union castle.

[robpage]

I have not a clue who owns the website , but the reference is the first I had seen for a South Africa to America service . But there seems to have been some troopship , hospital ship management also .I do not discount the possibility of an American service . the ownership for a period by Royal Mail Lines may be part of this , but I can find nothing on Google about hat . So I keep an open mind

[Doc Vernon]

A wee bit of interseting reading here!
Still not sure though as to if the UCL ever went to the America's ??
Cheers

http://www2.le.ac.uk/centres/stanley...emigration.pdf



http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/ReinaDelMar.html ????????

[Stuart Henderson]

Just read through all the interesting posts pages 1 to 7. Didnt see one of the UCL ships I sailed on the old two funneled Llangibby Castle way back in 1951. She was on the round Africa trip and as I recall did twenty three port calls. One of these was Zanzibar which was brought to mind by the BBC news this morning which reported an acid attack on two British women. Terrible
I also joined braemar Castle in Cape Town after missing the DM there and did a couple of trips to clear d/Book. She was also on the round Africa run but not so many calls.
Stuart

[Chris Isaac]

From 1900 to 1979 Union Castle operated a South Africa to N America service in conjunction latterly with Safmarine.
UC ships Drakensburg Castle and Good Hope Castle (the old one) were the principal vessels used.
I think the run died out for UC by early 60s.

[Errol Chandler]

I understand that the ship Mount Sephar was bought by the Union Steamship Co, in 1898 and renamed Susquehanna and used on for their SA to USA route. Eventually the Union-Castle line sold her in 1921 to Denaby Shipping who renamed her London City.

[Chris Isaac]

Can anyone please tell me if Union Castle ever ran routes to South America, in particular Buenos Aires?
I am trying to establish the possibility that such routes were sailed between 1910 and 1935.

Between 1912 and 1931 Union-Castle were part of The Royal Mail group.
It could be that during that time a U-C ship went to S America.

http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page27.html

[Chris Isaac]

I understand that the ship Mount Sephar was bought by the Union Steamship Co, in 1898 and renamed Susquehanna and used on for their SA to USA route. Eventually the Union-Castle line sold her in 1921 to Denaby Shipping who renamed her London City.

For ages I have tried to find a picture of Susquehanna for my web site:
Now I have one... http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page1958.html

[Captain Kong]

From 1900 to 1979 Union Castle operated a South Africa to N America service in conjunction latterly with Safmarine.
UC ships Drakensburg Castle and Good Hope Castle (the old one) were the principal vessels used.
I think the run died out for UC by early 60s. Chris .
.
.
Hi Chris ,
I was on the Good Hope Castle from December to June 1959 when we took her to Hong Kong Breakers, I think the Drakensberg went around the same time. We were under the South African flag and registered in Cape Town. Saf Marine had taken us over then.
We did three trips down east Africa and back then to Mauritious, Singapore and Hong Kong. Flew home on an old dakota.
Cheers
Brian.

[happy daze john in oz]

I have a book on the history of UCL, there is no mention of any involvement with any other company other than Safmarine and Clan line. They had an exclusive mail contact to South Africa from September 15th 1857 to September 19th 1977.
It began with the Union Steam Collier Company in 1853, in 1862 Donald Currie founded the Castle Line. On MArch 8th 1900 the joining of thr two companies saw Union Castle come into being.

[vic mcclymont]

Hi Wilkie,
---.

But you most probably knew all this anyway!
Cheers

Just found your posting on U-C.
TINTAGEL and TANTALLON were general cargo ships and notreefers, the sported a black hull and not the traditional U-C lavender. Castle "R boats" were reefers.
Up until 1963 they could carry 12 passengers.
Vic