This is the final article in the series of negatives and slides from my collection that I have attempted to colourize with the aid of photoshop. For a very few of these slides, photoshop has not worked well and I have resorted to a more comprehensive colouring program that uses multiple layering like an impressionist painting to achieve the coloured image. This I dislike as it leads to some curious effects, but it does a better job on crowded scenes. The previous article featured the privately owned Clyde steamers. In this article the steamers of the Caledonian Steam Packet Co., the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Co., and the North British Railway Co., are portrayed.

A slide of steamers at Rothesay Pier. The funnel colours attract immediate attention. The only easily recognized steamer is the Caledonian Steam Packet Co.’s Galatea with her two rather awkwardly spaced funnels. Behind her is the red black-topped funnel with a white band of a North British steamer and farther along the quay, the red black-topped funnel of a Glasgow and South-Western steamer.

Galatea was built by Messrs Caird & Co., Greenock in 1889, and was intended as the flagship of the newly founded Caledonian Steam Packet Co.’s fleet. She was not a great success, as she proved to be slower than demanded of the new steamers.

In 1889, the Caledonian Company had purchased the steamers Madge Wildfire and Meg Merrilies, part of the fleet of the Kilmun steamers of Messrs Campbell, to which was added Galatea and Caledonia, built by Messrs Reid & Co., and shown here at Blairmore with the puffer Glenfinart.

Madge Wildfire was the more successful of the original steamers purchased by the Caledonian. She was built in 1886 by Messrs M‘Knight & Co., Ayr, and is shown here in the upper Firth.

In 1890 the Duchess of Hamilton was the product of Messrs Denny for the Ardrossan to Arran service. Two smaller useful steamers Marchioness of Breadalbane, and Marchioness of Bute were similar to Caledonia except the bridge was placed forward of the funnel. Duchess of Hamilton is seen here in the Kyles of Bute, likely acting as Club Steamer for a Regatta. This was coloured by Photorevive.

The winter boat for the Ardrossan to Arran service followed in 1891 from the yard of Messrs Russell & Co., Port Glasgow, and was a smaller version of the Duchess of Hamilton with her promenade deck extended to the bow. Marchioness of Lorne spent much of her summer service sailing from Wemyss bay to Millport and Kilchattan Bay. She is seen here at Millport.

Marchioness of Lorne leaving Wemyss Bay.

A hazy summer’s day on the south end of Bute with Marchioness of Lorne leaving Kilchattan Bay.

In 1892, the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Co. obtained powers to run a steam-ship service to allow it to compete with the Caledonian. They purchased Alexander Williamson’s “Turkish Fleet,”, Sultan, Sultana, and Viceroy, and several other vessels. Here, leaving Dunoon behind, is the Viceroy, built in 1875 by Messrs D&W Henderson, and retained by the G&S-W fleet until sold in 1907. Background was by Photorevive but the steamer was coloured by hand.

The South Western also had three new vessels constructed, the best known was the Glen Sannox. Built by Messrs J&G Thomson, Clydebank, she was notorious for the amount of coal she consumed, racing against the Caledonian’s Duchess of Hamilton. Here she is approaching Ardrossan Harbour.

Glen Sannox through the trees off Whiting Bay.

On board Glen Sannox on an overcast day.

Unloading luggage from Glen Sannox.

After 1910, the Caledonian and G&S-W fleets came into an arrangement when they shared the Ardrossan to Arran service. Glen Sannox became more available for excursions and she is seen here at Arrochar on Loch Long. She was broken up after her last year of service, 1925.

The two additional vessels built in 1892 were Mercury and Neptune, built by Messrs Napier, Shanks & Bell, Yoker. Here Mercury is leaving Dunoon pier. Mercury survived world war I and was scrapped at the end of 1933.

Mercury at Rothesay Pier

Neptune is seen here approaching Brodick. Used heavily in the more exposed parts of the Firth, sailing out of Troon and Ayr, her saloons and sponsons were modified with additional plating over the years by which she was able to be distinguished from her sister. She was lost during world war I.

Neptune in the Kyles of Bute

The G&S-W continued building the following year with two useful steamers, Minerva and Glen Rosa, designed for year-round work and built by Messrs J&G Thomson, Clydebank. Minerva seen here at Port Bannatyne Pier.

On board Minerva

Minerva leaving Innellan. She was sold to Turkish owners after world war I service in the Mediterranean.

Glen Rosa, the Arran winter steamer, was frequently used on the Fairlie to Millport and Kilchattan Bay route and is seen here with the setting sun in Millport Bay. Glen Rosa was scrapped in 1939.

Glen Rosa at Rothesay Pier with a cargo steamer in the inner berth.

In 1895, Messrs J&G Thomson produced the Duchess of Rothesay for the Caledonian Company. Designed for cruising, she took over the Gourock to Arran by way of Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute, returning by Garroch Head, that had been so successfully carried out by the Ivanhoe since 1880. The speed and comfort of the new steamer ensured success.

In response to Duchess of Rothesay, the G&S-W had Messrs J&G Thomson build the Jupiter the following year. Placed on the sailing from Prince’s Pier to Arran by way of the Kyles of Bute, she competed directly with Duchess of Rothesay with which she was well matched. She is seen here approaching Brodick.

Jupiter approaching Dunoon.

Jupiter at speed.

Although removed from the intense competition between the south bank companies, the North British Railway from its north bank base of Craigendoran, opened in 1882, also renewed much of its fleet in the 1890s. Dandie Dinmont was built by Messrs A&J Inglis in 1895 for the Dunoon and Holy Loch Service.

The following year, Talisman, again from the yard of Messrs A&J Inglis, was produced for the Rothesay station, and two years later, a sister vessel Kenilworth, was added. This is Talisman.

Waiting for the steamer at Craigendoran.

Talisman at Craigendoran.

In 1898 also, the G&S-W added the Juno, built by Messrs J&G Thomson. Of heavier construction, she served the ports on the lower Firth, sailing as far as Stranraer.

Juno in the open Firth.

The final vessel built for the railway companies in the 19th century was the Waverley for the Craigendoran fleet. This is a deck view of the steamer in service.

Three North British steamers racing from Craigendoran

Mars was a product of Messrs John Brown & Co., Ltd. of Clydebank for the South-Western fleet in 1902. An attractive and useful vessel, she was lost in the first world war.

In the new century., Marmion, from the yard of Messrs A&J Inglis, Pointhouse, in 1906, was the last steamer constructed for the north bank company. She is seen here contributing to the “smoke nuisance” at Kirn.

While the North British were restricted to the use of paddle propulsions due to the shallowness of river at Craigendoran, the south bank companies were able to take advantage of turbine propulsion. This is Duchess of Argyll, produced by Messrs Denny, Dumbarton, and designed by the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. for the Arran route from Ardrossan. Like the Glen Sannox, the sharing agreement of 1910 made her available for other duties, and she was frequently to be found on the Arran by way of Kyles cruise. In this view, however, likely dating from shortly after world war I, she is seen approaching Keppel Pier.