The
Union Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and freighters between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977.
The company originated as Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Ltd on 8 March 1900 with the merger of Union Line and Castle Line, with Castle Line taking over the fleet.
Union-Castle named all their ships with the suffix "Castle" in their names. They were well known for the lavender hulled liners with black and red funnels, running on a rigid timetable between Southampton and Cape Town. Every Thursday at 4pm a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Southampton bound for Cape Town. At the same time, a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Cape Town bound for Southampton.
In December 1999, the Union-Castle name was revived for a millennium cruise; the P&O ship Victoria was chartered for a 60-day cruise around Africa, and had its funnels repainted for the occasion.
|
Edinburgh Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1948 - 1976 |
| Tonnage:
28,705 |
| Passengers:
756 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 5min 11secs |
|
|
We join Edinburgh Castle in Southampton
prior to her departure for Capetown. She is pulled away
from her berth by a tug. First stop is Madeira and the
ship is soon surrounded by "bum-boats". On board, we follow
King Neptune and the "struggling five" as they lead a
column of first-timers towards the swimming pool. More
poolside antics follow. Finally we watch a lifeboat drill,
the ship's crew working the Fleming gear as passengers
look on.
|
Arundel
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1921 - 1959 |
| Tonnage:
18,980 |
| Passengers:
1,170 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 0mins 15secs |
|
|
Our film shows Arundel Castle berthed
in Southampton.
|
Stirling
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1936 - 1966 |
| Tonnage:
25,550 |
| Passengers:
789 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 0min 17secs |
|
|
We have one shot of Stirling
Castle in South African port. The Ellerman liner City
of Durban can be seen in the background.
|
Capetown
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1938 - 1967 |
| Tonnage:
27,002 |
| Passengers:
791 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 0mins 49secs |
|
|
Capetown
Castle is seen in Southampton working cargo. There
a couple of shots around the decks. We leave her berthed
in Capetown.
|
Pretoria
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1948 - 1975 |
| Tonnage:
28,705 |
| Passengers:
756 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 1mins 17secs |
|
|
Pretoria Castle is seen passing
behind another Union Castle liner in Capetown - shots
taken from the Orion. There are two excellent sequences
of her crossing at sea. Finally, she is glimpsed in Southampton
in her SA Marine colours - when renamed the Oranje.
|
Pendennis
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1958 - 1980 |
| Tonnage:
28,582 |
| Passengers:
670 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 0min 43secs |
|
|
Some good shots of Pendennis Castle
berthed in Southampton. Then a series of stills as she
passes at sea.
|
Windsor
Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1960 - 2005 |
| Tonnage:
37,640 |
| Passengers:
782 |
| Constructed:
Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead |
| Our
footage: 0min 27secs |
|
|
Windsor
Castle is seen in Capetown harbour and then moored in
Southampton.
Transvaal Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1961 - 2003 |
| Tonnage:
32,697 |
| Passengers:
728 |
| Constructed:
J Brown, Glasgow |
| Our
footage: 1mins 13secs |
|
|
We have some excellent footage of Transvaal Castle
departing her berth in Southampton. Then we see
her in her SA Marine colours as the S.A.Vaal.
|
Kenya Castle
|
|
| Operating
life: 1952 - 2001 |
| Tonnage:
17,041 |
| Passengers:
526 |
| Constructed:
J.Brown & Co., Clydebank |
| Our
footage: 2mins 18secs |
|
|
We follow Kenya Castle
on a voyage to East Africa. There are various shots
of her at anchor in Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar.
|
Reina del Mar
|
|
| Operating
life: 1956 - 1975 |
| Tonnage:
20,234 |
| Passengers:
766 |
| Constructed:
Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Our
footage: 4mins 38secs |
|
|
Reina del Mar is seen initially
in her original Pacific Steam Navigation colours.
We then join her for a summer cruise in the Mediterranean.
There are many scenes on board as we join in the
varied program of deck sports and other entertainments.
We watch officers on the bridge and the daily ritual
of "streaming the log".
|
|
