Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - The White Funnel Fleet - P & A Campbell Limited

The paddle steamer 'Cardiff Queen' - a photograph of her packed with passengers and at speed off the Welsh coast. The date is not known but is probably late 1950's. The photo is from the Penarth Dock Collection and was taken from the air by Skyfotos who were based at Lympne Airport, Kent. [001] [218]

Cardiff Queen and Westland Hovercraft S.R.N.2

A postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection of the 'Cardiff Queen' and the Westland Hovercraft S.R.N.2. with an almost derelict Penarth Dock in the background. The postcard was sent in August 1963 to a Miss O. Honey of Exeter. The writer states 'Saw this one alright but trips are postponed until the weather improves.' A number of friends who ventured the trip from Penarth beach to Weston almost unanimously stated that the paddle steamers gave a much smoother ride, were especially superior and much advanced technologically speaking since they had a bar! Hence, one could conclude that the hovercraft service became extinct very quickly since it was lacking in facilities vital to human survival! [001]

c.1963 - The Westland S.R.N.2. Hovercraft at Penarth Beach. Julie recalls her trip to Weston-super-Mare and back - never again she said even given that the journey time each way between Penarth and Weston was only about twelve minutes! Another heritage postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection. [317] [001]

1963 - SRN2 used by P & A Campbell as an experimental passenger service between Penarth and Weston-super-Mare in 1963. Advertised as "the first Cross-Channel Hovercraft Service." - An image from the fine book 'Cardiff Docks - A Photographic History' by Eric Brown published in 1990. [610]