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River Fal SS Co
Falmouth-Truro Ferry History
This page is still under construction
This page shows the ferries of the River Fal SS Co and its predecessors on the Falmouth-Truro route, plus associated excursion ships.
Benney & Company
(1877-1906)
Richard Benney, a Truro River pilot, took delivery of the steam tug
Resolute
in 1887. She was carvel built by Scroble & Davies at Malpas. Her original Sara engine was replaced in 1886 by one by Cox 7 Co of Falmouth.
Resolute
had a certificate for 70 passengers, to augment revenue from towing. In 1882, they took delivery of a second passenger tug, the
New Resolute
. She was again built of wood by Scroble & Davies, with an engine by Cox & Co. In addition to towing, they carried passengers between Falmouth and Truro. The steamers ran the service daily between April and October, calling at Malpas. As still happens today, srvics terminated at malpas at low tide.
New Resolute
was also used for other excursions, including sea cruises as far as the Lizard or Looe. By the 1890s, Sarah Pollock Benney had become managing owner of the vessels, and she took delivery of the
Queen of the Fal (1)
in 1893, built by Cox & Co and registered in Truro.
Resolute
was sold by the family in 1902, although she survived until lost in the English Channel in 1920. Benney steamers had french grey hulls with black gunwales, and distinctive white, red and black funnels. In March 1906, the
New Resolute
and
Queen of the Fal (1)
were sold to Gerald Nalder, solictor engaged in the formation of the
River Fal Steamship Company (1906)
.
William J Thomas & Family
(1898-1934)
The father of William John Thomas, Philip Thomas, had run tugs on the Fal since 1866. The first tug William was involved with was the
Victor
of 1898. Of 153 gross tons, she was more substantial than most of the local steamers licensed for passengers. She was built by Pool Skinner & Williams of Falmouth, with a Cox & Co triple expansion engine. Shares in
Victor
were always held by various family members, but W J Thomas took full control from 1919, and he had managed her from building. Her large size allowed more extensive regular sea trips than most of the other local boats.
Victor
continued sea excursions until 1933, by which time she was the last of the passenger tugs at Falmouth.
William J Thomas & A W Chard
(1900-1901)
The River Fal Steamship Company
(1901-1906)
In 1899, William John Thomas, in partnership with Arthur William Chard, ordered a second smaller passenger steamer
Victoria (1)
, delivered in 1900 from Cox & Co. Unlike the rival Benney & Co steamers, she was twin screw with a lower draft. Within six months she was sold back to her builder Walter Cox, who had a buyer ready in Mauritious. Cox delivered the replacement
Victoria (2)
in 1901, also twin screw. The partners adopted the title
The River Fal Steamship Company
.
Victoria (2)
was similar to her predecessor, but had a small upper deck. Both steamers had buff funnels and white hulls. In 1905, the
Victoria (2)
was also sold to the Portuguese Government. Once again, a replacement was ordered from Cox & Co, becoming the
Princess Victoria
in the combined flee twith Benney & Co in 1907.
River Fal Steamship Company
(1906-1942)
In March 1906, the
New Resolute
and
Queen of the Fal (1)
were sold to Gerald Nalder, solictor engaged in the formation of the
River Fal Steamship Company (1906)
. They were joined in the combined fleet by the new twin screw Thomas steamer
Princess Victoria
in 1907. The Benney white, red and black funnels were adopted for the combined fleet, with the white hulls of the 'Victoria' boats. These were also later changed back to the french grey and black of the old Benney fleet. From 1905, the steamers all sailed from the new Prince of Wales Pier, officially opened in May of that year. They had previously sailed from a smaller jetty at the same location, known as Market Strand.
In 1911,
Queen of the Fal (1)
was sold for tug use on the Thames. She was replaced by
Queen of the Fal (2)
, a single screw steamer like previous Benney vessels. The deeper draft
Queen of the Fal (2)
took most of the coastal excursions, whilst the twin screw
Princess Victoria
concentrated on the truro service.
New Resolute
mainly ran other local harbour trips. The three vessels returned to excursion sailings in 1920 after the war.
New Resolute
was sold in 1927. Following the sale of the
Victor
in 1934,
Queen of the Fal (2)
was the last visitor to the Lizard. All excursion services ceased on the outbreak of war again in 1939.
Princess Victoria
and
Queen of the Fal (2)
were both acquired by the Ministry of War Transport in 1942, and never returned to the Fal. The company was subsequently wound up, and its place was eventually filled by the '
Enterprise
'
boats which maintain the service today.
Sections on This Page:-
Benney & Company
(1877-1906)
Resolute
(1877-1902 - Built:1877) - Image to be added
New Resolute
(1882-1906 - Built:1877)
Queen of the Fal (1)
(1893-1906 - Built:1893)
William J Thomas & Family
(1898-1934)
Victor
(1898-1934 - Built:1898)
William J Thomas & A W Chard
(1900-1901)
Victoria (1)
(1900-1900 - Built:1900) - Image to be added
Victoria (2)
(1901-1905 - Built:1901)
The River Fal Steamship Company
(1901-1906)
Victoria (2)
(1901-1905 - Built:1901)
River Fal Steamship Company
(1906-1942)
New Resolute
(1906-1927 - Built:1877)
Princess Victoria
(1907-1942 - Built:1907)
Queen of the Fal (1)
(1906-1911 - Built:1893)
Queen of the Fal (2)
- (1912-1942 - Built: 1912) - Image to be added
Vessels on This Page:-
New Resolute
- (
Benney & Company
: 1882-1906 - Built:1877)
New Resolute
- (
River Fal SS Co (1906)
: 1906-1927 - Built:1877)
Princess Victoria
- (
River Fal SS Co (1906)
: 1907-1942 - Built:1907)
Queen of the Fal (1)
- (
Benney & Company
: 1893-1906 - Built:1893)
Queen of the Fal (1)
- (
River Fal SS Co (1906)
: 1906-1911 - Built:1893)
Queen of the Fal (2)
- (
River Fal SS Co (1906)
: 1912-1942 - Built: 1912) - Image to be added
Resolute
- (
Benney & Company
: 1877-1902 - Built:1877) - Image to be added
Victor
- (
William J Thomas & Family
: 1898-1934 - Built:1898)
Victoria (1)
- (
The River Fal SS Co (1901)
: 1900-1900 - Built:1900)
Victoria (2)
- (
The River Fal SS Co (1901)
: 1901-1905 - Built:1901) - Image to be added
Other Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Pages:-
Cornwall Header Page
Falmouth 2008 Overview
Falmouth Pleasure Cruises
Falmouth - Pill Family
Isles of Scilly SS
Flushing Ferry
Newman's Cruises
River Fal SS Co
- this page
Scilly Inter-island Boats
St Mawes Ferry
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships and Ports
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
Associated Pages:-
Trip Out Guides -
Written and published by G.P.Hamer - editions from 1977 to 2007
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
Passenger Steamers of the Rover Fal -
Alan Kittridge - Twelveheads Press, 1988
Steamers & Ferries of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly -
Alan Kittridge - Tempus, 2004
My thanks to Graham Thorne, Alan Kittridge, Geoff Hamer, John Hendy and John Pill for assistance with this page
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River Fal SS Co
Falmouth-Truro Ferry History
Benney & Company
(1877-1906)
Richard Benney, a Truro River pilot, took delivery of the steam tug
Resolute
in 1887. She was carvel built by Scroble & Davies at Malpas. Her original Sara engine was replaced in 1886 by one by Cox 7 Co of Falmouth.
Resolute
had a certificate for 70 passengers, to augment revenue from towing. In 1882, they took delivery of a second passenger tug, the
New Resolute
. She was again built of wood by Scroble & Davies, with an engine by Cox & Co. In addition to towing, they carried passengers between Falmouth and Truro. The steamers ran the service daily between April and October, calling at Malpas. As still happens today, srvics terminated at malpas at low tide.
New Resolute
was also used for other excursions, including sea cruises as far as the Lizard or Looe. By the 1890s, Sarah Pollock Benney had become managing owner of the vessels, and she took delivery of the
Queen of the Fal (1)
in 1893, built by Cox & Co and registered in Truro.
Resolute
was sold by the family in 1902, although she survived until lost in the English Channel in 1920.
Resolute
(1877-1902 - Built: 1877)
Built: 1877 - 32 gross tons - 63.6 ft long
Richard Benney, a Truro River pilot, took delivery of the steam tug
Resolute
in 1887. She was carvel built by Scroble & Davies at Malpas. Her original Sara engine was replaced in 1886 by one by Cox 7 Co of Falmouth.
Resolute
had a certificate for 70 passengers, to augment revenue from towing. In 1882, they took delivery of a second passenger tug, the
New Resolute
.
Resolute
was sold by the family in 1902, although she survived until lost in the English Channel in 1920.
Image to be added
New Resolute
(1882-1906 - Built: 1877)
Built: 1877 - 39.8 gross tons - 71.2 ft long
Richard Benney, a Truro River pilot, took delivery of the steam tug
Resolute
in 1887. In 1882, she was joined by a second passenger tug, the
New Resolute
. She was again built of wood by Scroble & Davies, with an engine by Cox & Co. In addition to towing, they carried passengers between Falmouth and Truro. The steamers ran the service daily between April and October, calling at Malpas. As still happens today, servics terminated at Malpas at low tide.
New Resolute
was also used for other excursions, including sea cruises as far as the Lizard or Looe.
Postcard of
New Resolute
in Benney & Co service
Posted from Falmouth, September 24th 1903, to Mexico (!), arriving October 8th 1903
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
New Resolute
in Benney & Co service
Posted from Falmouth, September 24th 1903, to Mexico (!), arriving October 8th 1903
Click to open larger image in new window
E.E.Collins postcard of
Roseland
(right front) at the Prince of Wales Pier after WW1
New Resolute
is off the pier on the left, with
Miranda (1)
behind her.
Victor
is behind
Roseland
and
Princess Victoria
and
Queen of the Fal
are behind the pier
Click to open larger image in new window
E.T.W.Dennis postcard of
Roseland
at Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth, with
New Resolute
behind her
Click to open larger image in new window
Queen of the Fal (1)
(1893-1906 - Built: 1893)
Built: 1893 - 62 gross tons - 81.6 ft long
By the 1890s, Sarah Pollock Benney had become managing owner of the vessels, and she took delivery of the
Queen of the Fal (1)
in 1893, built by Cox & Co and registered in Truro. Benney steamers had french grey hulls with black gunwales, and distinctive white, red and black funnels. In March 1906, the
New Resolute
and
Queen of the Fal (1)
were sold to Gerald Nalder, solictor engaged in the formation of the
River Fal Steamship Company (1906)
.
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
before rebuilding
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
before rebuilding
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
after rebuilding 1907, behind the
Roseland
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
after rebuilding 1907, behind the
Roseland
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
after rebuilding 1907
Click to open larger image in new window
Photograph of
Queen of the Fal
after rebuilding 1907
Click to open larger image in new window
William J Thomas
The father of William John Thomas, Philip Thomas, had run tugs on the Fal since 1866. The first tug William was involved with was the
Victor
of 1898. Of 153 gross tons, she was more substantial than most of the local steamers licensed for passengers. She was built by Pool Skinner & Williams of Falmouth, with a Cox & Co triple expansion engine. Shares in
Victor
were always held by various family members, but W J Thomas took full control from 1919, and he had managed her from building. Her large size allowed more extensive regular sea trips than most of the other local boats.
Victor
continued sea excursions until 1933, by which time she was the last of the passenger tugs at Falmouth.
Victor
(1898-1934 - Built: 1898)
Built: 1898 - 153 gross tons - 106 ft long
The father of William John Thomas, Philip Thomas, had run tugs on the Fal since 1866. The first tug William was involved with was the
Victor
of 1898. Of 153 gross tons, she was more substantial than most of the local steamers licensed for passengers. She was built by Pool Skinner & Williams of Falmouth, with a Cox & Co triple expansion engine. Shares in
Victor
were always held by various family members, but W J Thomas took full control from 1919, and he had managed her from building. Her large size allowed more extensive regular sea trips than most of the other local boats.
Victor
continued sea excursions until 1933, by which time she was the last of the passenger tugs at Falmouth.
Cornish Riviera (E.A.Bragg) postcard of
Victor
Click to open larger image in new window
Argall's postcard of Prince of Wales Pier with
Victor
in the background
Victoria (2)
in foreground,
Queen of the Fal
arriving - Posted from Falmouth, 19th August 1908
Click to open larger image in new window
Argall's postcard of Prince of Wales Pier with
Victor
in the background
Enlarged image from card above
Click to open larger image in new window
William J Thomas & A W Chard
(1900-1901)
The River Fal Steamship Company
(1901-1906)
In 1899, William John Thomas, in partnership with Arthur William Chard, ordered a second smaller passenger steamer
Victoria (1)
, delivered in 1900 from Cox & Co. Unlike the rival Benney & Co steamers, she was twin screw with a lower draft. Within six months she was sold back to her builder Walter Cox, who had a buyer ready in Mauritious. Cox delivered the replacement
Victoria (2)
in 1901, also twin screw. The partners adopted the title
The River Fal Steamship Company
.
Victoria (2)
was similar to her predecessor, but had a small upper deck. Both steamers had buff funnels and white hulls. In 1905, the
Victoria (2)
was also sold to the Portuguese Government. Once again, a replacement was ordered from Cox & Co, becoming the
Princess Victoria
in the combined flee twith Benney & Co in 1907.
Victoria (1)
(1900-1900 - Built: 1900)
Built: 1900 - 67.7 gross tons - 82 ft long
In 1899, William John Thomas, in partnership with Arthur William Chard, ordered a second smaller passenger steamer
Victoria (1)
, delivered in 1900 from Cox & Co. Unlike the rival Benney & Co steamers, she was twin screw with a lower draft. Within six months she was sold back to her builder Walter Cox, who had a buyer ready in Mauritious.
Image to be added
Victoria (2)
(1901-1905 - Built: 1901)
Built: 1901 - 67.8 gross tons - 85 ft long
Victoria (1)
was delivered in 1900 from Cox & Co. Within six months she was sold back to her builder Walter Cox, who had a buyer ready in Mauritious. Cox delivered the replacement
Victoria (2)
in 1901, also twin screw. The partners adopted the title
The River Fal Steamship Company
.
Victoria (2)
was similar to her predecessor, but had a small upper deck. Both steamers had buff funnels and white hulls. In 1905, the
Victoria (2)
was also sold to the Portuguese Government. Once again, a replacement was ordered from Cox & Co, becoming the
Princess Victoria
in the combined flee twith Benney & Co in 1907.
Peacock Series postcard of
Victoria (2)
Click to open larger image in new window
Argall's postcard of
Victoria (2)
Victor
in background,
Queen of the Fal
arriving - Posted from Falmouth, 19th August 1908
Click to open larger image in new window
Argall's postcard of
Victoria (2)
Enlarged image from card above
Click to open larger image in new window
River Fal Steamship Company
(1906-1942)
In March 1906, the
New Resolute
and
Queen of the Fal (1)
were sold to Gerald Nalder, solictor engaged in the formation of the
River Fal Steamship Company (1906)
. They were joined in the combined fleet by the new twin screw Thomas steamer
Princess Victoria
in 1907. The Benney white, red and black funnels were adopted for the combined fleet, with the white hulls of the 'Victoria' boats. These were also later changed back to the french grey and black of the old Benney fleet. From 1905, the steamers all sailed from the new Prince of Wales Pier, officially opened in May of that year. They had previously sailed from a smaller jetty at the same location, known as Market Strand.
In 1911,
Queen of the Fal (1)
was sold for tug use on the Thames. She was replaced by
Queen of the Fal (2)
, a single screw steamer like previous Benney vessels. The deeper draft
Queen of the Fal (2)
took most of the coastal excursions, whilst the twin screw
Princess Victoria
concentrated on the truro service.
New Resolute
mainly ran other local harbour trips. The three vessels returned to excursion sailings in 1920 after the war.
New Resolute
was sold in 1927. Following the sale of the
Victor
in 1934,
Queen of the Fal (2)
was the last visitor to the Lizard. All excursion services ceased on the outbreak of war again in 1939.
Princess Victoria
and
Queen of the Fal (2)
were both acquired by the Ministry of War Transport in 1942, and never returned to the Fal. The company was subsequently wound up, and was eventually filled by the '
Enterprise'
boats which maintain the service today.
New Resolute
(1906-1927 - Built: 1877)
Built: 1877 - 39.8 gross tons - 71.2 ft long
Richard Benney, a Truro River pilot, took delivery of the steam tug
Resolute
in 1887. In 1882, she was joined by a second passenger tug, the
New Resolute
. She was again built of wood by Scroble & Davies, with an engine by Cox & Co. In addition to towing, they carried passengers between Falmouth and Truro. The steamers ran the service daily between April and October, calling at Malpas. As still happens today, srvics terminated at malpas at low tide.
New Resolute
was also used for other excursions, including sea cruises as far as the Lizard or Looe.
Postcard of
New Resolute
in Benney & Co service
Posted from Falmouth, September 24th 1903, to Mexico (!), arriving October 8th 1903
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
New Resolute
in Benney & Co service
Posted from Falmouth, September 24th 1903, to Mexico (!), arriving October 8th 1903
Click to open larger image in new window
E.E.Collins postcard of
Roseland
(right front) at the Prince of Wales Pier after WW1
New Resolute
is off the pier on the left, with
Miranda (1)
behind her.
Victor
is behind
Roseland
and
Princess Victoria
and
Queen of the Fal
are behind the pier
Click to open larger image in new window
E.T.W.Dennis postcard of
Roseland
at Prince of Wales Pier, Falmouth, with
New Resolute
behind her
Click to open larger image in new window
Queen of the Fal (1)
(1906-1911 - Built: 1893)
Built: 1893 - 62 gross tons - 81.6 ft long
By the 1890s, Sarah Pollock Benney had become managing owner of the vessels, and she took delivery of the
Queen of the Fal (1)
in 1893, built by Cox & Co and registered in Truro. Benney steamers had french grey hulls with black gunwales, and distinctive white, red and black funnels. In March 1906, the
New Resolute
and
Queen of the Fal (1)
were sold to Gerald Nalder, solictor engaged in the formation of the
River Fal Steamship Company (1906)
. In 1911,
Queen of the Fal (1)
was sold for tug use on the Thames. She was replaced by
Queen of the Fal (2)
, a single screw steamer like previous Benney vessels.
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
in Benney & Co service before rebuilding
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
before rebuilding
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Queen of the Fal
after rebuilding 1907, behind the
Roseland
Click to open larger image in new window