Southampton Docks : official sailing list and shipping guide : June 1950 : British Railways, Southern Region : Southampton : 1950 : Topical Items
British Railways Southern Region, as successors to the Southern Railway who had owned the port before Nationalisation in 1948, continued the practice of issuing monthly lists showing the official sailings to and from the port. At the time Southampton was one of the premier passenger ports in the UK. Before inter-continental air travel became practical and affordable for the majority, travelling by sea was the only real option and the list shows the many passenger sailings across the Atlantic to North America and to other destinations across the globe.
The lists show the regular sailings, by date and by alphabetical order, as well as arrivals along with onward railway connections to London; these appear in both regular timetables and by way of Special named Boat Trains. The guide also lists BR's own sailings to the Continent and Channel Islands from Southampton. Rather amusingly the guide ignores the regular crossings to the Isle of Wight as these were run the, as now, by the private Red Funnel line and they appear simply as 'services to other ports in the UK from the Town Pier'!
One interesting page - showing the winds of change - is that of the departures and arrivals of BOAC's Flying Boat services from the docks. These, a post-war continuation of Imperial Airways pre-war services when flying boats were the only real method of managing long distance services, were on the verge of withdrawal and BOAC ceased to use Southampton in November of 1950 as modern aircraft took over.
The guide also contains 'news' items pertaining to the port and services, such as new ships or services. Alongside lists of officials and officers there are also pages of adverts for companies concerned directly with shipping or for then then vital services such as ships supplies.
The front cover artwork, of the prow of a vessel, as also used to adorn the cover of a contemporary guide for visitors to the Docks.
This page of Topical Items has much of interest. The first picture shows the 27th of the 30 new "Merchant Navy" class steam locomotives that were still under construction and delivery, designed for long distance express and boat train services on the Southern Region. "Port Line" had been names in a ceremony on 28 April in the Docks with, on 5 June, the naming of the "Elder Dempster Line" to take place.
Loads of Jersey New Potatoes, an important seasonal crop, are seen being landed as well as discussion of the export trade; a consignment of lorry tyres awaiting shipment to South America on the Royal Mail Lines' Andes. There is also discussion of the Rogationtide Ceremony that took place when the Blessing of the Waters and Shipping ceremony was carried out on 14 May 1950.
The various Union Castle Line's ships and services are mentioned along with the famous Minsitry of Transport owned "Empire" vessels that provided troop, essential goods and immigration services in post-war years. One name that stands out is that of the Empire Windrush, a vessel that was to play such a vital part in our post-war history.
Southampton Docks : official sailing list and shipping guide : June 1950 : British Railways, Southern Region : Southampton : 1950 : Topical Items
British Railways Southern Region, as successors to the Southern Railway who had owned the port before Nationalisation in 1948, continued the practice of issuing monthly lists showing the official sailings to and from the port. At the time Southampton was one of the premier passenger ports in the UK. Before inter-continental air travel became practical and affordable for the majority, travelling by sea was the only real option and the list shows the many passenger sailings across the Atlantic to North America and to other destinations across the globe.
The lists show the regular sailings, by date and by alphabetical order, as well as arrivals along with onward railway connections to London; these appear in both regular timetables and by way of Special named Boat Trains. The guide also lists BR's own sailings to the Continent and Channel Islands from Southampton. Rather amusingly the guide ignores the regular crossings to the Isle of Wight as these were run the, as now, by the private Red Funnel line and they appear simply as 'services to other ports in the UK from the Town Pier'!
One interesting page - showing the winds of change - is that of the departures and arrivals of BOAC's Flying Boat services from the docks. These, a post-war continuation of Imperial Airways pre-war services when flying boats were the only real method of managing long distance services, were on the verge of withdrawal and BOAC ceased to use Southampton in November of 1950 as modern aircraft took over.
The guide also contains 'news' items pertaining to the port and services, such as new ships or services. Alongside lists of officials and officers there are also pages of adverts for companies concerned directly with shipping or for then then vital services such as ships supplies.
The front cover artwork, of the prow of a vessel, as also used to adorn the cover of a contemporary guide for visitors to the Docks.
This page of Topical Items has much of interest. The first picture shows the 27th of the 30 new "Merchant Navy" class steam locomotives that were still under construction and delivery, designed for long distance express and boat train services on the Southern Region. "Port Line" had been names in a ceremony on 28 April in the Docks with, on 5 June, the naming of the "Elder Dempster Line" to take place.
Loads of Jersey New Potatoes, an important seasonal crop, are seen being landed as well as discussion of the export trade; a consignment of lorry tyres awaiting shipment to South America on the Royal Mail Lines' Andes. There is also discussion of the Rogationtide Ceremony that took place when the Blessing of the Waters and Shipping ceremony was carried out on 14 May 1950.
The various Union Castle Line's ships and services are mentioned along with the famous Minsitry of Transport owned "Empire" vessels that provided troop, essential goods and immigration services in post-war years. One name that stands out is that of the Empire Windrush, a vessel that was to play such a vital part in our post-war history.