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Thames Estuary, River Medway, Kent, Essex and East Anglia Coast, England, U.K.
Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd
Formed in 1881 in succession to a company operating a ferry service on the Medway between Chatham and Sheerness.  Lady Margaret was purchased in 1888, Princess of Wales was added new in 1897 as was a second City of Rochester in 1904. Lady Margaret suffered a boiler explosion on August 22nd, 1903.
These two new-build vessels operated the service until they were requisitioned for Admiralty service in World War I after which they reappeared for the New Medway Steam Packet Company.

Vessels taken over

City of Rochester
(1849-1896)

Alma  (1855-1892)

Lady of Lorne (1871-1889) Built by GW Gill at Chatham,  116.7 ft. Engines : 2 x Oscillating by J Penn (dating from 1844). Sold to a Parisian dealer and probably scrapped

Second-hand purchase

Lady Margaret (1888-1903) Built in 1883 for Edwards & Robertson of Cardiff by Russell & Co of Greenock. 139.9 ft. Engine : 2 cyl compound diagonal  22 and 37.5 in x  30 in

New-build

Princess of Wales
(1897-1917)

City of Rochester (1904-1914)

Return to:
New Medway Steam Packet Co
River Thames Historical