Builders: William Denny & Brothers Dumbarton 1902
Propulsion type: Turbine
Owners: Turbine Steamers Ltd
Service dates: 1902 - 1911 (then further service in Canada as Princess Patricia until 1937)
Tonnage:
Comments:
Built as a larger and faster sister to King Edward, Queen Alexandra had the benefit of a shade deck, which proved extremely popular and was later copied on King Edward and King George V. Queen Alexandra had a short time on the Clyde and in the early hours of Sunday 10 September 1911 she suffered a serious fire which proved disastrous for her. She was so badly damaged that a replacement was ordered and the original Queen was sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway. They had her repaired by her builders, Dennys, and she was renamed Princess Patricia. They sailed her to British Columbia via Cape Horn and she sailed on the west coast of Canada until she was broken up in 1937.
I have included her as the postcard from which this picture comes has charimg narrative on the reverse. The card was posted at 11.45pm (there were late collections in those days!) on Monday 6 August 1906. The card reads We are having our final water trip today. We are bound for Ardrishaig, left Rothesay on this steamer & changed at Weymiss (sic) Bay to the SS King Edward. I suppose you got the box of Woot Cakes alright. We may not write again from Scotland. We go to Edinboro in the morning, Tuesday leaving there at 11 pm. and get home on Wednesday morning about 8 am. We are having a splendid sail today, as calm as Clifton Lake. With love C & E. The card was written to Miss E W Rowland, c/o Mrs Thorne, 1 High Street, Blackpool, England. I think I would have enjoyed that boat trip. For a copy of the reverse of the card click here.