Builders: J Scott & Co, Kinghorn Fife
Propulsion type: Paddle, compound diagonal
Owners: New Medway Steam Packet Co
Service dates: 1904 - 1941
Tonnage: Gross 235
Comments:
A similar design to the South Coast steamer Stirling castle, from the same builders, City of Rochester was the second ship to bear that name. She had an open foredeck and was the first Thames steamer to have her bridge forward of the funnel. Capable of carrying 1000 passengers, she ran between Harwich, Felixstowe and Ipswich, as well as from Sheerness to Southend and round the lightships.City of Rochester served as a Government tender during the First World War. She also did some minesweeping for the Admiralty. She continued in service with NMSP Co bewteen Strood and Southend and was called up again by the Admiralty when war again broke out. After being converted as a minesweeper she was found to be unsuitable and was in the course of being converted for use as a stores vessel when she was blown up by a land mine, which was being dropped by parachute on 19 May 1941. This picture comes from a family album that I picked up recently at a local steam fair. The picture is previously unpublished. For more pictures from the same source, including a close up picture of her paddle box, a picture of her Captain and a shot of her departing from the pier, please click here. For two more pictures, taken 17 years apart, and showing good detail of her bridge please click here.