In my research to date this is the largest ship my Grandad worked on as an able bodied seaman. The picture is taken from a photograph in his album and shows her arriving in Sydney.
He joined her at Tilbury on 14 June 1950 bound for Australia returning again to Tilbury on 18 September 1950. Some two years later be was again on her for another run to Australia, boarding at Tilbury on 5 August 1952. From what I can gather he preferred working on tankers and cargo ships to the glamorous Orcades.
Her official number was 182833 and she is listed in his log book as having a GT of 28164.
She was built by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Barrow-in-Furness (Yard No. 950) at a cost of £3,418,000 and launched 14 October 1947. She was 709ft long, 64ft wide with a draught of just over 30ft. Powered by 6 x single reduction steam gear turbine engines and twin screws she could make 22 knots with nearly 25 knots reported on sea trials
When my grandad was on her she carried 773 First Class & 772 Tourist Class passengers although in 1964 this was changed to 1,635 One Class passengers.
Orcades was the very first post war passenger liner built for Orient Lines and although she shared her hull design with the P&O Lines ship 'Himalaya' her superstructure was quite different setting a new standard for her time.
She also offered high standards facilities and accommodations (although probably not where my Grandad lived and worked) offering many fine lounges, shops and saloons, a hospital, swimming pool and a range of cabin choices.
After taking many thousands of immigrants to Australia her final voyage to the breakers in Taiwan was on 28 December 1972. She arrived in Kaohsiung 6 February 1973 and the breaking up of the once great liner and cruise ship started 15 March 1973.
He joined her at Tilbury on 14 June 1950 bound for Australia returning again to Tilbury on 18 September 1950. Some two years later be was again on her for another run to Australia, boarding at Tilbury on 5 August 1952. From what I can gather he preferred working on tankers and cargo ships to the glamorous Orcades.
Her official number was 182833 and she is listed in his log book as having a GT of 28164.
She was built by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Barrow-in-Furness (Yard No. 950) at a cost of £3,418,000 and launched 14 October 1947. She was 709ft long, 64ft wide with a draught of just over 30ft. Powered by 6 x single reduction steam gear turbine engines and twin screws she could make 22 knots with nearly 25 knots reported on sea trials
When my grandad was on her she carried 773 First Class & 772 Tourist Class passengers although in 1964 this was changed to 1,635 One Class passengers.
Orcades was the very first post war passenger liner built for Orient Lines and although she shared her hull design with the P&O Lines ship 'Himalaya' her superstructure was quite different setting a new standard for her time.
She also offered high standards facilities and accommodations (although probably not where my Grandad lived and worked) offering many fine lounges, shops and saloons, a hospital, swimming pool and a range of cabin choices.
After taking many thousands of immigrants to Australia her final voyage to the breakers in Taiwan was on 28 December 1972. She arrived in Kaohsiung 6 February 1973 and the breaking up of the once great liner and cruise ship started 15 March 1973.
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