Builders: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd 1930
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owner: Southern Railway Company, British Railways
Service dates: 1930 - 1963
Tonnage: Gross 825
Comments:
This splendid picture comes from a Dufay colour slide taken on 18 August 1937 and was left to me by the late Cyril Perrier, whose father took the original picture. Whippingham is shown approaching Southsea, South Parade Pier.
Built and launched at the same time as PS Southsea, these were the first paddle steamers to be constructed for the company in twenty seven years. They were very similar in appearance and were almost twice the size of the Duchess of Fife, which was previously the largest ship in the fleet, reflecting the increased popularity of the Isle of Wight trade. The operating speed was a respectable 16 knots and whilst not fast by some standards this was more than adequate for the excursion work for which they were designed. When launched, Whippingham and Southsea had accommodation for 595 First Class passengers and 467 Second Class. In summer, on the port to port ferry service this increased to 674 First Class and 509 Second Class. They sailed principally from Portsmouth to Southsea and the Isle of Wight piers as well as trips "Round the Island" and to Bournemouth and on occasions to Weymouth. Trips to view visiting liners were always popular and these ships were well loved by the travelling public. Coal burning throughout, Whippingham lost much of her speed in later years and operated at around 10 knots, curtailing her cruising limits. She was finally towed away for breaking up in May 1963.
For a 1933 picture of Whippingham's bridge, featuring her Captain, John H Dore, please click here.
An interesting 1934 advertising flier for Whippingham and Southsea's visits to the liners at Southampton can be seen in the Guidebooks, Posters, Souvenirs and Signs section.
With thanks to Beat Zumstein in Switzerland for addition material included above.