Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw turbine steamer, built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle, (Yard No. 2013) for the British Railways Board in 1965. Engined by the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co. Ltd. Launched March 17th, 1965.
 Technical Data
ID Number - 5162528 Length on deck - 112.47 m (369 ft) (overal) 105.61 m (346.5 ft) (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 17.40 m (57.1 ft) (extreme) Depth - 10.52 m (34.5 ft) (moulded) Draught - 3.87 m (12.7 ft) (maximum) Tonnage - 3,602 gross 1,217 net 818 deadweight Engines - 4 Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction gearing, driving two screw shafts. Power - 12000 S.H.P./ 8,827 kW Speed - 19.5 knots Capacity - 1,000 passengers, 200 cars. Call Sign - GQQA (1965 - )
History March 17th 1965: Launched. June 1965: Delivered to British Railways Board. This was the first ship to appear in the B.R. livery of “monastral” blue hull, with white waterline/ chocolate brown boot-topping; white superstructure, pearl grey masts, ventilators and davits, and red funnel with the white device of two railway lines with crossings between them. At the same time a pale blue house flag was adopted, having the same emblem. June 6th 1965: Arrived in Dover. September 1965: Operated between Dover - Calais. June 13th 1965: A press trip to Boulogne, the vessel on her arrival opening the newly- built car ferry terminal there. June 14th 1965: Press visit to the Pool of London. June 24th 1965: Entered proper service. June 28th 1965: Suffered shortage of power, decreasing speed and intense vibration. Withdrawn. July 5th 1965: Faults rectified and resumed service.
Roy Thornton Collection
September 1965: Operated between Dover - Calais. February 9th 1967: Carried out ramp tests at the Central Electricity Generating Board ramp at Folkestone. Results were inconclusive because the state of tides caused her car deck to be some 4 ft below the top of the quay. 1967 (Early): Sailed a short time between Newhaven - Dieppe.
Roy Thornton Collection
1967 (Spring): Her restaurant was made self-service. October 6th 1967 - January 9th 1968: Operated between Newhaven - Dieppe. October 1968: Operated again between Newhaven - Dieppe.
Roy Thornton Collection
1969: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire when the VORTIGERN joined the Sealink service at Dover in July. June 1st 1969: Operated for a short while between Preston - Boulogne. November 1969: It was announced that British Rail’s Shipping and International Services Division (S.I.S.D.) had adopted the new brand name Sealink and as a consequence all vessels would in the future be painted in the new house colours.
Roy Thornton Collection
May 22nd 1970 - September 19th 1970: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire with experimental sailings from Dun Laoghaire to Heysham (non profit making and ceased). September 28th 1971 - December 12th 1971: Operated between Newhaven - Dieppe. October 23rd 1971: Collided with the West Pier and suffered propeller damage. Repaired in Southampton.
 Stéphane Poulain Collection (right)
November 8th 1971: Reinstated and returned to Dover. June 1972: Passenger only sailings Folkestone - Boulogne. September 25th 1972: Operated between Newhaven - Dieppe to relieve VILLANDRY and VALENCAY away on refit. December 4th 1972: Arrived back off Dover then spent 3 days riding out heavy storms before entering the harbour. Resumed Dover - Calais. 1973: Sealink trading name painted on hulls
 
Roy Thornton Collection (left) and Stéphane Poulain Collection (right)
June 1974 - 1975 (end): Operated as extra cover for Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire in exchange for the HOLYHEAD I. The change was brought about by the need to provide more vehicle capacity at the port owing to unexpectedly heavy bookings June 14th 1976: At Dover collided with the “Breakwater” upon entering the harbour prior to berthing at Eastern Docks.
Roy Thornton Collection
October 17th 1976: Returned to Holyhead to cover for damaged AVALON. 1977: Rebuilt at Aalborg Verft, Aalborg, Denmark as a drive through ferry (bow door etc… added). Renamed EARL SIWARD
 
Roy Thornton Collection (left) and Brian Fisher (right)
July 1st 1977: Due back in Dover after conversion . October 19th 1977: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire
 
Roy Thornton Collection (left) and Stéphane Poulain Collection (right)
January 1st 1979: Registered to Sealink U.K. Ltd. Operated on the Irish sea for a short while. November 2nd 1980: Stripped a turbine blade. November 2nd 1980 - December 17th 1980: Repairs in Wellington Dock, Dover. January 16th 1981: Commenced service between Folkestone - Boulogne. February 28th 1981: Suffered engine failure and was out of service for eight weeks. April 14th 1981: Final crossing between Dover - Calais. There after laid up in Newhaven.
Roy Thornton Collection
June 22nd 1981 - July 9th 1981: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire. July 11th 1981 - July 9th 1981: Operated between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey. 1981: Laid up in Newhaven.
© Andy Gilbert
November 25th 1981: Sold to Sol Ferries Ltd., Limassol, Cyprus. Renamed SOL EXPRESS. 1982: Refit in Perama, Greece. 1982: Service between Brindisi - Igoumenitsa - Patras
Roy Thornton Collection
1983: Suffered turbine failure and laid up in Limassol. 1986: Sold to Quadrini Group, Chanson Lines Ltd. March 6th 1986: Towed from Limassol to Newcastle.
 
Roy Thornton Collection
April 18th 1986: Arrived in Newcastle for conversion to a casino/restaurant/night club and renamed TUXEDO ROYALE.
 
© Steven Brown
April 9th 2006: The End? “Departure of TUXEDO ROYALE (Middlesbrough Dock for Hull) seems to have been put back at present to 13.30 on Tuesday, 11 April.” April 20th 2006: Left Middlesbrough Dock for Graythorpe Basin
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