gross tons and 325 feet long (Patriotic was only 5 feet longer, but 2300 gross tons). Unlike her sister, Heroic was requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser during the 1914-18 war, afterwards returning to the Liverpool-Belfast route.

 

Heroic was withdrawn from Belfast SS service in 1930 on the delivery of the three new Belfast SS Motorships, Ulster Monarch, Ulster Queen and Ulster Prince (1). She was given an extensive overhaul, which included a rearward extension of the boat deck, and the provision of two shorter and more modern funnels (one of which was a dummy) to match those of the new motorships. She was renamed Lady Connaught (1) and joined the British & Irish SP Co fleet between Liverpool and Dublin until again displaced by new motorships, the Munster (3) and Leinster (3) of 1938. The Lady Connaught (1) then became the Longford (2) in 1939, but was laid up until the war. After the war she ran on the Dublin-Liverpool route until 1952.

 

Complete history of Heroic

 

 

Belfast SS advertising postcard for Heroic.

The same design was issued for Graphic and Patriotic.

 

 

Art postcard of Heroic.

 

 

Belfast SS advertising postcard for Graphic, Heroic and Magic.

 

 

L&NWR official Belfast SS advertising postcard for Graphic, Heroic and Magic. and Magic.

 

 

Postcard showing Graphic or Heroic, using the same image as the L&NWR card above.

 

 

Advertising postcard showing Graphic, Heroic or Patriotic.

 

 

Superb photographic postcard of Heroic in the Mersey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patriotic

(Belfast SS: 1911-1930)

 

 

Patriotic was an improved version of the 1906 sistrs Heroic and Graphic. She was built in 1912 by Harland & Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Company. Whereas the earlier ships had quadruple expansion engines, Patriotic reverted to triple-expansion. Patriotic was only 235 feet long, and 2300 gross tons. She was requisitioned as a troop ship during the 1914-18 war, afterwards returning to the Liverpool-Belfast route.

 

Patriotic was withdrawn from Belfast SS service in 1930 on the delivery of the three new Belfast SS Motorships, Ulster Monarch, Ulster Queen and Ulster Prince (1). She was given an extensive overhaul, which included a rearward extension of the boat deck, and the provision of two shorter and more modern funnels (one of which was a dummy) to match those of the new motorships. She was renamed Lady Leinster and joined the British & Irish SP Co fleet between Liverpool and Dublin. The two earlier near-sisters were displaced by the new British & Irish SP Co motorships Munster (3) and Leinster (3) of 1938. However, Lady Leinster was retained as the third ship on the Liverpool-Dublin route, but was confusingly renamed Lady Connaught (2), the original Heroic having been the Lady Connaught (1) from 1930-1939.

 

At the beginning of the 1939-45 war, Lady Connaught (2) returned to the Liverpool-Belfast route (to cover more modern ships requisitioned) and was mined near the Mersey lightship in late 1940. There was no loss of life. Lady Connaught (2) was towed back to Liverpool, but had suffered extensive damage and was laid up until 1942. Her insurers has declared her a total constructive loss, but Coast Lines bought the remains for £8500 and had her rebuilt as a cattle carrier in Dublin, carrying cargo out of the cattle season. Lady Connaught (2) served in this role between Belfast and Liverpool until January 1944, when she went to Barclay, Curle's yard in Glasgow for extensive reconstruction as a hospital ship, which included the loss of her dummy funnel. Lady Connaught (2) attended the Normandy beaches after D-Day and would lie off the beaches taking on wounded. Once full, she would head to Southampton, unload within several hours, and then return to the beaches. Her medical and nursing staff were all American. She continued this work until June 1945, when she returned to Belfast to be laid up whilst her future was considered.

 

Despite a shortage of tonnage after the war, it was not deemed worthwhile to reactivate Lady Connaught (2) since her modifications into a hospital ship had been extensive. She remained laid up in Belfast until 1948 when she rebuilt as the cruise ship Lady Killarney. She replaced the Killarney, which had served in this role from Liverpool to western Scotland before the war, replacing in turn the similar cruises offered by Coast Lines subsiary Langlands. Lady Killarney entered service with a buff hull and funnel. The hull was repainted green after three seasons. During a refit in 1952, she received full Coast Lines colours with black hull and black funnel with white chevron. She was withdrawn in 1956 and broken up in Port Glasgow. For a few subsequent years, the British Railways ferry Duke of Lancaster offered similar cruises.

 

Complete history of Patriotic

 

 

Belfast SS advertising postcard for Patriotic.

The same design was issued for Graphic and Heroic.

 

 

Belfast SS official postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

Belfast SS official postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

Belfast SS official postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

Art postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

Photographic postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

Photographic postcard of Patriotic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ulster Monarch

(Belfast SS: 1929-1966)

 

Coast Lines had been acquired by Lord Kylsant's Royal Mail Steam Packet group in 1917. The pioneering large passenger motorships of the Royal Mail group, including ships for White Star, Union-Castle and Royal Mail itself, are well known. In 1929, the Belfast SS Co received the first of three 3700 ton Harland and Wolff motorships, the Ulster Monarch, displaying a cut down version of the standard two-funnelled outline. The second and third ships were delivered in 1930, and were named Ulster Queen and Ulster Prince. They were the world's first diesel cross-channel ships, and a fourth ship smaller ship, the Innisfallen, was delivered for the City of Cork SP Co.

 

Ulster Monarch, was delivered with a light grey hull, but the colour proved to be impractical and was later replaced with black. The front of the boat deck beneath the bridge was originally open, but was soon enclosed with wooden-framed windows. In 1938, a blue band was added to the traditional red and black Belfast SS funnel, to make them to same as the new Burns & Laird colours applied to the first two standard motorships added to that fleet. There was talk of amalgamation of the two fleets at the time, but nothing came of it. The black hull was applied around the same time. The funnels reverted to red and black after the war, and shortened funnels were installed to reduce top weight. This class was renowned for rolling in high seas. Ulster Monarch was the only one of the initial trio which returned to Belfast SS service after WW2. She was scrapped in 1966.

 

Complete history of Ulster Monarch

 

 

An early official Belfast SS card of Ulster Monarch, with original light grey hull, and before windows were added on the forward boat deck.

The Liverpool-Belfast route was marketed as the Ulster Imperial Line, which continued until after WW2.

 

 

Another official Belfast SS card of Ulster Monarch, with original light grey hull.

The boat deck beneath the bridge was protected with windows at an early stage - compare with the card above.

 

 

The blue version of the official Belfast SS card of Ulster Monarch shown above.

 

 

An official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Monarch.

In 1938, a blue band was added to the traditional red and black Belfast SS funnel, to make them to same as the

new Burns & Laird colours applied to the first two standard motorships added to that fleet. There was talk of

amalgamation of the two fleets at the time, but nothing came of it. The black hull was applied around the same time.

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

A postwar official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Monarch, after funnels reverted to red and black.

The Ulster Monarch was the only one of the trio to return to Belfast SS service after the war.

 

Another postwar official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Monarch, after funnels reverted to red and black.

 

 

Another postwar official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Monarch.

This shows the shortened funnels applied to reduce top weight. This class was renowned for rolling in high seas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ulster Queen

(Belfast SS: 1929-1941)

 

Ulster Queen was running the Liverpool-Belfast service alone in 1940 when she ran aground of Maughold Head on the Isle of Man on 28th February. She was not refloated until 27th March whne she was taken to Belfast for repairs. She was then requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted into an auxiliary anti-aircraft cruiser. HMS Ulster Queen was substantially modified with the removal of her boat deck and one funnel. Armour plating was added to the hull sides and she had been armed with six 4.0in guns plus smaller AA weapons. The conversion was successful and she was purchased outright by the Admiralty. HMS Ulster Queen served with the Russian convoys, in the Mediterranean and in the Far East before being paid off on 1st April 1946. The modifications were too substantial to return her to passenger service, and she was sold for scrap.

 

 

An early official Belfast SS card of Ulster Queen, without widows on the forward boat deck.

 

 

An official Belfast SS card of Ulster Queen, with original light grey hull.

 

An official Belfast SS card of Ulster Queen - colour & font variation on the card above.

 

 

W.E.Walton photographic card of Ulster Queen

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

Photographic postcard of Ulster Prince on war service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ulster Prince (1)

(Belfast SS: 1930-1941)

 

Ulster Prince was wrecked at Nauplia in Greece in April 1941, whilst trying to evacuate troops. She was destroyed the following day on 25th April 1941 by Stuka dive bombers.

 

 

An official Belfast SS card of Ulster Prince, with original light grey hull.

 

 

An official Belfast SS card of Ulster Prince, with original light grey hull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ulster Prince (2)

(Belfast SS: 1946-1966)

 

Following the Second World War, only one of the original trio of Belfast SS ships remained, and the Leinster was refitted in 1946 to become the Ulster Prince (2). She initially carried the Burns & Laird style funnel colours that the Belfast SS ships had been given in 1938, as shown on the official card below. The route was still referred to as the Ulster Imperial Line on the card back.

 

 

Official card of Ulster Prince (2).

 

 

An unidentified card of Ulster Prince (2), possibly based on a pre-war B & I card due to the white funnel band.

 

 

An official Belfast SS photographic card of Ulster Prince (2).

 

 

An official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Prince (2). Artist unknown.

 

 

An official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Prince (2). Artist unknown.

 

 

An official Belfast SS colour card of Ulster Prince (2). Artist unknown.

The ship was renamed Ulster Prince I in 1966, to release the name for the new car ferry which replaced her.

She was withdrawn in October of that year, along with the Ulster Monarch.

They were replaced by the Irish Coast and Scottish Coast until the new car ferries arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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