RC model ship of EMPRESS OF BRITAIN built to scale 1/200 by Gerold Brunner, Switzerland.
After the Second World War, replacements were urgently needed for Canadian Pacific's ageing passenger fleet, and the situation became more serious in 1953 following the loss by fire of the EMPRESS OF CANADA. In 1951 the Cunard Line, Canadian Pacific's great rival on the Liverpool to Montreal service, had announced its intention to build a new class of passenger liner for the Canadian service. Canadian Pacific was faced with the very real need to meet the Cunard challenge in order to maintain a viable presence on the route.
Canadian Pacific waited until the first of the new Cunarders, the SAXONIA, had entered service before placing an order for a new ship which would become the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. There is no doubt that Canadian Pacific paid very close attention to the new Cunard liner before placing an order with the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Govan for the new Empress which was launched by the Queen on 22nd June 1955. The EMPRESS OF BRITAIN had the distinction of being the first Canadian Pacific liner, and the first Fairfield-built vessel, to be named by a reigning monarch.
___________________________________________________
EMPRESS OF BRITAIN : built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan.
Yard No: 731 Official Number: 187376 Signal Letters: G V C N
Gross Tonnage: 25,516 Nett: 13,681 Length: 640ft Breadth: 85.2ft
Owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (Canadian Pacific Steamships - Managers)
6 steam turbines: double reduction gearing to twin screws