[Bob Preston]

I would to hear from anyone who served on these unusual ships.

Bob Preston

[Chouan]

I sailed as 3rd Mate on the Castleton in the early 80's. 1980/1 if I remember rightly.
Peter

[Bob Preston]

We must have sailed together. !980/81 I was 3rd Eng. Peter Sutton was old man Tom Makepeace ChEng. We were all made redundant 31st Jan. after pay off in Ras Tannura.

[Chouan]

I think we did. Peter Sutton was relieved by a Welsh bloke whose name escapes me, apart from "Dai". I paid off in drydock in Rotterdam. The Chief got unspeakably drunk at Christmas. literally, in that he couldn't speak intelligibly! Good ship, of which I have fond memories. Even as I speak I can see my Skyfotos picture of her. I have 2 pictures onm the wall at my place of work, my first ship and the biggest.
Peter

[ibuthead]

I joined the Castleton First trip catering boy at 16 in Oct 1974 I have some good memories from then I was also on the Carnegie and the casterbridge after that as well they were good ships a good start to my life in the merchant navy Ian Butler

[andysk]

Yesterday I posted a pic of OSWEGO GUARDIAN, in the Shipping Accidents gallery, being repaired after her collision with TEXANITA of Cape Agulhas in 1972 - is this the same Oswego ?

Cheers

Andy

[CHRIS LITTLEHALES]

I Was On Bideford Maiden Voyage 1969
She Became Camden Idone 6mouth & 7 Moouths
With 12 Month Gape Any Pic
Chicago

[Brookes]

Hi,

Third Officer from 1974 to 1980 on Castleton, Cadwallader, Casterbridge, Camden, Carnegie then Eloseid.

Great finding this site.

Bob

Originally Posted by Chouan

...... Peter Sutton was relieved by a Welsh bloke whose name escapes me, apart from "Dai". .....

Dai Reece *Rees" I think is the name you're looking for.

[K urgess]

Welcome to the crew, Bob.
I assume the duplicate was a slip of the finger so I've deleted it.
Enjoy the trip.

[Chouan]

Originally Posted by Brookes

Hi,

Third Officer from 1974 to 1980 on Castleton, Cadwallader, Casterbridge, Camden, Carnegie then Eloseid.

Great finding this site.

Bob




Dai Reece *Rees" I think is the name you're looking for.

That's the one. So obvious really! I last heard from him, literally, going the straits of Gibraltar, only I can't remember which ships either of us were on. I was on watch and recognised his voice on the VHF. We had a chat then passed as ships in the night.

[davej]

Originally Posted by Chouan

That's the one. So obvious really! I last heard from him, literally, going the straits of Gibraltar, only I can't remember which ships either of us were on. I was on watch and recognised his voice on the VHF. We had a chat then passed as ships in the night.

Hi all.

I sailed with Gatx Oswego Too.

I joined them when they were still Blandford Shipping Company.
I Joined the Bedford as Chief Cook. Then I went to the Bamford.
Left the Bamford to join the Bulford as Chief Steward. Then went to the Boxford also as Chief Steward. During my time on the Boxford the company was taken over by Gatx Oswego and the Boxford became the Castleton.

Then I went to the Casterbridge which had a boiler collapse so we ended up in Blohm & Voss drydock in Hamburg for three months at which time I was transfered to the Castleton again. That was my last trip with the company as I joined Reardon Smith Line as Chief Steward/Catering Officer.

I had some good times on the tankers.

A few names spin to mind.

Captain Goodison Terry Took Chief Mate then Captain. Chief Steward Graham "Half a Kipper" Lloyd and Eric Reahead, 2nd. Officer to name but a few.

[Paul Cooper]

Hi Guys,
That brings back a few memories. I was 2nd eng on Bulford/Casterbridge when we had all the boiler problems in 1972/73.
Old George Johnson was Chief along with Tom Makepiece and another guy whose name escapes me but he was ex RN and this was his first job out of the services. He sure got a good intro. Henry was the 3rd eng that decided to put the evap drain to cond and unknown to us we were pumping s/w into the feed water all night. Got to know the insides of superheaters real quick after that.
Had a couple of real hard case 3rd engs Ross Ramsay and Johnny Lochart(I think) A couple of mad scotsmen who liked the odd dram or 3. A good bunch to sail with.
Apart from a trip on QM2 last year have not been back since although have done a lot of sailing and powerboating and still own a 13m launch which gets good use as I live in New Zealand
Paul Cooper (Kiwi)
.

[morserules.ok]

Hi Guys, Specially Paul,
I sailed on the Bideford in 1972 as R/O, then after I got married (Joan) and myself joined Oct 72 thru to Feb 73.
I had previously sailed on Bideford 1971/72 saving cash to get married. Sailed with an equally nuts Leckie Paul Cooper. Remember delivering the Bonsai trees at Finart? Paul, you were saving up for a Lotus ?? I've forgotten the name, and we met up again at the nautical college in South Shields, and yep you had the Lotus. Hope you are doing well, living in Kiwi??
When wife was onboard, she got her first swimming lesson from Johnnie Lochart on xmas day 1972, she still has the nightmares!!
Had some great times on these unique "T -Pee" tankers, everything got smaller the higher up the tower you went, thank christ I was on tank level!!,

[spuddles]

Originally Posted by Bob Preston

I would to hear from anyone who served on these unusual ships.

Bob Preston

I sailed on ELOISEID jul 76 as ck/stwd but didnt stay she hit a bridge in dordrect and ripped out her bridge wing

[Tom Dwyer]

Hi Bob - Just came across this site, very interesting, think I sailed with you on Carnegie I was the R/O
Regards
Tom Dwyer

[elspud]

Sailed on Camden as 3/0 Feb-Aug 77 travelling very slowly from Bonaire to Turkey via Iraq. Then spent Silver Jubilee alongside the detached mole in Gibraltar after our "mechanical problems".
Followed up with the Carnegie between South Riding Point and Nigeria
Best wishes to all fellow travellers

[spike stokes]

Originally Posted by Tom Dwyer

Hi Bob - Just came across this site, very interesting, think I sailed with you on Carnegie I was the R/O
Regards
Tom Dwyer

spike stokes,gp,i sailed with you on gatx,good ships and good crowd,always plenty of laughs,remeber rolly sartin,cat/dept,he died about 4 years ago cancer,live in yovil,spike.

[Seawitch Artist]

Originally Posted by elspud

Sailed on Camden as 3/0 Feb-Aug 77 travelling very slowly from Bonaire to Turkey via Iraq. Then spent Silver Jubilee alongside the detached mole in Gibraltar after our "mechanical problems".

I was a soldier at the time in Gibraltar.....I remember looking at Camden often, it's 'Lighthouse' block stood out.
I never thought I'd end up being a steward on it a couple of years later!
I joined it at anchor of Kharg Island and stayed at anchor for weeks and weeks....I couldn''t wait to get off the Cockroach infested thing.
The 'Armadale' that followed was the ship that showed me the world.

[Tom Dwyer]

Hi Spike, Yes remember sailing with you on the Gatx crusies! Not been on this site for a while. George Higgins was the other steward and John Hale the C/Off. How are you keeping?

[Sandy Galbraith]

Goodness! This is a blast from the past. I was deck officer for a couple of trips on the Castleton, a relief on the Cadogan (Teeside/Flotta and Norway) and an epic four month trip on the Carnegie from the Bahamas to Brunei Bay where all we carried was ballast water. Happy days!

Sandy

[ARGK342]

Originally Posted by Brookes

Hi,

Third Officer from 1974 to 1980 on Castleton, Cadwallader, Casterbridge, Camden, Carnegie then Eloseid.

Great finding this site.

Bob




Dai Reece *Rees" I think is the name you're looking for.

Hello !. Good to hear from you Bob.

Many a pint or bottle[s] of 'Nederburg Grand Premier Cabernet Sauvignon' we shared at 4am after coming off watch.

Archie.

[ARGK342]

Originally Posted by Paul Cooper

Hi Guys,
That brings back a few memories. I was 2nd eng on Bulford/Casterbridge when we had all the boiler problems in 1972/73.
Old George Johnson was Chief along with Tom Makepiece and another guy whose name escapes me but he was ex RN and this was his first job out of the services. He sure got a good intro. Henry was the 3rd eng that decided to put the evap drain to cond and unknown to us we were pumping s/w into the feed water all night. Got to know the insides of superheaters real quick after that.
Had a couple of real hard case 3rd engs Ross Ramsay and Johnny Lochart(I think) A couple of mad scotsmen who liked the odd dram or 3. A good bunch to sail with.
Apart from a trip on QM2 last year have not been back since although have done a lot of sailing and powerboating and still own a 13m launch which gets good use as I live in New Zealand
Paul Cooper (Kiwi)
.

Worked the engine room with both Ross and John.

Fair to say both enjoyed 'a dram'.

[ARGK342]

Originally Posted by Tom Dwyer

Hi Bob - Just came across this site, very interesting, think I sailed with you on Carnegie I was the R/O
Regards
Tom Dwyer

Yep. I recall you well Tom.

[Tom Dwyer]

Hi Bob yes good to hear from you also - how are you keeping? The Gatx responses seem to be growing!! Good to hear from people again.

[Tom Dwyer]

Hi Paul you must have sailed with Jimmy Bone (Lecky) or John Atkinson (Lecky). I remember Ross Ramsey & Johnny Lockhart very well. Was Capt Milligan the OM or Pete Davidson? Jeff Moon was 3/0, Gerry Penguilly(?) was C/Off. Lenny Springett was 2/Eng.