The fortunes of the Turkish Fleet owned by Captain Alexander Williamson, Snr., were affected in negative fashion when the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. entered the steamer trade in 1899 and appointed Captain Williamson’s son, Captain James Williamson, as their Marine Superintendent. For a number of years, the Turkish Fleet had run railway connections for the Glasgow & Southwestern Railway and as part of their response to the Caledonian company in 1891, the Glasgow & Southwestern Railway purchased the steamers of the Turkish Fleet to form the nucleus for their service and appointed Captain James Williamson’s brother, Captain Alexander Williamson, Jnr., as their Marine Superintendent.

Benmore

Glasgow Herald, December 15, 1891

With the sale of his steamers, Captain Alexander Williamson, Snr., retired from business in 1891 and later that year, a third son, Captain John Williamson, purchased the Benmore from Captain Buchanan and began a service, sailing from Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute to Glasgow in the mornings and returning in the afternoon.

Benmore 

Almost from the start, the company, entitled Glasgow, Rothesay & Kyles of Bute Steamers, revealed that its owner was determined to achieve success. The May 26 edition of the Glasgow Herald in 1892 stated that the newspaper would be available for travellers by the first steamer in the morning as the result of a special train delivering the next day’s edition to Gourock from where it would be conveyed to Rothesay by a late run of the Benmore, leaving at 7:15 p.m.

Glasgow Herald, July 12, 1892

Glasgow Herald September 29, 1892

Just as had been the case with the Turkish Fleet, the starting point for the Benmore was Ormidale at 6:40 a.m., calling at Tignabruaich, then through the Kyles of Bute to Colintraive, Port Bannatyne and Rothesay. From Rothesay at 8:40, Greenock and Glasgow were reached by way of Innellan, Dunoon, and Kirn.

Benmore on an excursion with Edinburgh Castle at Carrick Castle

The afternoon sailing from Glasgow, at 2:00 p.m. was advertised as an afternoon cruise to Dunoon, whence passengers could return to Glasgow on the new Lord of the Isles.

Glasgow Herald, March 29, 1893

Glasgow Herald June 22, 1893

In the middle of March of the following year, 1893, The Glasgow and Southwestern Railway Co. sold the Sultan to Captain Williamson, who renamed her Ardmore and sailed her in consort with Benmore.

Ardmore crossing Rothesay Bay

Ardmore appears to have been used on some excursion work but mainly sustained the goods trade and provide an extra sailing from Glasgow to Rothesay. Various timings were tried including a late sailing to connect at Gourock with the newspaper run for the Clyde resorts but eventually an early 6:45 a.m. Rothesay departure and return from Glasgow at 1:00 p.m. seems to have been adopted.

Glasgow Herald June 29, 1894

Glasgow Herald July 28, 1894

Glenmore in Rothesay Bay (Adamson)

Towards the end of 1894, Ardmore was sold to Messrs David Macbrayne and Captain Williamson, presumably pleased with the additional flexibility and potential revenue from two steamers, ordered a new steamer for his fleet from Messrs Russell & Co. of Greenock. Of modern design with full width saloons fore and aft, and with her promenade deck extended to the bow, Glenmore was launched at the beginning of April 1895. Her main deck was plated to the bow but she was nevertheless unusual as the well-deck between the forecastle and the saloon was open. She was supplied with a compound diagonal engine by Messrs Rankin and Blackmore that drove her at a modest pace, suitable for the Glasgow and Rothesay service for which she was intended.

Glenmore with Galatea and Neptune at Rothesay

Glasgow Herald May 25, 1895

Glasgow Herald June 26, 1895

Glasgow Herald August 19, 1895

Glasgow Herald September 24, 1895

The summer of 1895 had seen a new service connecting the Glasgow & Southwestern piers of Greenock and Fairlie with the Kintyre port by the Culzean Castle. Culzean Castle was owned by the Glasgow, Ayrshire and Campbeltown steamboat Co. Ltd., and in her first season, she had a number of breakdowns entailing deputisation by the chartered Glenmore. The comfortable accommodation of the Glenmore allowed Williamson to carry out excursion work, including a trip to Campbeltown advertised in direct competition to the Culzean Castle on the September weekend. In truth, by this point is the season, Culzean Castle was not operating and those who considered sailing on the vessel were directed to Glenmore at Fairlie.

Glenmore at Campbeltown (Williamson)

Glasgow Herald May 15, 1896

Glasgow Herald June 10, 1896

Glasgow Herald June 26, 1896

Glasgow Herald July 17, 1896

In the following year, 1896, the pattern of sailings was much the same as the previous year until the beginning of August. Over the previous 20 years or so, the Canadian Arctic explorer, Captain Joseph Wiggins and his syndicate had had some success in opening trade along the shores of the Kara Sea and along the Yenesei River in Siberia. His latest expedition, the most ambitious to date, involved six ships that would be led through the sea-ice by the hull-strengthened steam barque Lorna Doone to the mouth of the Yenesei. A Russian firm, Balandin, Kitmanoff, Vestrotine, & Co., had purchased the Glenmore and Wiggins himself sailed with her, leaving the Clyde on the 19th of August. She arrived at Vardø in northern Norway where she was to meet the remaining steamers in the expedition. Unfortunately the Lorna Doone and her shallow draft consort, Burnoul, had already left for the Kara Sea and Wiggins with Glenmore and the remainder of the fleet was icebound in Vardø for almost a year before they could reach their destination. When she eventually arrived on the Yenesei, the Glenmore was renamed Oryol.

Strathmore (Adamson)

In October, it was reported that Captain Williamson had placed orders for two steamers of similar dimensions to the Glenmore but 10 feet longer with Messrs Russell & Co., of Port Glasgow.

“Yesterday there was launched from the yard of Messrs Russell & Co., Port-Glasgow, a handsomely modeled steel saloon paddle steamer, which is the first of two steamers building for Captain John Williamson, Rothesay. As she left the ways she was named the Strathmore by Miss Lila Williamson, Rock Villa, Rothesay. The principal dimensions of the new steamer are:—length, 200 ft.; breadth, 24 ft.; depth, 15 ft. The hull is divided into water-tight compartments by steel transverse bulkheads. Dining accommodation for 80 first-class passengers is provided in a handsomely-furnished saloon on the lower deck aft. On the main deck above is the saloon, having ladies’ cabin, &c., which is fitted up in polished wood, and tastefully upholstered in crimson moquette. The saloons are being furnished throughout by Messrs Wylie & Lochhead in an exceedingly chaste manner, while the ventilation has been designed and worked out on the most approved principles. The forward part of the steamer is allotted to second-class passengers. The main deck being entirely covered inmakes a fore saloon, the dining saloon being on the lower deck, having bar, pantry, &c., providing ample accommodation and facilities for a large number of passengers. Above the main deck, extending from stem to within ten feet of the stern, the full breadth of the ship, is a spacious promenade deck, on which are placed the chart-room and ticket office above which is the navigating bridge. The steamers will be lighted by a complete installation of electric light on the most improved system. The vessels will be fitted by Messrs Ranking and Blackmore with compound diagonal surface-condensing engines of the most modern type, having Brown’s reversing gear, Weir’s pumps, filters, feed-heaters, &c. Steam is supplied by one large boiler of the navy type, constructed entirely of steel to Board of Trade requirements. Mild forced draft with engine and fans will be supplied for regular distribution of air to furnaces. When completed both vessels will form an important addition to the Clyde fleet, and will sail daily from the Broomielaw, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The Strathmore will be ready for her station about the 1st of April, and the second steamer, which is to be named the Kylemore, about the 15th of May.”—Glasgow Herald, March 11, 1897

As events transpired, Strathmore entered service but the Kylemore was sold to owners in the south of England, the Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea & Eastbourne Steamboat Co., and was renamed Britannia.

Britannia

In addition, Captain Williamson also purchased the Sultana from the Glasgow & Southwestern Railway and the old Athole from the Bute Steam Packet Ltd., who had acquired her when Messrs A & T McLean had retired from business in 1889. The latter appears to have been laid up until scrapped the following year.

“Captain John Williamson’s fleet this season will consist of the Strathmore, Benmore, Sultana, and Athole. The Kylemore has just been sold and renamed Britannia. The new Strathmore will, on and after 1st June, leave Glasgow at 1:00 p.m. (Saturday’s excepted), and on Saturdays only at 2:00 p.m., for Dunoon, Rothesay, and cruise through the Kyles of Bute and Loch Ridden, returning again from Rothesay at 7:15 p.m., and on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., having train connections to and from Central and St. Enoch Stations. The Benmore will continue to maintain the afternoon daily service from Glasgow at 2:00 p.m. with passengers and goods, and from Rothesay up at 7:30 a.m.; the Sultana will be engaged during June with special charters. The Athole will not in the meantime be put in commission. The conveyance of the early morning mails and newspapers will again be undertaken by Captain Williamson’s steamers from Gourock to the coast, and this service will commence today.”—Glasgow Herald, May 31, 1897

Benmore at the Broomielaw with Sultana canting, still with her grey Southwestern hull but Williamson funnel colours (Annan) 

Glasgow Herald April 5, 1897

Glasgow Herald April 19, 1897

Glasgow Herald May 21, 1897

Glasgow Herald July 9, 1897

Glasgow Herald July 17, 1897

In August and September, Strathmore was engaged in a variety of excursions.

Glasgow Herald August 25, 1897

Glasgow Herald August 25, 1897

Glasgow Herald September 27, 1897

Glasgow Herald September 27, 1897

The following year, 1898, the steamers received a new colour scheme with a white funnel, distinguishing them from the fleet of Messrs Buchanan which retained the black funnel with white band that dated back to the early days when Williamson and Buchanan jointly purchased a steamer from the Castle Fleet. The Strathmore also received new employment, taking over from the Culzean Castle, the Glasgow & Southwestern Railway connection from Fairlie to Campbeltown where the railway company’s steamers themselves were prohibited from trading. The sailing was occasionally taken by the Benmore and offered a coach trip to the shores of the Atlantic at Machrihanish.

Glasgow Herald April 15, 1898

Glasgow Herald May 12, 1898

Glasgow Herald June 2, 1898

Glasgow Herald July 14, 1898

Glasgow Herald September 10, 1898

Glasgow Herald September 10, 1898

Strathmore

Strathmore at Lochranza on the Campbeltown service

Strathmore at Campbeltown in 1898

Strathmore at Campbeltown in 1898

In 1899, the company produced an attractive guide-book to Campbeltown and the West of Arran highlighting the Machrihanish coaching tour and a circular tour from Lochranza through Glen Sannox to Corrie and Brodick from where the return to Ardrossan was accomplished by the Southwestern’s Glen Sannox.

Benmore at the Broomielaw

Glasgow Herald June 21, 1899

Glasgow Herald June 21, 1899

Sultana (Adamson)

Strathmore at the Broomielaw

Glasgow Herald September 7, 1899

In July, Sultana was sold to the Lochfyne & Glasgow Steam Packet Co. where she acted as consort to the Minard Castle, operating to Lochfyne. She was sold the following year to owners in France.

Glasgow Herald June 21, 1899

In 1900, a small cargo steamer named Alert was added to the fleet. Sailing from Kingston Dock, she was used in the luggage and cargo trade to Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute. She was sold in June 1901.

Glasgow Herald May 5, 1900

Glasgow Herald June 9, 1900

Glasgow Herald June 9, 1900

Glasgow Herald June 22, 1900

A receipt for a rather morbid cargo: transport of a corpse from Rothesay to Campbeltown by Strathmore.

Glasgow Herald July 20, 1900

The long sea voyage to Campbeltown was not ideal for paddle steamers that were best designed for the short distances between piers on the upper firth where manœverability was an asset. John Williamson’s interest in the Turbine Syndicate comprising the Messrs Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Co., Messrs William Denny & Bros. Ltd, and John Williamson ushered in a new era in Clyde steamer history with the introduction of the King Edward, the first commercial turbine steamer in the world. The subsequent history of the fleet in the new century will be recounted in a separate article.