In my view the "Cardiff Queen" was the finest paddle steamer ever built. Campbell’s had a policy of ensuring visibility by having an open bridge policy; great on a summer day but in inclement weather you could see the helmsman wiping the sea spray out of his eyes. Built on the Clyde, she arrived at Bristol in June 1947. The lower image has been colourised.

Red lead primer was in short supply following WWII and upon delivery rust was already showing through, a problem that bedeviled her throughout her life. She had a gross weight 765 tons and was scrapped at Cashmore's yard at Newport in 1968. [002] [099]