R.M.S. "EDINBURGH CASTLE"

R.M.S. "Edinburgh Castle"

In 1945 at the end of hostilities with Germany the Company was faced with having to replace two of the Mail Fleet to replace war losses and very little cash to do it with.   To compound the problem shortages of materiel made the building of large passenger ships somewhat difficult to say the least.   In order to make economies the design was very largely that of the "Capetown Castle" but instead of diesel power she would revert to steam turbines.

From the outset there were problems with the decks of the "Edinburgh Castle" and her twin "Pretoria Castle".   Unlike the old pre war vessels the decks of these two ships were sheathed in pitch pine instead of teak.   To economise the planks were not 'fitted' but to allow for the lapped plating had filling pieces instead, it made the fitting out of the decks much easier and quicker as skilled carpenters were in short supply.   The result of this was that from the very first voyage the decks started to weep rust as the steel beneath corroded, whenever possible red lead paint was pumped between the steel plates and wooden planking but it was never that successful and the two ships went through their life with rusting decks.

"Edinburgh Castle" sailing from Table Bay, Christmas 1975

Because they were essentially 1930's design for the 1950's the ships went through a series of modernisations after the amalgamation with Clan Line.   Outwardly the most noticeable change was with the mast arrangement but to the old U-C people the saddest change was in the colour scheme.    The new Management did not like the old 'teak' brown masts and derricks and black winches, these became white and grey but a significant change was not easily noticed.   Between the lavender of the hull (officially described as 'London grey') and white superstructure was a two inch wide teak brown line right around the ship.   Whilst not immediately noticeable when there it was more noticeable when not there.   But it had been calculated that this line cost the Company £2000 per ship a year and that was in 1956, the more astute Clan Line management did away with the brown line!

For tourist class passengers the most noticeable feature of the ships was the propellers vibration, new propellers were fitted for the accelerated service with the hull sandblasted and underwater plate laps filed to give a more streamlined underwater profile.  With this the two ships were able to keep up the new mail service with their newer and faster sisters.  

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