Marchioness of Lorne 1935

on Apr 20, 2016

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,...

Down the Water—and weekly chit-chat

on Apr 13, 2016

A strange little newspaper published on Saturday June 4th, 1887 was aimed at providing the public with a “pleasant hour in the wearisome tediousness of a steamship or railway journey” down the water. The editorial statement indicated that it was to be issued every Saturday morning at 47 Oswald Street, Glasgow  but that “owing to an accident, we are a little behind this week.” There are no advertisements in the first issue but they offered to carry advertisements at the rate of 1/6 an inch. Many of the articles have a strange feel for the most part and look to have been lifted piecemeal from an American publication although there are a few domestic “gems”: “Papa” asked a young hopeful the other day. “Is Queen Victoria’s other name Lize.” “No my son, why do you ask?” “Why, you know, I’ver just heard...

Sunday Steamers at Dunoon

on Mar 31, 2016

The pier at Dunoon is one of the most important on the Clyde, the major approach to the Cowal peninsula and an important hub for the major tours. The original pier, dating from about 1835, was built by a joint stock company but the rights to the pier and the ferry belonged to the Hafton Estate. This original pier was replaced by a new structure in 1845 and again in 1865 but by the end of the century, the single berth was a major source of congestion for the expanding steamer services on the Firth. The Trustees of the Hafton Estate, who owned the pier had proposed extensions as early as 1880 and had offered the pier to the Burgh on a number of occasions. Agreement on a price was finally reached and the Burgh purchased the structure on 31st December 1895 for £27,000 with an immediate plan to extend and reconstruct the pier for a further £15,000 that was put into action. Glasgow &...

Malwa—Messrs Caird & Co.,1908

on Mar 11, 2016

The P&O liner, Malwa, was launched from the yard of Messrs Caird & Co., Ltd at Greenock on October 10, 1908. As order number 315, she cost just almost £310,000 and was 540 ft long by 61.3 ft in the beam and a depth of 24.6 ft, giving a gross tonnage of 11,600. Her power plant was two quadruple-expansion steam engines, supplied by her builders and they developed 15,000 hp, driving the twin screws to achieve a speed of 18 knots. She was completed just before Christmas in 1908, and after being fitted with Marconi telegraph equipment, made her maiden voyage from London to Australia by way of the Suez Canal and Colombo. Malwa entering the water at Greenock Malwa afloat for the first time Initially she could accommodate 327 first-class passengers and 280 second-class and carried a crew of almost 350. She was the first P&O liner to visit Auckland, New Zealand, in 1910, and the...

City of Paris—Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. 1907

on Mar 10, 2016

New City Liner—Launch of the City of Paris—Glasgow Herald, August 12, 1907 The new steamer City of Paris, which was launched on Saturday by Messrs Barclay, Curle and Co., Whiteinch, is the largest vessel yet built for the Ellerman Lines. She is, generally speaking, a sister ship to the City of London, built at Belfast recently, but she is slightly larger. With the exception of a few mail steamers, she will be the largest vessel running to India. She is 569 feet in length, 57 feet 9 inches in breadth, 36 feet 6¼ inches in depth, of about 9,000 tons gross, and she will have single-screw quadruple-expansion engines, by the builders, of about 9000 i.h.p., capable of giving a service speed of fifteen knots. She will carry about 300 first-class and 100 second-class passengers. The first-class passengers will all be berthed in two and three berth state-rooms on the upper and bridge decks. On...

The Sinking of the Comet

on Mar 6, 2016

“Melancholy Catastrophe.—Loss of the Comet Steam-Boat, (from the Greenock Advertiser of Friday, 21st October, 1825)— The Comet steam-boat, on her passsage from Inverness to Greenock, had reaches the point of Kempoch, at nearly two o’clock, when she was met by the steamboat Ayr, M‘Clelland, of Ayr, which was on her way to that port, from Greenock. The two boats going with considerable velocity, were very near each other before mutually observed. As soon as perceived, the person on the look-out, on board the Comet, cried to the pilot to pat the helm a-starboard, which order the pilot of the Ayr understood to be meant as instructions to him:—both vessels were in consequence directed towards each other, and before the unfortunate mistake could be remedied, they came in contact with such violence, as to stave in the starboard bow of the Comet, which vessel, in a few minutes, went down, and...

North British Steamers

on Feb 28, 2016

The North British Railway Company had taken over the Helensburgh Railway in July 1866, a subsidiary, the North British Steam Packet Co., formed to run steamer services with their new well-appointed saloon steamers Meg Merrilies and Dandie Dinmont, immediately pressured the Helensburgh authorities for improved steamboat accommodation and a railway connection with the pier. The failure of this initial venture to attract a greater portion of the coast trade with steamers so obviously superior to those on other routes with the exception of the Iona must have been a tremendous blow to those involved. At the end of the season, Meg Merrilies and Dandie Dinmont were laid up in Bowling and offered for sale. The former was sold in 1868 to Turkish owners. Meg Merrilies Dandie Dinmont was moved to the Forth and tried on ferry services there. Her deck space was unsuitable for the requirements of...

Early Clyde Steamers IV

on Feb 14, 2016

With the Inveraray Castle, Rothesay Castle, and the new Toward Castle cooperating, the Castle Steamers were on the ascendancy in 1822. Their efforts to overcome the opposition on the route to Inveraray paid dividends in the new year. On July 8, 1823, the proprietors of the Neptune announced that they were sailing to Ayr that season rather than to Loch Fyne. “The proprietors of the Neptune Steam Packet, with the most lively feelings of gratitude, acknowledge the peculiar kindness of a liberal public in the very great support they have received during the season;—a support which has been more kind and flattering from the long-continued attempt that has been made to establish a monopoly and crush their undertaking. They need not say the every effort will be made, and every expense incurred, that may be calculated to increase the comforts and conveniences of the passengers....

Sailing to Islay

on Feb 13, 2016

Sailings by steamboat from West Loch Tarbert to the Highlands and Islands began with the Maid of Islay in the 1820s. The route became an established connection with the Castle Company and subsequently Messrs Hutcheson and their successor Messrs Macbrayne. The West Loch towards its head was shallow and consequently the steamers serving the Islay and Jura routes were paddle steamers.  By the middle of the 1880s, Messrs Macbrayne were using the Fingal of 1877, sailing to Islay. Fingal at West Loch Tarbert There were complaints about Fingal on the service and in 1890, the veteran Glencoe was placed on the route until replaced by Pioneer in 1905. Glencoe at West Loch Tarbert Glencoe at Port Ellen, Islay, with the puffer Elizabeth Messrs Macbraynes also provided an alternative sea route to Islay using the two-funneled Islay, purchased second-hand as Princess Louise from the Stranraer and...

Macbrayne’s Second Mountaineer

on Feb 6, 2016

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...