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

The small paddle-boxes of the 'Brighton Queen' were attractive features of a lovely steamer.

When Messrs. P. & A. Campbell extended their shipping interests beyond Bristol to the South Coast they purchased the 'Brighton Queen', and reconstructed her somewhat in accordance with the style of their other steamers. She then returned to Brighton to commence the 1902 summer season, and my drawing shows her as she was at this period. The chief alterations consisted of plating in the fore part of the hull, so as to afford better protection from the weather, the removal of the wheelhouse and mainmast, and a new and very pleasing layout of radial openings to the paddle boxes. Needless to say that she was maintained in the spotless Campbell fashion, and with her white funnel and ventilators (and they were kept white, too!), all brasswork gleaming, paddles red lead colour, and pale greenish blue top to the waterline, she approached the high standard of upkeep associated with those fairies of the sea, the private yachts of the swagger yacht clubs.

And her engines! I never saw such a lovely set in any paddler. The Clydebank people were in great form when they made those drawings. The proportions of the cranks, connecting-rods and eccentrics made these prominent parts the engineer's joy.

Of course, the finish was in the best maritime tradition, and the main frames, being painted dark blue above, and pale yellow below the crankshaft, set off the polish on the steel rods and the burnished effect of the brasses to perfection.