Three Little Liners

Lavishly illustrated with rare and previously unpublished images, this is the story of the General Steam Navigation's three key ships.

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General Steam Navigation was the oldest steam ship company in the world, dating back to 1824.

By the 1930s the company’s cargo fleet could be seen all over Europe sailing to France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and many other destinations. The company also had pleasure steamers, and in 1935 acquired the first diesel engine pleasure boat – the Queen of the Channel. This was soon followed by the Royal Sovereign and the Royal Daffodil. They were known as the three luxury liners; two were lost in the war and replaced in 1948 and 1949.

Here, David Toy tells the fascinating story of these three famous vessels and their replacements, painting an affectionate portrait of this bygone age of travel by utilising a variety of rare and previously unpublished photographs.