Builders: Barclay Curle & Co 1889
Propulsion type: Paddle Compound Diagonal
Owner: Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd.
Service dates: 1889 - 1948
Tonnage: Gross 324
Comments:
Solent Queen operated out of Southampton, sailing to Cowes, Ryde and Southsea. She later sailed from Bournemouth to Swanage and did some tender work. This picture shows her coming into Swanage with Cosen's Monarch already berthed at the jetty. Launched on 3 April 1889, Solent Queen was the last iron hulled steamer built for the Southampton Comapny and achieved 14.5 knots on her trials. On 27 April 1893 she caught fire at night whilst berthed at Royal Pier Southampton. Her crew were awakened by the flames and whilst the fire was extinguished she was extensively damaged. She was repaired by Day & Co of Northam and did not return to service until 20 July. In 1907 she was fitted with electric light, having been reboilered in 1902. She remained at Southampton for both World Wars and whilst she sailed to Dunkirk to assist with the evacuation and after waiting at La Panne for some time she failed to find any troops, returning empty. She continued in service until boiler failure in August 1948 when she was withdrawn and sold for scrapping at T W Wards yard in Grays. For a close up picture of her at Bournemouth click here.