Boulogne to Folkestone Ferry 1930's

During the late 20's and early 30's, the above three ships - Maid Of Orleans, Biarritz and Isle Of Thanet were operating the ferry service for the Southern Railway company on the Boulogne to Folkestone route. Passengers would board a train in Paris travel to Boulogne cross the Channel before disembarking at Folkestone Harbour and transferring directly onto a train at the harbour before continuing to London.

Lowry details a Channel crossing from Boulogne to Folkestone in his short story 30th June 1934 based on a similar journey he made the same year. Most of the story is set aboard a ship in the Channel in which the protagonists Bill Goodyear and Firmin share drinks in the bar and talk about the First World War and what the future holds for mankind. Lowry would have travelled on one of the three ships above.