Viper - Snaefell (4)
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo) turbine steamer Snaefell.
 
In 1906, G & J Burns replaced the paddlesteamer Adder with the extremely fine turbine steamer Viper, also built by Fairfields of Govan. She achieved 22knots, 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 (4) in IOMSPCo service, and ran until 1945, including service throughout WW2 when other IOMSPCo vessels were requisitioned. By the end of the war, she was worn out, and sold for scrap.
 
 
Sections on this Page:-
Viper - Burns & Laird: 1906-1920
Snaefell (4) - IOMSPCo: 1920-1945
 
IOMSPCo Pages:-
IOMSPCo - Header Page
IOMSPCo - Page 1 - 1830-1899
IOMSPCo - Page 2 - 1900-1914
IOMSPCo - Page 3 - 1915-1939
IOMSPCo - Page 4 - 1940-1960
IOMSPCo - Page 5 - 1961-1980
IOMSPCo - Page 6 - 1981-2004
 
Associated Pages:-
L&NWSS - Header Page - Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
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
 
            
 
Search This Website:-

powered by FreeFind  
 
 
 
 
 
Viper
Burns & Laird: 1906-1920
 
In 1906, G & J Burns replaced the paddlesteamer Adder with the extremely fine turbine steamer Viper, also built by Fairfields of Govan. She achieved 22knots, 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.
 
 
 
"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 wartime channel trooping duties. It was not posted until 1946, just after she was finally retired by the IOMSPCo.
 
 
 
Valentines card 57113 of Viper passing Carrickfergus Castle, painted by I.W.Carey (?).
the card was posted from Belfast in April 1916.
 
 
 
Valentines card 57112 of Viper passing Ailsa Craig 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, at the Caledonian Railway's Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan.
 
 
 
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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Snaefell (4)
 
IOMSPCo: 1920-1945
 
Viper resumed service after the war 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 (4) 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.
 
 
Postcard of Snaefell (4).
This is a retouched version of the card of Viper passing Carrickfergus shown above.
 
 
 
Postcard of Snaefell (4).
A different copy of the card above.
 
 
 
Postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Tuck's "Oilette" postcard of Snaefell (1).
 
 
 
Postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
Photographic postcard of Snaefell (4).
 
 
 
 
 
 
IOMSPCo - Header Page - IOMSPCo - Page 1 - IOMSPCo - Page 2 - IOMSPCo - Page 3
IOMSPCo - Page 4 - IOMSPCo - Page 5 - IOMSPCo - Page 6
Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
           
 
 
 
 
 
 
©1999-2006 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site)
All Rights Reserved