Thank you kind sir, but in your case never let the facts get in the way of a good story
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Although employed by union castle I did do a coastal relief as electrician on the St Esylt in 1965, they were rather good looking and stream lined from what I remewmber of her
Morning all.
quote,
The Cape Town Castle was as said a Passenger Ship,and also never heard of one that was an actual Cargo one?? Again i stand corrected!
The capetown C was a cargo ship as well as a 1 class passinger ship.
If i remember she had 5 holds, the first trip i was on her she was crrying passingers and cargo, the second trip was cargo only. This was in late 65 and early 66
geoff
Not to upset the applecart,as far as i recall the Capetown Castle was always a Passenger Ship carrying both 1st and Tourist Class,it did also carry Cargo at times,but was never actually in the Cargo Ship Class!
Now i suppose i wll be shot down in flames haha!:)
No flames from me, she carried 1st and Tourist class passengers up until she went on to "Extra Service" in 1965 because she could not make the 22.5 knot mail run.
After 65 she was all Tourist with differing grades of cabin, much the same principal as Transvaal Castle.
She carried cargo in 7 cargo holds, mainly general, mail and baggage southbound and mail, refrigerated fruit, mail and bullion north bound.
Hi Chris Your account of the Capetown Castle is spot on, I was Leading Hands Mess Steward on her for two trips. But to add fuel to the Fire regards her being a Cargo Ship, shorely she would have come under the clasification of a Cargo Pasanger Ship, as would have been many ships of that era. The onley Liners I can think of from that period would have been the Queen Mary & Queen Elizabeth, and maybe the Mauritainia from the UK's MN fleet, all they had was one Fwd Hatch that took cars baggage and some stores if my memory serves me right. Also I think that Union Castle retained control of running there own ships after being merged or taken over by Clan Line later to become British and Comonwealth, And the leading light behined it all was a Bernard Kyser. I hope this will encorage moore on the debate :eek:
George in Southampton
No shooting from me Vernon, after all i lost two holds somewhere.:p
Yes George all the UCL liners were indeed passenger/cargo. Most had at least six holds for cargo and some had as many as eight. I believe it was only the mail contract/bullion that made the company any profit in later years as proits from the bloods was very low and no doubt made lower by the antics of unscurpulous cheif and second stewards.
I know am responding to an old post but have only recently become a member of this site.
Am researching family history and have come across a Ronald Moyse who served with Union Castle as a Captains Steward but back in the early 1940's.
Am unable to find anything on the web but could any ex Union Castle people help / direct me to any web sites.
Thanks
Richard (R846959)
Richard there are a number of UCL sites out there. If you just Google Union Castle it will bring them all up. I know one that had some crew listings is now defunct but there may be some others. Generally the only crew members shown on such sites are officers and some PO's. But if you keep trying you may get to some of them. There was a site where crew members could be found but not sure if it is still there. when Vernon comes back on site he may be able to give you some information on this as I know he has accessed some of them. Will pass your request onto him.