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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
River Garonne and Gironde Estuary, France
Service
on the River Garonne, which passes through the city of Bordeaux and out
alsong the Gironde Estuary to the Bay of Biscay and in particular the
seaside resort of Royan was dominated in the later paddle steamer era
by the Compagnie Maritime Gironde et Garonne which was established in 1869 and later became the Compagnie Bordeaux Ocean.
Smaller paddle steamers also served up-river destinations as far away as Agen.
Above : Post card view of the last paddle steamer, Ville de Royan,
bought in 1908 and in service until 1922
Girondin (1863-1923) ex-Princesse Mathilde. Sold for use as a tug.
Gironde et Garonne (1879-) built in 1865 by Henderson, Colbourne of Renfrew as Rothesay Castle for the Castle Steam Packet Co. With Captain William Buchanan from 1867
Gironde et Garonne No2 (1880-) built by McIntyre of Paisley. Engine (51 x 48 in) by Hutson & Corbett of Glasgow
Gironde et Garonne No3 (1887-) built by Labat at Bordeaux
Laprade
Lot-et-Garonne
Ville de Royan (1908-1922) built in 1889 by J
Scott & Co of Kinghorn, Fife for the General Steam Navigation
Company on the Thames as Laverock.
Above
: Scottish-built Gironde-et-Garonne-No 2 is seen passing through the
city of Bordeaux en route to Royan. The photograph is by the well-known
Bordeaux photographer Charles Chambon (1847-1931).
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Historical Database