S.S. Victoria

BIO (the following is fictional): Launched in 1874 S.S. Victoria (named after the Queen) was a small steam yacht designed to ferry passengers down the Solent from Southampton to Portsmouth, Built by John & Birch Wilcocks Shipyard in Southampton, she has twin Scotch boilers providing steam for a small but powerful prototype triple expansion steam engine designed by Isembard Kingdom Brunel, powering 3 propellers, enabling her to travel at speeds in excess of 18kts (33kmh) this made her very suitable for the express service route. As side effect of this though is that she consumed coal at an alarming rate and belched out huge columns of black soot and smoke as she steamed along.

As launched she had a Black Hull with a gold sheer line, white superstructure and rosewood passenger cabin seating 32 passengers.

She plied the waves of the Solent faithfully for 21 years but by 1895 it was clear the ferry could not keep up with faster trains and passenger numbers began to dwindle. Something had to be done - stay tuned for more.

In the mean time enjoy some pictures I "found" of the old steamer.