Ferry cross the Mersey

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hello everyone and thank you for the replies. Now I am scratching my head because I am convinced I remember car’s being carried athwartships on these vessels.

Austin

That sounds like the Humber Ferry from Hull to New Holland in Lincolnshire, saving a 90 mile journey to Grimsby before the Humber Bridge was opened. Been on that ferry a number of times, they were all paddle steamers

[j.sabourn]

The cattle boat looks like the regular runner into Fremantle. ? JS
The cars on the ferry boat wold more than likely be carried thwartships if they were driven on through ramps on the sides of the ferry. JS .....

[Peter Wharton]

Hi Austin, you can stop scratching your head, you are correct according to the history of the Mersey Ferry's they ceased in 1947. Regards Peter.

[James Curry]

Queensway Mersey Tunnel on 18 July 1934. So why would they carry cars on the Mersey ferries? The landing stage Austin refers to was used by the Isle of Man steam packet co.

[Austin Carl Largan]

Hi Austin, you can stop scratching your head, you are correct according to the history of the Mersey Ferry's they ceased in 1947. Regards Peter.

Thanks a million Peter I was sure I remembered it even though that made me about 4 years old. I guyI also remember the firemen shoveling coal through the grating above the boiler room.
Thanks again for the research.

Austin

[James Curry]

‘Luggage boats’ were a feature of the Woodside and Wallasey ferry services until 1941. They carried horses and carts and vans and lorries across the river and survived the opening of the road tunnel for seven years because horse-drawn vehicles (of which there were still lots about) were not allowed in the tunnel. On foggy days long queues of vehicles would form at Woodside. And at low tide the floating roadway at Woodside was often transformed into a steep hill. So powerful draught horses could be hired on the spot by carters to provide much-needed extra muscle-power for the pull up from the boat.

Above is from : The Mersey Ferries through Time:
Below is the history of the Mersey Ferries.

The Mersey Ferry Vessels Through the Years

[leonard fahy]

Hi James i am a Scouse and always will be although i have lived in the land of oz for 57 years their is also a river Mersey in Tasmania

[happy daze john in oz]

I see you live in Moama up on the Murray.
One of our favorite week end away spots, only two hours drive from Sunbury.

[Colin Wood]

Don't se Liver Birds flapping their wings.

[James Curry]

They are called Bertie & Bella. Bertie looks to the city and Bella looks out to sea. Rumour has it Berti is looking to see if the pubs are open and Bella is looking for sailors coming in from the sea.
It is also said if they ever mate they will fly away and this will lead to the River Mersey bursting it's banks and flood the city.