HARBOUR PHOTOS FROM JOHN HENDY - 4

Railway ships laying up at the Railway Quay

By John Hendy - Andy Gilbert

Time for a few more photos from the lens of well known shipping photographer John Hendy, who has very kindly allowed us to feature some of his work here on Our Newhaven.

Newhaven was, in its heyday, a 'Railway Port', meaning that it was owned and operated by British Railways, later known as British Rail and then Sealink (and so on!). Many of the Railway/Sealink fleet would visit Newhaven, either for a refit and paint-up, or merely to lay up over the winter period, when not required on their home routes. And, at the end of their service, they would often come here awaiting sale.

The first photo shows our own Brighton (VI), the last British passenger steamer on the route. The date is October 1965 and, though you obviously can't see it in a monochrome photo, she's just been painted in the new monastral blue colour scheme. In fact, it may be her second repainting, as there are a couple of photos from this time showing her in a much darker shade of blue than she would carry in her last 1966 season here at Newhaven.

Next comes her 'bigger sister' Maid of Orleans, from the short sea routes. Built by the same shipyard, Denny Bros of Dumbarton, you can see the similarities in design. This photo is from ten years later, in 1975.

Finally, the Caesarea, one of a pair of identical sisters built on the Isle of Wight for the Channel Islands routes, the other ship being Sarnia, also a regular visitor to Newhaven. This photo is from 1980.