Before the application of the internal combustion engine to shipping in the early 20th century, merchant vessels were  powered either by sail or used steam engines. The first steam powered vessels, paddle steamers, dated to the late 18th century. With the invention of the screw propeller in the 1830s, steam power would come to dominate vessel propulsion over the next 100 plus years.  

Steam power needed to burn lots of coal to heat water in a boiler, producing pressurised steam to drive the ship’s engines but also a lot of very nasty poisonous smoke. The need to keep that smoke clear of the crew resulted in the tall funnels which can be seen today in the surviving pictures and photographs of steam powered vessels. 

There are references in old newspapers to trials of steam powered tugs by the Aire and Calder Navigation Company as far back as 1833. By then, it was reported that steam-boats had already been plying the canal for nearly two years. On Yorkshire’s waterways, steamers ranged in size from the modest but powerful  tugs used to tow strings of flyboats or coal laden compartment boats up to the larger “Packet” boats and the sea going merchantmen which visited the Humber ports.  

Where possible we have identified the vessels and where and when the photographs were taken. If you can add any more information, please get in touch using the form below.

Hover your cursor over the photograph and you will see a short title. Click on the photograph and you should see a larger version and more information.