SHIP SIZE

It’s easy to underestimate the size of an ocean-going ship. Southampton, London, Liverpool, Bristol; all were home to these behemoths of the seas. If you think my planter ship looks too big, consider this: Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the most famous liners of all time, is 963ft long and 171ft high. That’s roughly the same as 13 Class 40s parked end to end and stacked 13 high!

Left: By the time this card was posted, on July 13 1912, the port’s future was already threatened by the success of Southampton Docks, the Manchester Ship Canal and services available at Hull.