The Hero steamer was part of the purchase of William Buchanan when he took over the assets of Messrs Keith & Campbell in 1884. She did not remain long in the fleet, and was sold to owners on the Tay early in 1886.
“River Steamboat Sale.—Yesterday the well-known river steamer Hero was sold to the River Tay Steamboat Company (Limited), of which Messrs Simpson & Dow are the managers. The Hero will in future be employed on the Tay, plying between Dundee and Perth as a passenger steamer, a trade for which she is admirably fitted, being both commodious and steady. Occasional trips will also be made down the Firth during the season. The Hero, which was built by Wingate at Whiteinch in 1868, was latterly owned by Captain William Buchanan. She was for years employed on the Glasgow and Arran station, and did her work most admirably. The Hero left the river yesterday for her destination in command of Capt. Rollo.”—Glasgow Herald, May 7, 1886
“Referring to the sale of the river steamer Hero, I noticed in your columns this morning, it is a mistake to say that she was born in 1868. I myself was aboard her on her first run, when she boldly challenged the Rothesay Castle (Caird & Co., Greenock) for the then popular four o’clock hour. Captain Robert Young was on the paddle-box, and in the handling of his boat he showed that amount of cool dexterity by which he has ever been distinguished. I see that I have omitted to give the date of birth of the Hero. It was June 1858, so that she is ten years older than stated. Under her last owner, she has come out like a regular Macbrayner, which all the world knows are gifted with immortality.”—Glasgow Herald, May 8, 1886
Hero sailing on the Clyde with Athole upstream (Washington Wilson)
The reference to “regular Macbrayner” may well be prophetic!!
“Trial trip of the river steamer Hero.—Yesterday afternoon, on the invitation of the owners—The River Tay Steamboat Company—a party of ladies and gentlemen enjoyed a trip up the river to Perth in the fine Clyde steamer Hero, which has just been brought to Dundee for service on the Tay. The Hero left King William Dock shortly after half-past one, and her fast running powers were well displayed in the run to Newburgh, which she made against a strong head wind in fifty minutes. She went slower up the higher reaches of the river, and the passengers were enabled to leisurely enjoy the splendid scenery at Kinfauns and Kinnoul. Perth was reached in about an hour and three-quarters after leaving Dundee. The return journey was also much relished, and Dundee was reached at six o’clock. The Hero, which is 180 feet long, has 19 feet breadth of beam, and 36 over the paddles. Her dining saloon, which is the forepart of the vessel, is commodious and complete, and capable of sitting 100 passengers at table. She is also fitted-up with an elegant after-saloon, and there is a retiring saloon specially for the ladies. The Hero will carry over 800 passengers, and while she will be conducted on temperance principles, there will be no lack of refreshments on board. There is spacious cooking and stewards’ accommodation, and it is intended that tea and coffee shall always be provided. The Company intend to inaugurate a series of evening trips down the river, which are sure to be appreciated after working hours. There will be no lack of facilities this year for enjoyment on the river, and it is to be hoped the enterprise shown will be patronized as it deserves.”—Dundee Evening Telegraph, May 19, 1886
“The river steamer Hero.—Yesterday afternoon the river steamer Hero made her first afternoon trip to Newburgh after being repainted and thoroughly overhauled. She looked clean and bright in her new colouring, and was completely filled by a large number of passengers. She left the Edinburgh Slip shortly before half-past three, and the sail to Newburgh was much enjoyed. After a full half-hour’s stay, she started on her return sail down the river. In the run she gave a splendid exhibition of her sailing powers, attaining a speed of nearly 18 miles an hour. She reached Edinburgh Slip shortly after six o’clock.”—Dundee Evening Telegraph”—, July 17, 1886.
On the Tay, the Hero was a popular vessel and served the public well on excursions, but had her moment of infamy.
“Collision between passenger steamers in the Tay.—On Friday afternoon a somewhat alarming collision took place in the Tay between the passengers steamers Lass o’ Gowrie and the Hero. It appears that both boats left Perth about half-past three o’clock in the afternoon, the Lass o’ Gowrie having the lead. The rival vessel, however, overtook her at Orchard Neuk, and the two proceeded down the river alongside each other for about two miles, the Hero being on the north side. All went well until Elcho Castle was reached, when the steamers came into collision at a point where there is a slight bend on the river. Immediately the vessels came into contact Captain Edwards drew up and allowed the Hero to pass. It is stated that the Hero has sustained some damage to her bows, but the Lass o’ Gowrie has escaped without any damage. The occurrence naturally caused considerable alarm among the passengers on board of both steamers, of whom there was a considerable number, and a feeling of relief was experienced when the steamboats got clear, and it was known that they had not sustained any serious damage. This is the first mishap of any description that has befallen Captain Edwards during the long period of 25 years which he has navigated the river.”—Dundee Courier, August 14 1886
Dundee Evening Telegraph, May 19, 1886
“Trip by the steamer Hero to the Earn.—Yesterday the steamer Hero let Dundee for the Earn, via Newburgh, with a large number of passengers on board. The Hero went up the Earn as far as the Farg, and the steamed down to Newburgh, where the passengers were landed. After re-embarking the passengers, she left for Dundee, which was reached shortly after six in the evening, after a most delightful sail.”—Dundee Courier, August 4, 1887
Hero sailed for two seasons, but may have suffered an accident that damaged her hull. She was offered for sale in 1888, and may have been laid up for that season.
“The Steamer Hero was on Wednesday exposed to sale in the office of Messrs Simpson & Dow, but as no offer was made, the sale was adjourned.”—Weekly News, May 19, 1888.
The Hero was purchase by Mr. Orr of Glasgow and was used during the 1889 season in excursion work from the Broomielaw, Dumbarton and Paisley.
“The passenger steamer Hero.—The steamer Hero, which was recently purchased by Mr Orr, Glasgow, has now been thoroughly overhauled, and left Dundee for Glasgow this afternoon. For some time the vessel has been in the hands of a large staff of workmen. Her hull has been straightened by the insertion of steel plates, and the engines and machinery have been put in first-rate order. The cabins &c., have been redecorated, and extensive alterations and improvements have been made which will add greatly to the comfort and convenience of the passengers. A thorough inspection of the Hero has been made by the Board of Trade Surveyor, and a certificate for passenger traffic on the Tay and Clyde has been granted. A trial trip was made this afternoon, when the machinery worked very smoothly, after which the Hero sailed for the Clyde. Dundee Evening Telegraph, May 16, 1889
Glasgow Herald, August 3, 1889
Glasgow Herald, August 13 1889
Glasgow Herald, August 24, 1889
The Hero was purchased by the Messrs Macbrayne in 1890 and substituted for the Iona on the Ardrishaig mail run. In 1892, she appeared “like a regular Macbrayner” with a short saloon aft, a clipper bow and bowsprit, renamed Mountaineer, preserving the name for the company as the earlier steamer of the same name had been wrecked in 1889.
Glasgow Herald, June 25, 1890
In the summer, the Mountaineer was used on the connection between Corpach and Oban and in the winter, she was based at Greenock, taking various duties including the early Rothesay mail run and trips to visit the frequent visits of the Home Fleet to the Clyde.
Mountaineer on the Clyde off Greenock on a visit of the fleet
“Accident to a west Highland steamer.—An accident befell Macbrayne’s steamer Chevalier yesterday on her daily run between Crinan and Fort William, at a point near Onich pier. From particulars to hand it appears that when plying between Ballachulish and Onich the driving arm broke, bringing the steamer to a dead stand in Loch Leven. The Captain managed, however, to back the boat to Ballachulish pier, where she will remain until her shaft has been repaired. The Mountaineer, another of Mr Macbrayne’s boats, was at the time of the mishap passing Ballachulish on her evening run from Fort-William to Oban, and the passengers on the Chevalier were transferred to the former boat, which, instead of proceeding on her usual run, returned to Fort-William. It is understood that Mr Macbrayne will place another boat on the Crinan route to take the place of the Chevalier until the broken shaft has been repaired.”—Glasgow Herald, September 10, 1896
Mountaineer at Corpach (Washington Wilson)
Spartan accommodation on Mountaineer as she sails down Loch Linnhe
Oban around 1896 with Mountaineer
Mountaineer at Oban with Grenadier in the background
Mountaineer was scrapped in 1909.