River Thames Passenger Boats

Header Page


This is the header to a series of pages on the excursion ships and ferries of the River Thames. These pages are independent from any boat operators - links to the owners' websites are shown wherever possible. Do not contact Simplon for information on boat services. There is a list of Thames Companies covered on this website. There is also a list of Thames cruises, showing images from different sections of the river. This page also covers a number of miscellaneous vessels not shown on other pages.

My thanks to Anthony Langford and Geoff Hamer for identifying some of the more obscure items, and Scott Neicho of Capital Pleasure Boats for recent information and pictures.


Boats on this Page:-
Britannia - Maynards
Darthula II
Duke of Cambridge (Built: 1866) - Woolwich Steam Packet Co: 1875-1910
The King (Built: 1902)
London Belle (Built: 1948) - Arthur Crouch: 1949-1979, G.Wheeler: 1980-1986, Campion: 1987-2003, London Party Boats: 2003-
May Queen
Penelope
Prince Arthur (Built: 1866) - Woolwich Steam Packet Co
Princess Beatrice (Built: 1883) - H.G.Tagg: 1887-1894
Queen Boadicea (Built: 1929)
Queen Boadicea II (Built: 1936)
Thames - Thames Conservancy
Thames Bubbler - PLA
Western Belle (Built: 1935) - Chris Cruises: 2005-2008

Sections on this Page:-
Miscellaneous Vessels - Vessels not covered on other Thames pages
Unknown Vessels - A selection of Thames postcards which need identification

River Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
Thames Boats - Header Page - This Page!
Thames Boats - 1950s Photo Album - Photos by David Lord between 1949-51
Absolute Pleasure Boats - Thames charters
Bateaux London - Thames restaurant boats - public trips and charters
Campion Launches - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters - now Viscount Cruises
Capital Pleasure Boats - Thames charters
Catamaran Cruisers - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters
Chris Cruises - Thames charters from Hampton Court with Western Belle
City Cruises - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters
Colliers Launches - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services plus Thames charters - Thames River Boats
Complete Pleasure Boats - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
Crown River Cruises - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters
Cruise London - Thames charters with Pridela
Ed Langley - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
French Brothers - services from Windsor, Runneymede and Maidenhead plus Thames charters
Hobbs & Sons - Henley-on-Thames cruises and charters
JGF Passenger Boats - Walton-on-Thames
Joseph Mears - Thames services 1907-1945 - passed to Thames Launches
King Cruises - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services plus Thames charters - Thames River Boats
Livett's Launches - Thames charters
London Duck Tours - Amphibious DUKW tours on the Thames
L.C.C. - London County Council
London River Cruises - Thames charters
Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co - Gravesend to Tilbury, Southend and Greenwich services
Maynard Launches - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - Thames River Boats
Parr Boat Hire - Kingston-Hampton Court services
Odell (R.G.Odell) - Thames services
RiverBus - Thames commuter services 1988-1993
Salter Brothers - Oxford-Abingdon-Wallingford-Reading-Henley-Marlow-Maidenhead-Windsor-Staines services
Silver Fleet - Woods River Cruises - Thames charters plus London Eye cruises
Southend Page 1 - Southend Pier
Southend Page 2 - Southend Small Excursion Boats
Southend Page 3 - Southend Motor Navigation Co - Fleet List
Southend Page 4 - Southend Motor Navigation Co - Company History
Thames Clippers - Canary Wharf-London commuter services
Thames Cruises - Thames charters - was Tidal Cruisers
Thames Executive Charters - Putney-Blackfriars weekday commuter services plus Thames charters
Thames Launches - was Joseph Mears
Thames Line - Thames commuter services 1988-1993
Thames Leisure Cruises - Thames charters
Thames Luxury Charters - Thames charters
Thames River Boats - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services
Thames River Services - Westminster-Greenwich-Thames Barrier services
Tidal Cruisers - Thames charters & Westminster-Greenwich services 1984-2002 - became Thames Cruises
Turk Launches - Richmond-Kingston-Hampton Court services plus Thames charters
Viscount Cruises - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters - previously Campion Launches
Westminster Party Boats - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters
Westminster Passenger Services Association - Westminster-Kew-Hampton Court services - now known as Thames River Boats
George Wheeler Launches - Westminster-Tower-Greenwich services plus Thames charters
Woods River Cruises - Silver Fleet - Thames charters plus London Eye cruises
Woolwich Ferry - Thames ferry service

Thames Passenger Boat Cruise Pages:-
River Thames - Harwich-Southend-Tilbury-Tower Pier - on Waverley
River Thames - Gravesend-Chelsea - on Princess Pocahontas
River Thames - Greenwich-Tower Pier - with Catamaran Cruisers
River Thames - Greenwich-Tower Pier - with City Cruises
River Thames - Tower Pier-Westminster - with City Cruises
River Thames - Teddington-Kingston - on Alaska
River Thames - Runneymede Circular - on Lucy Fisher
River Thames - Windsor-Maidenhead - on Nuneham
River Thames - Bourne End - on Alaska
River Thames - Maidenhead-Marlow - on Alaska
River Thames - Marlow-Henley - on Oxford
River Thames - Henley-Reading - on Mary Stuart

Timetable Archive (check www.tfl.gov.uk for latest copy):-
2008/9 - Winter - Thames River Services - TfL (500kb PDF File)
2008 - Spring/Summer - Thames River Services - TfL (2Mb PDF File)
2007 - Spring/Summer - Thames River Services - TfL (4Mb PDF File)
2005 - Spring/Summer - Thames River Services - TfL (2Mb PDF File)
1961 - Summer - Thames River Services - (1Mb PDF File)

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards Home Page

References:-
Royal River Highway: Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guides : Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH Miscellaneous Vessels


Boadicea
(Thames Steamboat Co) Boadicea was a paddle steamer steamer owned by the Thames Steamboat Company. It was one of three boats (the others were Alexandria and Cleopatra) ordered when they took over the Victoria Steamboats fleet. They were built in 1898 and were very similar in size and layout to the L.C.C boats and built by Thames Ironworks. They were with the Thames Steamboat fleet until 1912.


Britannia

Maynard's Britannia at Reading.



C.E.May (Reading) postcard of Maynard's Britannia loading for a trip to Henley Regatta for 2/6 (£0.12)
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Darthula II
(Built: 1939)

Darthula II was built in 1939 by Dickie at Tarbert (Loch Fyne) for Alexander Black of Taynuilt for use on Loch Etive between Achnacloich to Lochetivehead. He had previously used the Euglena on the run from 1924.

The Loch Etive Tour had run from Oban since 1877, initially using coach and horses to connect to Achnacloich from Ballachulish which had a steamer service from Oban. In later years the railway reached Oban with connections to Tyndrum and Ballachulish, so the coaches ran to these stations. Boats used on the service before WW1 were Ben Starav (1877-1879), Glenetive (1880-c.1886), Osian (1885-1913). The service ceased in 1913, the provision of the coach and horses links to Ballachulish and Tyndrum stations becoming uneconomic. Boat services resumed in 1922 when motor charabancs were available to replace the coach connections. The boat used was the Jano owned by Scott and Smith. In 1923 she was replaced by the Loch Etive Queen of Donald R.McKay of Taynuilt, which ran until WW2. Rena and Euglena joined her on Loch Etive services in 1924.

Darthula II was used by the Admiralty in WW2, returning to Loch Etive service in 1946. She was sold to J.H.Lynn of Dalmally, who continued running her on the same route. From 1962 she was owned by Loch Etive Cruises (Edward T.F.Spence). Darthula II ran on the Thames from 1964. Ronald Ricketts advertised that Darthula II (65 grt, 120 passengers) would operate cruises from Erith between May and September in 1965. Departing at 9:00, destinations included Kew, Richmond, Tower Bridge, Southend etc. From 1964 she was owned by R.G.(Passenger Launches) Ltd of Bexleyheath. Darthula II subsequently operated for M.G.Pearce at Portsmouth, where the photos below were taken.




Darthula II arriving at Old Portsmouth from Gosport
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Darthula II and P&O's Pride of Hampshire
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Duke of Cambridge
(Built: 1866)

Paddle steamer Duke of Cambridge (1866) at the Victoria Embankment.
Duke of Cambridge was owned by the Woolwich SP Co (and successors) between 1875-1910.
The King
(Built: 1902)

The King (1902) was built and operated by Harry Tagg until 1915, when she was sold to Joseph Mears who ran her from 1916-1946.


Two steamers at Hampton Court, on a Hartmann postcard, posted in July 1905.
The steamer in the background is the The King.
The steamer in the foreground is the May Queen.



The King (right) and England (left) at Richmond.
Card posted in 1909, some years before The King became part of the Mears fleet.
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The King passing Surbiton heading for Hampton Court
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The King at Thames Launches yard at Eel Pie Island after an overhaul, winter 1950/51
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The King photographed at Borstal on the River Medway, 27th December 2006.
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London Belle
(London Party Boats - built: 1948)

London Belle was built by Rowhedge Iron Works in 1948 for Alfred Crouch. 65 feet long and diesel-powered with twin screws, she was re-engined and converted to a single screw in 1972. In 1980 she passed to George Wheeler Launches, and c.1987 to Campion Launches. In 2003 she was sold to London Party Boats (www.londonpartyboats.co.uk) and is their sole vessel in 2006.


London Belle of London Party Boats (www.londonpartyboats.co.uk)
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May Queen

Two steamers at Hampton Court, on a Hartmann postcard, posted in July 1905.
The steamer in the foreground is the May Queen.
The steamer in the background is the The King.
Penelope

Photographic postcard of Penelope.



Postcard of Penelope at Embankment.



Postcard of Penelope at Embankment.
Coloured variation on the card above.
Prince Arthur
(Built: 1866)

The Prince Arthur (1866) of the Woolwich Steam Packet Co.
Princess Beatrice
(Built: 1883)

Princess Beatrice (1883), owned by H.G.Tagg between 1887-1894
Queen Boadicea
(Built: 1929)

Queen Boadicea was built in 1929, and worked on the Thames for Mrs C.M.Smith from 1929-1941, and then for Jacksons of Hammersmith from 1942-1959, and Thames Pleasure Craft from 1960. She attended the Dunkirk evacuation. Queen Boadicea was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft for use on the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry, which the company ran from 1st January 1977. Queen Boadicea was withdrawn from the ferry and moved to Plymouth in 1982 and was scrapped in 1984.


Queen Boadicea nearing Hampton Court
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Postcard of Queen Boadicea II in Thames service at Westminster Pier.
Vessels behind are probably Skylark X, Minden Rose and Oat.
Queen Boadicea II
(Built: 1936)

Queen Boadicea II was built in 1936 by Thorneycroft's. She worked on the Thames for Mrs C.M.Smith from 1936-1938, and then for George Wheeler Launches from 1938-1976, and attended the Dunkirk evacuation. Queen Boadicea II was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft for use on the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry, which the company ran from 1st January 1977. She was sold to the Tamar Cruising & Cremyll Ferry (TC&CF), when Dart Pleasure Craft pulled out of Plymouth operations in 1985. She passed to the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester before 1993.


Postcard of Queen Boadicea II in service with Tamar Cruising.



Postcard of Queen Boadicea II in service in Gloucester.
Thames

The Thames Conservancy paddler Thames.
Thames Bubbler

Thames Bubbler - used to re-oxygenate the River Thames.


Thames Bubbler - used to re-oxygenate the River Thames.



Thames Bubbler - used to re-oxygenate the River Thames.
Western Belle
(Chris Cruises: 2005-2008)

Western Belle was built by Fellows of Great Yarmouth for the Millbrook Steam Boat Co in 1935. She replaced the Whitsand Castle (ex-Kenwith Castle). Western Belle was primarily used on the ferry services across the River Tamar from Plymouth to Millbrook in her early years, though mainly ran Plymouth Dockyard trips in later years, along with Devon Belle and Eastern Belle. Western Belle passed to Dart Pleasure Craft in 1980, and was transferred to the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry. She was sold in 2000, appearing on the Thames for Chris Cruises of Hampton Court in 2005. She was sold to Ullswater owners in 2008.

Complete history of Western Belle


Western Belle at the Teddington River Festival, 2006.
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Western Belle at the Teddington River Festival, 2006.
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Unknown Vessels

A selection of postcards which require identification.
If you can help, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk


Two steamers (one paddle) at Oxford.
Tony Langford wrotes:- the item showing the two vessels as Thames and Isis, is one out of a number of cards showing these and other vessels.
The two are more likely to be the vessels owned by James Porter. Unfortunatelly the nameplates on all cards and on a better photo at Oxford City Library
cannot be read as to the identities. The vessels are moored behind sign saying 'BelleSteamers", confirming the likelyhood of Porter ownership.
Both 'Thames' and 'Isis' are screw-driven. Thames appeared in Illustrated London News in 1880s, Isis in brochure of poor quality by Salters.
The screw/paddle confusion arose over confusion in Dix book with 'Ibis', probably on account of transcription from handwritten notes.
Dix in his introduction accepts that everything could not be absolutely right.



A collection of steamers at Tower Bridge at the opening of Tower Bridge.



Unidentified double-ended paddle steamer at Lambeth Palace.






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