PS Shanklin (1924)

PS Shanklin was a passenger vessel built for the Southern Railway in 1924 for use on the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier route.[1]

As Monarch at Swanage Pier
History
Name:	1924-1951: PS Shanklin 1951-1961: PS Monarch
Operator:	1924-1951: Southern Railway 1951-1961: Cosens & Co Ltd
Port of registry:
Route:	Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier
Builder:	John I. Thornycroft & Company Southampton
Launched:	1924
Maiden voyage:	3 October 1924
Out of service:	1961
Fate:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Tonnage:	412 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	190 feet (58 m)
Beam:	26.1 feet (8.0 m)
Draught:	8.7 feet (2.7 m)
Speed:	13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Capacity:	756 passengers

History

The ship was built by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Southampton and launched in 1924. She was fitted with first and second class passenger saloons heated and ventilated by the inductor thermotank system. The main saloon was of light polished oak and the smoking saloon was of dark polished oak, underneath which was the dining saloon. The saloon had upholstered seating and the floor was covered with Ruboleum tiling. Instead of electro-plate or brass, the fittings throughout were made of Roanoid. She operated the passenger service from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier with her first trip being on 3 October 1924.[2]

She made her last trip on 30 November 1950 before being put up for sale in Southampton.[3]

She was sold to Cosens & Co Ltd in 1951 and renamed Monarch. She was operated by them for ten years until scrapped in 1961.

References

1. Duckworth, Christian Leslie Dyce; Langmuir, Graham Easton (1968). Railway and other Steamers. Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson and Sons.
2. "New boat for Island Service". Portsmouth Evening News. England. 3 October 1924. Retrieved 14 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
3. "Last Trip From Jetty". Portsmouth Evening News. England. 30 November 1950. Retrieved 14 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.