MacBrayne’s Comet

on Feb 21, 2019

The twin-screw motor vessel Win was built on the Thames by Messrs A. W. Robertson & Co. in 1905. She was just 65 feet long and 14 feet in the beam, 43 tons, and was powered by two 4-cylinder paraffin motors. In 1907, Messrs MacBrayne acquired the little craft and renamed her Comet. For the next ten years she was employed on Loch Leven and the Caledonian Canal. In 1917, Comet was transferred to the Clyde and became the Lochgoil Mail Steamer sailing from Greenock and Gourock to Lochgoilhead. The route by road to Lochgoilhead was difficult and the direct sailing was viewed as an essential lifeline for the villagers, especially over the winter months. Comet at Gourock (Robertson) Glasgow Corporation received the Ardgoil Estate as a gift from Mr A. Cameron Corbett in 1906. During the summers, Lochgoilhead was a popular destination for steamers that allowed the good folk of Glasgow...

Mr MacBrayne’s Gael

on Feb 15, 2019

The steamer Gael was built for the Campbeltown & Glasgow Steam Packet Company in 1869 by Messrs Robertson & Co. of Greenock. Her early history can be found in two articles on the Company and on the Herald, the competitor that led to the introduction of the large, powerful Gael. Although originally flush-decked, a deck saloon was added to Gael in 1879, but without competition for the Campbeltown traffic, the Gael was found expensive to run and was sold to the Great Western Railway in 1884. The Gael returned to Scottish waters when Mr. MacBrayne purchased her in 1891 as one of a number of vessels that aided the expansion of their services to the outer isles and northwest coast. “Purchase of Greenock-built steamer. The paddle-steamer Gael, belonging to the Great Western Railway Company, has, it is stated, been purchased by Mr D. MacBrayne, who will utilise her on the outside Clyde...