Category: transportation

Asian and African Warships to the Cape

Heritage, Military, Personal, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation, Warships
I was given a whole stack of prints that were photographed of warships that called in Cape Town and Simonstown roughly between 1994 and 2002. The photographer was Patrick Gavin Worman, and unfortunately like so many of us he was tied down to weather, photography position, camera and skill, and I am grateful to him for capturing images of these vessels. He passed away in 2018 
 
This gallery comprises images from Asia (Japan, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Malaysia), Kenya and South African Navy vessels
 

Yueh Fei (Taiwan) 04/04/1997 

Cheng Ho (Taiwan) 04/04/1997 

Cheng Kung (Taiwan) 28/05/1996 

Chi Kuang (Taiwan) 28/05/1996 

Wu Yi (Taiwan) 28/05/1996 

Shikishima (Japan) 29/06/1995 

Shikishima (Japan) 29/06/1995 

Tir (India) 05/04/1997 

Moawin (Pakistan) 04/04/1997 

Babur (Pakistan) 04/04/1997 

Huang Tuan (Malaysia) 05/04/1997 

Perseverence x Lowland Lancer (Singapore) 4/4/97 

Nyayo (Kenya) 05/04/1997 

SAS PW Botha (RSA) 24/04/1995 

SAS Fleur (RSA) 

SAS Walvis Bay (RSA) 31/05/1995 

SAS Umzimkulu (RSA) 31/05/1995 

SAS Umgeni (RSA) 31/05/1995 

SAS Umkomaas (RSA) 05/04/1997 

SAS Umhloti (RSA) 05/04/1997 

SAS Outeniqua (RSA) 31/05/1995 

SAS Drakensberg (RSA) 31/05/1995 

SAS Maria Van Riebeeck (RSA) 16/10/1994 

Cable Restorer (RSA) 

Cable Restorer (RSA) 
 
DRW © 2020. Created 03/01/2020
Updated: 05/01/2020 — 15:09

Durban Shipwatch: Anastasis

Cruise ships, Natal, Personal, shipbio, shipbook, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation

My handy ship visit book records that we visited on board this classic beauty on 18 May 1996. Rudi and I went down specifically to see her, and I was carrying a large video camera but no stills camera. Rudi was to take some extra images of the ship for me for my collection but he never did and those images and the video are gone forever as Rudi passed away in December 2018 and his collection was lost. All I recall of the ship was that she really was a ship from a different age and really stunning. 

Postcard image obtained on board

My notes read: 

MV Anastasis (IMHO 5379729). Ex Victoria of Lloyd Triestino. Built Cr Adriatico, yard # 1765. 11695 GRT, 158,4 x 20,7. Sold 1978 to “Youth With A Mission” (YWAM) Co, Limassol. Used as a mobile hospital, housing 3 operating rooms, a 40 bed hospital ward, dental clinic, laboratory, x-ray unit and 3 cargo holds. In service for 29 years, she was broken up in 2007. 

Official Mercy Ships postcard

We were fortunate to have a guided tour of the ship by the lady who signed my book. Alas her surname is unrecognisable. 

DRW © 1996- 2019. Created 23/08/2019

Updated: 19/12/2019 — 06:39

Tugboat Canning in Swansea

Heritage, Outside RSA, Personal, ships and shipping, transportation, United Kingdom

The preserved tug Canning, is permanently berthed in Swansea at the Swansea Maritime and Industrial Museum. She was built in 1954 and built by Cochrane & Sons of Selby for the Alexandra Towing Company and was based at Liverpool until being transferred to Swansea in 1966.  She became the last steam tug to operate in the Bristol Channel, serving until 1974. She was retired to the Museum in 1975. (https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/4/canning)

She is a oil burner with a triple expansion engine by C D Holmes & Co. Ltd., Hull. Unusually  there is even a builders plate for her engine makers on board.

She was not in a perfect condition and really needed some paint and derusting. I was unable to get onto the pontoon to see what she is like on the other side, and photographic positions were limited by the fence. Berthed ahead of her was the preserved light vessel “Lightship 91”, known as ‘Helwick’, and she too was very difficult to photograph. 

To the best of my knowledge neither ships are open to the public.

DRW © 2018-2019, Created 11/10/2018

Updated: 24/07/2019 — 05:31

Swindon Railway Works Plaques

Heritage, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Trains & railways, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1, World War 2

The plaques in this post were photographed at Steam. Museum of the Great Western Railroad that I visited in 2015. Unfortunately my images did not come out well, it really has to do with camera shake and long exposures associated with not using a flash. I have sharpened them as much as possible. 

The Great Western Railway had it’s engine works in this railway town, and even built housing for its workers there, it was the biggest employer too and the Museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway. In wartime the works would have played a major part in maintaining the steam engines and in some cases using their heavy industrial facilities for wartime production. The labour force of men would have been affected by volunteering and conscription, and women began to play a role in keeping the works running. The carnage of the Western Front would have also affected the men who worked here, and a number of plaques have survived, commemorating those who never returned.​

 

DRW © 2015-2018. Created 27/08/2018

Updated: 02/03/2019 — 05:05

Liverpool Pals Memorial

Heritage, Liverpool, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Trains & railways, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1

Lime Street Station in Liverpool has seen a lot in the years that it has served Liverpool since it officially opened in August 1836. It also saw many men leave for war, and probably many returning victorious years later.  When I saw it in May 2018 it was somewhat of a mess, with ongoing renovations and the station due to be closed for 2 months. 

Naturally my 2nd question was: where is the War Memorial? and somebody who worked there said that it had been removed to the railway museum at York, which did not help me much. However, there are two memorials if you look for them. The first is a reasonably new addition and was unveiled by HRH The Earl of Wessex on Sunday 31 August 2014.

The Liverpool Pals Memorial is in the form of two large friezes stuck high up on a wall where you are not likely to see them. The £85,000 artwork was designed by Liverpool sculptor Tom Murphy and was funded through donations, I am not sure whether the place where they are sited is the original site or final site.

The Friezes are entitled:
 ‘Recruitment and Farewell.’

Recruitment and Farewell (1500 x 569)

 

‘Time to go home.’

Time to go home. (1500 x 574)

There is an explanation of the friezes by the artist  at http://www.liverpoolsculptures.com.  

More than 1,000 men were recruited on August 31 1914 alone. Over 6,000 men were initially signed up in 1914 – enough soldiers to serve in four battalions and for two reserve battalions. Unfortunately many would never walk through Lime Street Station again.

The second memorial that I spotted was quite odd, it almost felt like a reminder, or an apology.

I hope that once the huge renovation has completed the original war memorial will be restored to where it should be and that the Pals Battalions gets placed in a better spot so that they can be seen better. They are amazing pieces of work.

Oh, as an afterthought, just image what the inside of that glass cathedral must have looked like during the age of the steam engine.

DRW © 2018. Created 11/06/2018

Updated: 17/07/2018 — 06:11

Merchant Navy Memorials, Liverpool

Belgium, Heritage, Liverpool, Memorials elsewhere, Military, Outside RSA, Personal, ships and shipping, transportation, United Kingdom, World War 1, World War 2

The Merchant Navy Memorials in Liverpool are situated on the waterfront facing the Mersey and the Birkenhead side of the river bank.  The city played an important role in the Battle of the Atlantic as Western Approaches Command was based in the city, and many of the men and ships that sailed in the convoys came from this port.

A few metres further is a raised block with a number of relevant dedications. The two memorials are between Google Earth co-ordinates: 53.403829°  -2.996822°

Of particular relevance was this plaque that does not really make up for the lack of recognition of men and women from so many other countries that lost their lives in the Merchant Navy during both wars.

There was also an Arandora Star Plaque which served as a reminder that all ships were in danger of being sunk, whether combatant or non-combatant.

Norwegians, Poles and Belgians are also commemorated on this block.

Unfortunately these plaques are mounted on what appears to be some sort of housing for some unidentified machinery/access chamber and really do not connect too well with the Merchant Navy Memorial close by. I would have thought that a unified MN memorial would have meant much more instead of having these two distinct groupings that appear as an afterthought. 

The Maritime Museum also had a very good Merchant Navy exhibition on while I was visiting. 

A few steps away is the Liverpool Naval War Memorial which I will cover separately.

DRW © 2018. Created 05/06/2018

Updated: 17/07/2018 — 06:11

Waterline Ships Master List

Cruise ships, Personal, ships and shipping, Titanic, transportation

Master list of ships in my collection.  Unfortunately it fell behind because it is difficult to add to it, but I am updating it as at 22/06/2019

Ship Maker Ship Maker
Cunard Line      
Queen Elizabeth Triang Minic HMS Turmoil x 2 Triang Minic
Queen Mary Triang Minic HMS Vanguard Triang Minic
Carinthia Triang Minic KD Bismarck Triang Minic
Ivernia Triang Minic KD Scharnhorst Triang Minic
Aquitania Triang Minic HMS Gloucester (D96) Triang Minic
Caronia Triang Minic USS Bunker Hill Triang Minic
1st Mauretania Albatros USS Spruance Triang Minic
Lusitania Atlas Editions USS Guardian Triang Minic
2nd Mauretania Resin Steam tugs 8 Triang Minic
QE2 Revell HMS Vigilant (M787) Triang Minic
    HMS Bulwark Triang Minic
United States Triang Minic HMS Ark Royal (R07) Triang Minic
NS Savannah Triang Minic IJN Yamato Triang Minic
Varicella Triang Minic USS Missouri Triang Minic
Britannia Triang Minic HMS Swiftsure Triang Minic
Canberra Triang Minic HMS Repton Triang Minic
Vikingen Triang Minic HMS Sutherland Triang Minic
Isle of Sark Triang Minic Pilot boat Triang Minic
City of Durban Triang Minic Ferry Triang Minic
China bulker Triang Minic HMS Bangor (M1099) Triang Minic
C2 Cargo x 4 Triang Minic HMS Brockleberry Triang Minic
Aragon Triang Minic HMS Whitby (M791) Triang Minic
Nieuw Amsterdam Triang Minic HMS Daring (M77) Triang Minic
Flandre Triang Minic HMS Daring (D32) Triang Minic
The Victoria Mercury HMS York (D98) Triang Minic
 Oriana Mercator HMS Chatham (F87) Triang Minic
 France Triang Minic HMS Whitby (M798) Triang Minic
Union-Castle Line   HMS Alamein (M799) Triang Minic
CT Castle rebuild Hein Muck Resin  HMS Dainty (M773) Triang Minic
Carnarvon Castle Albatros  Diesel tugs 2 Triang Minic
Capetown Castle Hein Muck Resin Floating crane Triang Minic
Athlone Castle Len Jordan Resin Floating crane CM
Stirling Castle  Len Jordan Resin HM Castle Class trawler MB Models
Pendennis Castle CM HMCS Snowberry Navis Neptune
Pretoria Castle Albatros HMS Begonia x 2 Navis Neptune
Dunottar Castle Hein Muck Resin HMS Bangor Neptune
Llandaff Castle Len Jordan Resin HMS Tulip  Ensign
Reina Del Mar Len Jordan Resin HMS Achilles (F12) Mountford
Rochester Castle Resin HM Submarine K26 MB Models
Durban Castle Hein Muck Resin HM Submarine K5 MB Models
Windsor Castle  Albatros HM Submarine X-1 MB Models
Transvaal Castle CM HM Submarine M-2 MB Models
Dunnottar Castle Albatros Submarine tender Saar Mercator
Bloemfontein Castle CM 5 x unbranded corvettes Oceanic
Rhodesia Castle CM HMS Tiger Mountford
SY Iolaire Albatros River Class Frigate Neptun
Balmoral Castle Rhenania HMS Renown Atlas Editions
Capetown Castle CM HMS Nelson Atlas Editions
Gloucester Castle  Navis HMS Warspite Atlas Editions
Walmer Castle Solent USS Essex Atlas Editions
    HMS Hood Atlas Editions
Victoria Len Jordan Resin HMS Prince of Wales  Atlas Editions
Arcadia Len Jordan Resin SS TItanic  Atlas Editions
Reina Del Pacifico Hein Muck Resin City of Durban Len Jordan
Andes Hein Muck Resin  SA John Ross  3D print
Marco Polo Resin  SA Wolraad Woltemade  3D print
Ocean Terminal  Triang Minic SS Ohio Len Jordan 
Floating dock  Triang Minic Liberty ship Len Jordan 
 Empire Day  Len Jordan Resin Rapana Len Jordan 
 Leda   CM City of Durham Len Jordan 
Astor Albatros  RMS St Helena x 2  Oceanic
Australis Resin  RMS St Helena (1)  3D print
Achille Lauro CMKR Olympic CM
    Shieldhall Rhenania
German 4 Funnelers      
Deutschland  CM    
Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse  Mercator    
Kaiser Wilhelm II  Mercator    
       
       
       

DRW © 2018-2019. Created 04/02/2018, updated 14/02/2019

Updated: 21/07/2019 — 08:31

4-8-2T NBL Tank Loco 24386

Heritage, Personal, South Africa, Trains & railways, transportation, West Rand

One of the plinthed locomotives that has been on display for many years may be found at Florida Junction out on the West Rand. Listed as 4-8-2T North British Tank Loco 24386, I have seen this loco for the many years that I lived out on the West Rand and was able to photograph her in a number of liveries, in fact, shortly after she was plinthed you could still climb up into her cab. In 2011 I took the following image (more images to be added at a later date) shortly after she had been painted. 

Piet Conradie has a page on this loco, and my images are on that page.

This is what she looked like in 2009

Towards the end of March 2017, I photographed her once again and her paint was fading and she was definitely looking the worse for wear. It also appears as if at some point the Florida Junction sign on her tank was redone.  

She was built in 1937 in Glasgow by North British Locomotive Co. as works number 24386 and was one of the many standard NBL locomotives that were delivered for service at South African mines. This one first saw service as No 1 at Witbank Colliery Ltd and later at Vanwyksdrift as part of the Douglas Colliery Ltd rolling stock. By some strange quirk, there is a Witbank Colliery No 1 loco plinthed close by. It is possible that this loco replaced that loco at some point.  

Of course with the demise of Sanrasm I do not know who owns the steamer now, or who is responsible for keeping her painted and vandalism free. It may be a good idea to watch her because at some point she may end up being redundant.

© DRW 2011-2018. Created retrospectively 28/03/2017

Updated: 11/01/2018 — 20:48

19D – 3328 at Coligny

Heritage, South Africa, Trains & railways, transportation

Class 19D 3328 is plinthed in Coligny and is well looked after by a local businessman who uses the plot as an advertisement for a local garden centre,  it is even been adorned with cherubs and garden gnomes! However the important thing is that the loco is in a good condition. More about this loco (and others) may be found at Old Steam Locomotives of South Africa. 

Surprisingly enough her cabside plate is till present. Unfortunately the local idiots have left their mark.

She is looking much better than most of the plinthed loco’s though, which is a good thing. So thanks to all those who are ensuring her survival. I wish that was true of all the other plinthed steamers from the past.

© DRW 2017-2018. Created 12/02/2017. Images courtesy of Terry Cawood

Updated: 11/01/2018 — 20:31

Virgel

Natal, Personal, shipbio, shipbook, ships and shipping, South Africa, transportation

Our visit to Virgel is also undated, so I can only hazard a guess. Suffice to say that by the time we undertook this visit her sisters were no longer, and she was the only one of the three left behind. (Vergelegen, Constantia,  Morgenster). She carried the name Virgel from May 1988 till May 1991 which places my visit somewhere during that period 

Virgel

S.A. VERGELEGEN/VERGELEGEN/VIRGEL (1969 – 1991) Affectionately known as the ‘VIRGIE’ within the fleet.

O.N. 350612 / IMO No. 6924375 Call Sign : ZSZV Port of Registry: Cape Town/South Africa Tonnage: 1969 – OSD. : 1969 – CSD 10608g/6182n/13156 S.Dwt : 1975 – OSD 8808g/4435 n/ : 1975 – CSD 12337g/6982n/15072 S.Dwt

Dim: 1969 – 168,2 x 22,8 x 12,8 m / Draught Maximum 9,15 / 9,55 m 1975 – 182,6 x 22,8 x 12,8 m / Draught Maximum 9,15 / 9,55 m

Eng: Two stroke single acting – 6 cylinder 900 x 1550 Sulzer 6RD90, MCR 15 000bhp (11 033 kW).x 122 RPM built by Uraga Heavy Industries Ltd., Tamashima/Japan. Fuel 1800.0 t (hvf), 195.0 (do), 51.0 t p/d at 20 knts (Service Output 12 750 BHP x 116 RPM) Fitted with 2 x 440kW/2 x 240kW generators 440V 60Hz a.c.

10/04/1969 Keel laid by Mitsui Zosen Fujinagata, Osaka/Japan (Yard No. 150) for South African Marine Corp. Ltd., Cape Town/South Africa.

02/07/1969 Launched by Mrs J.F.W. Haak as “S.A. VERGELEGEN” (ZAF). Completed 21/10/1969 by Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Osaka/Japan as S.A. VERGELEGEN (ZAF) for South African Marine Corporation Ltd., Cape Town.  

Six hold motor general cargo with refrigeration capacity, fitted with 1 x 250 ton Stülcken derrick (fitted in Hamburg/Germany 1970), 1 x 30 ton Stülcken derrick, 18 x 5 ton derricks, with 18 winches. Accommodation for 4 passengers.

12/1969 arrives in Table Bay on maiden voyage.

Late 01/1970 Arrived in Hamburg to have 250 ton Stülcken derrick fitted. 11/05/1975 Lengthened by 14,38m at the Tamano Dockyard Co. Ltd., Tamano/Japan mainly for cellular cargo, with replacement of two 5 ton derricks with two 30 tonne derricks on the aft end of the Stülcken posts port/starboard. Grain Capacity 23 318m³ / Bale Capacity 21 413m³ / Insulated capacity 425m³.

21/05/1985 Transferred by South African Marine Corp. Ltd/ (Safmarine) Cape Town to Consolidated Operations Ltd. Kingstown / St Vincent and The Grenadines (ownership Capesal Co. Inc., Panama) (Safmarine Cape Town management) renamed VERGELEGEN (VCT) in Durban. Port of registry Kingstown, O.N. 2110 / Call Sign J8FF

16/05/1988 Renamed VIRGEL (VCT) by Capesal Co. Inc., in Cape Town and transferred to Rondeau Holdings A.G. Wollerau/Switzerland (Oriel Bulk Transport A.G) Sounion Management Ltd. St.Vincent (Safmarine Cape Town).

16/05/1991 Arrived Alang/India to be scrapped, having been sold to Indian breakers at $ 200/ldt by Oriel Bulk Transport A.G. St Vincent (Rondeau Holding A.G./Safmarine Cape Town).

28/05/1991 Dismantling commenced by Amar Shipbreaking Corp., Alang/India.

The image of Constantia below was taken very close to the end of her life too, while Morgenster was photographed in December 1986. 

Constantia

Constantia

Morgenster

© DRW 2016-2018. Created 18/12/2016. Information on Virgel provided by Cameron Mackenzie. 

Updated: 11/01/2018 — 13:26
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