British Rail beginnings
After spending more than 20 years on the Stranraer to Larne/Belfast route, the Stena Galloway finally left service in February 2002.   Built as the Galloway Princess, she was the smallest and oldest of four sisters constructed for British Rail in 1980/81.

Change of owner
She passed to Sea Containers ownership in 1984 and then to Stena Line in 1990 when she was renamed Stena Galloway.   After HSS Stena Voyager entered service in 1996 the Irish operation moved to Belfast, and Stena Galloway along with sister Stena Caledonia assumed freight duties.

The end
Following a reorganisation of Irish Sea services at the end of 2001, she became surplus to requirement.   She is the longest serving car ferry at Stranraer and the last in a series of princesses on the route.  

Above left: Along with the rest of the British Rail ferry fleet, Galloway Princess was sold to Sea Containers in 1985.   She is seen here arriving at Stranraer in July 1984, with the British Rail logo removed from her funnels in preparation for the privatisation process. 
  
Above right: Stena Galloway wearing Sea Containers livery basks in a hazy shade of winter in December 1992 at Stranraer.    Although Stena Line bought the Sealink ferry fleet in 1991, they didn’t repaint the vessels into corporate colours until 1995.