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Burns and Laird Turbines

 

Ardrossan-Belfast Daylight Service

 

In 1906, G & J Burns replaced the paddlesteamer Adder with the extremely fine turbine steamer Viper, also built by Fairfields of Govan. She achieved 22 knots, with a service speed of 21 knots, compared to 20 knots and 18 knots respectively for the Adder. Viper operated successfully until the service was suspended for the duration of WW1. Viper resumed in 1919, but was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co in 1920, since the troubles in Ireland had adversely affected traffic levels. She always carried the black funnels of G & J Burns. She was renamed Snaefell in IOMSPCo service, and ran until 1945, including the services throughout WW2 when other IOMSPCo vessels were requisitioned. By the end of the war, she was worn out, and sold for scrap.

 

G & J Burns were acquired by Coast Lines in 1919, the same year as the Laird Line. Coast Lines amalgamated the two in 1922 to form Burns and Laird Lines Ltd. In 1920, the Ardrossan-Belfast service was operated by the Belfast Steamship Company vessel Graphic (following the final of season of in 1919). The route was then closed until 1925, when they were taken by Burns & Laird's Tiger. She was replaced by the Moorfowl in 1928, qand the Lairdscastle in 1932.

 

In 1933 , a dedicated ship was again acquired when the 1911-built Southern Railway turbine Riviera was purchased, and renamed Laird's Isle. She had been built by Denny of Dumbarton for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway's Folkestone-Boulogne service, and had originally been capable of 23 knots. Laird's Isle returned to service after the Second War, and was not retired until 1957.

 

 

Ships on this Page:-

Viper

Laird's Isle

 

Associated Pages:-

Burns Paddlesteamers - Ardrossan-Belfast day services.

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

Coast Lines - Coast Lines header page

Coast Lines Car Ferries

IOMSPCo - Page 2 - 1900-1914

South Eastern & Chatham Railway

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

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

Viper

 

In 1906, G & J Burns replaced the paddlesteamer Adder with the extremely fine turbine steamer Viper, also built by Fairfields of Govan. She achieved 22 knots, with a service speed of 21knots, compared to 20knots and 18knots respectively for the Adder. Viper operated successfully until the service was suspended for the duration of WW1. She resumed in 1919, but was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co in 1920, since the troubles in Ireland had adversely affected traffic levels. She always carried the black funnels of G & J Burns. She was renamed Snaefell in IOMSPCo service, and ran until 1945, including the services throughout WW2 when other IOMSPCo vessels were requisitioned. By the end of the war, she was worn out, and sold for scrap.

 

Complete History of Viper

 

 

"On Board the Royal Mail Turbine Steamer Viper" - an official Burns postcard.

The message reads, "Many thanks for the chestnuts. I think they are good for English. You will remember this boat. I last saw it in 1917".

This would have been whilst on WW2 channel trooping duties. It was not posted until 1946, just after she was finally retired by the IOMSPCo.

 

 

 

Valentines card 57113 of Viper, painted by I.W.Carey (?). the card was posted from Belfast in April 1916.

 

 

 

Valentines card 57112, painted by I.W.Carey (?).

 

 

 

Valentines card 53609, arriving in Belfast. The sender was waiting to work on a ship, "Cabins not ready yet, so still in digs. Tell Mother that I have quite enough cash, thanks to her foresight. I went to the ship last night, to get night signals. I heard Marseilles, an Island of Greece, the Hook of Holland, all the British coast stations, some of the French coast stations and dozens of ships."

 

 

 

Postcard of Viper.

 

 

 

Postcard of Viper.

Variation on the card above.

 

 

 

A rather poor card of Viper. The message reads, "This is the boat we came on. There is no name on it."

 

 

Barry Friedman writes:- I found your website in the course of trying to research a card (attached). I think that the Base Army Post Office was in Alexandria where the ship was headed for...do you know if the handstamped Pirie ar the lower center is that of General Pirie and can you tell me any more about this card?

 

Does anyone have any information on Viper's war service? Did she travel as far as Alexandria?

 

 

 

 

The front and back of the card is shown below. Link to an enlarged image of the back

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lairds Isle

 

G & J Burns were acquired by Coast Lines in 1919, the same year as the Laird Line. Coast Lines amalgamated the two in 1922 to form Burns and Laird Lines Ltd. In 1932 it was decided to revive the fast daylight Ardrossan-Belfast service, and the 1911-built Southern Railway turbine Riviera was purchased, to be renamed Lairds Isle, in the boring corporate style of the time. She had been built by Denny of Dumabrton for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway's Folkestone-Boulogne service, and had been capable of 23knots. She returned to service after the war, and was not retired until 1957.

 

 

"R.M.T.S. Lairds Isle (1781 tons). The fastest cross-channel steamer between Scotland and Ireland. Daylight Service,Glasgow and Belfast via Ardrossan".

An official Burns and Laird card showing condition as acquired.

 

 

 

An A.Guthie (Ardrossan) photographic card of Lairds Isle leaving Ardrossan, dressed overall.

The card was posted 14th August 1943, although the condition is much earlier than this. Serial number 35/80 (card issued 1935?).

 

 

 

Postcard of Laird's Isle

Click to open larger image in new window

 

 

 

An unidentified photographic card, showing the smoke for which she was famous. Note the broad funnel rings compared to the pictures below.

 

 

 

An later official Burns and Laird card showing additional plating forward. Published by OTC.

 

 

 

An unidentified photographic card, showing later condition.

 

 

 

 

 

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