Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
The S.S. Manxman pictured above, which operated from Merseyside to Douglas on the Isle of Man 1955-82, and latterly used as a nightclub, is going for scrap after an unsuccessful preservation attempt. Doesn`t this ferry pictured above remind us all of our own ferries, all long gone to the breakers yard? This thread isn`t about going into all the detail of this popular ferry, but more on the question of, what the hell is going on when we see some of our finest pieces of British heritage allowed to disappear forever? They are expensive exhibits to maintain, but so are alot of preserved items, but they can still be good generator`s of income tied up in a port with the right marketing people. My knowledge here comes from the multi-million pound railway preservation movement. Ah, if only it could have been an ex-Dover ferry, and had a successful resting place here. Dream on.
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Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Oh my Gawd Ive been on that ferry Colin. On my way to the all great TT races in the old days when men were men etc etc and did what they had to do hurtling themselves round the Isle of Man at breakneck speeds. The Grand Prix guys have long since abandoned it nowadays but some diehards still take part.
I remember being crammed in on said ferry with a thousand other bikers...with no hint of Health and Safety..no visible hint anyway.
I think you hit the problem on the head yourself Colin with regard to preservation. it costs too much to do it and also these vessels are worth a small fortune as I understand it to breakers. However the question must be asked...is something worth preserving just because its old?
We had some old ferries on the Irish route across the nearly always rough Irish Sea and my gawd they should have been scrapped even while in service...the Princess Maud springs to mind...now there was a jolly old death trap as I remember. Safety features...the duty officer when askd about emergency procedure would say..."how far can you swim mate!?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thanks for all that interesting info Paul, and as you say, an expensive business preservation, and again as you say, it`s the question of saving something just because it`s old. I`ll give my own view relating to railway preservation, but this can equally be used in other forms of preservation be it ships, cars, planes, building`s etc. When steam was on it`s way out around the 1960 period, a commitee was set up to decide what artifacts should be saved for the national collection. Regarding the steam locomotive, sadly, a number of classes had already gone to the breaker`s and there are some important locomotive`s gone forever. In 1968, the pioneering ex-LMS mainline diesel loco, number 10000, was unceromoniously sent to the breaker`s. The national collection custodian`s have long regretted that, but it can`t be replaced. I`m wonder whether Ed maybe able to help on the above vessel, as to whether it`s the last of the old ferries or whether there are one or two other`s in service still? How nice last September to see the paddle steamer `WAVERLEY` in our port. Alas, the chance to see a ship resembling our own ferries from the 50s and 60s in Dover have gone forever.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Well, if that ship couldn't be made in to a floating conference centre I'll eat Howards hat. Stick a fiver on everyone's Council Tax for the next 10 years and bring it here to Dover!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that is how i see it, if not a conference centre then tarted up and run theme nights in keeping with the vessel.
people love all that stuff.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Well said sid/Howard/Paul, nice to see the universe has other intelligent life in it.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.