As a replacement for the Marchioness of Breadalbane in 1935, the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. went to Fairfields for a smaller version of the paddlers Caledonia and Mercury built the previous year. She was well photographed by the Messrs Adamson and Robertson during her trials when sporting the Fairfield flag.
Marchioness of Lorne on trials (Adamson)
Marchioness of Lorne on trials (Robertson)
Marchioness of Lorne was designed for the Holy Loch ferry route where the ability to maneuver at the many piers is more important than speed. The new steamer was capable of just 12 knots in service, requiring some adjustments to the time table.
Despite some misgivings, the improved accommodation, meant that the new steamer became a strong favourite with the Holy Loch regulars
Marchioness of Lorne (Feilden)
Marchioness of Lorne in 1936
Marchioness of Lorne‘s summer schedule was demanding, lying overnight at Kilmun calling at Ardnadam, Strone, Blairmore, Cove, Kilcreggan, Princes Pier, and Gourock.
Marchioness of Lorne at Kilmun (Valentine)
Marchioness of Lorne approaching Ardnadam
Marchioness of Lorne leaving Ardnadam
Marchioness of Lorne approaching Strone (Tuck)
Marchioness of Lorne approaching Blairmore
Leaving Blairmore
Marchioness of Lorne at Kilcreggan (Valentine)
Marchioness of Lorne off Princes Pier
Marchioness of Lorne at Gourock (Valentine)
Heading for Hunter’s Quay
Marchioness of Lorne approaching Hunter’s Quay
At Princes Pier with Jupiter or Juno after 1937
The deck space behind her funnel allowed Marchioness of Lorne to carry cars on occasion.
Loading a car at Hunter’s Quay
Marchioness of Lorne’s afternoon service was billed as a cruise round the Holy Loch and became a popular sail in the 1930s.
Marchioness of Lorne remained on the Clyde throughout World War II and with Lucy Ashton maintained services above the boom at the Cloch. For this period she was painted grey but retained the black top to her funnel. The Princes Pier call was dropped in 1940.
Marchioness of Lorne with her new wheelhouse
At Kilmun in 1948
On board Marchioness of Lorne in 1948
Leaving Blairmore in 1948
In 1946, Marchioness of Lorne was given a refit and had a wooden wheelhouse fitted to replace a temporary contraption constructed during the emergency. Nationalisation followed in 1948, and Marchioness of Lorne incorporated Craigendoran into her roster, consolidating her as the Holy Loch steamer for the combined fleet.
A lonely Marchioness of Lorne at Gourock around 1950
Heading across the Holy Loch to Hunter’s Quay in 1949
Marchioness of Lorne at Hunter’s Quay around 1950 (Valentine)
Marchioness of Lorne leaving Hunter’s Quay
Marchioness of Lorne at Strone in 1950
Marchioness of Lorne at Kilmun around 1950
In 1953, the advent of the Maid class of motor vessels displaced Marchioness of Lorne from the Holy Loch route and she was reassigned to Millport taking over from Duchess of Fife.
Marchioness of Lorne at Wemyss bay in 1953
Marchioness of Lorne on the Millport station in 1953
Marchioness of Lorne at Wemyss Bay
Marchioness of Lorne was too slow for the Millport service and the next year she was replaced by Talisman as a prelude to the breakers yard the following year.
April 21, 2016
Another Fantastic and very interesting piece of History, and lovely photo’s!
April 21, 2016
Thank-you, Willy. I’ve had a bit of a slow down recently with work piling up but should get back to more regular postings now.
April 21, 2016
Graham, your photographs of Marchioness of Lorne’s deck area in 1948 are superb. She was a fascinating little ship. I recall her berthing at Rothesay and she was a very attractive vessel. I have seen internal photographs of her lounge area which appeared in Ship’s monthly in the 1970 (which I have). What would be of great interest would be to see something of her internal areas: engine room allyways, lounges and tea room. Thank you very much for the time taken to list these wonderful images
April 22, 2016
I’ve been looking at the photos of Marchioness of Lorne (deck area) again I do not believe that I have ever seen better. Are you able to tell me something of the background to these images- who is in the picture- what was the occasion?
April 22, 2016
Peter: I’m afraid I know little about the pictures and I picked them up from an auction and there was no identification with them. There are a few more I think and I will have a look at them but I believe they were mostly shore views. Graham
April 22, 2016
Thank you Graham- I would love to see the remainder of your lot. Your web site is excellent and a fitting documentary to a period of Scottish history in which now is receding beyond the popular ken of first-hand observation. Your input provides a valuable resource for the next generation of historians and steamer enthusiasts. Well done!
April 22, 2016
April 22, 2016
Peter, I’m afraid there were only two pictures of the boatyard at Sandbank and this photograph of the Hamilton at Dunoon.
October 27, 2016
The Marchineness of Lorne has always been one of my favouret paddle steams. Thank you for putting these fanatic shots of her on the website.
July 15, 2020
I’ve been clearing out during lockdown & came across a couple of old framed sketches of Kilmun by James Thompson. Both are of the pier (one has a steamer in it)
Wondered if you’d like photos of them?