Dalmadan is the name of my publishing press.  This site will be used to present essays and show material from my collection of books, prints and photographs of the West of Scotland, and particularly the River and Firth of Clyde.  Subject matter will range from steamships to yachts and the different resorts and towns around the Clyde.  There will also be occasional entries about the Vale of Leven and the Loch Lomond area.
Dalmadan is a non-commercial educational site. It is also advertisement free.
Unless otherwise indicated, all of the images are from my personal collection of contemporary photographs and these are assumed to be in the public domain. If I have got this wrong and you hold copyright on any of these images please let me know. I will remove them immediately upon request.  Some of the images appear elsewhere and are credited to the “Graham Lappin Collection.”  It is appropriate to cite this Collection or Dalmadan as the source.
Most of the text used is original and I have attempted to credit sources where appropriate but I may have omitted some credits. In citing data on ships, I have used the Clydebuilt and Clydeships data bases and greatly appreciate the work that has gone into their creation, particularly the work of Stuart Cameron. Over the years I have had many conversations that have added greatly to my understanding of the material I write about. Conversations with John Newth, Bruce Allan, and Ian Buxton have been particularly insightful. Please let me know if I have inadvertently used any copyrighted text or failed to properly credit any source.
The British Newspaper Archive and other contemporary newspaper sources have proved invaluable for research.
Many of the articles have a focus on the steamships that sailed to the Clyde resorts, mainly in summer but also in winter, providing essential services and pleasure trips to residents and holiday makers alike. For those who enjoy these articles, a visit to the Clyde River Steamer Club website is encouraged. The experts in the Club have been able to answer many questions that I have had and I would like to acknowledge them here.
One criticism I have had has been the lack of an index and so I will list here all the articles that have been published so far. The articles are not static, I do update them as I find new material in my collection. Some accounts cover specific time periods and later accounts will cover the next decades in the history.
Senex Afloat                          July 1, 2026Â
The Victorian Navy on the Clyde        June 1, 2026
Seeing double in Islay                 May 1, 2026
Winter Lay-up                        April 1, 2026
Lochranza Pier                       March 1, 2026
Brodick Pier                          February 2, 2026
Lamlash Pier                         January 1, 2026
The Clyde Passenger Steamer           December 1, 2025
Strength Through Remembrance        November 11, 2015
The Colorful Clyde II Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â November 1, 2025
The Colorful Clyde IÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â November 1, 2025
King’s Cross                           October 1, 2025
A Colorful Interlude (II) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 3, 2025
A Colorful Interlude (I) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 1, 2025
Colour in the Highlands and Islands     August 1, 2025
Whiting Bay                           July 6, 2025
Stranraer                              June 16, 2025
“Another steamer thrown away” Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â May 1, 2025
Black paddle-boxes                      April 5, 2025
An Italian Job                           March 17, 2025
M’Kellar Dominance and Demise         February 21, 2025
A Diamond Mystery                     January 18, 2025
Largs and Millport Union Steam Boat Company in the early 1850s January 13, 2025
Mars (1902)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â December 13, 2024Â
Dalmadan at 10 Years—The Old Vale      November 7, 2024
Kilchattan Bay                          October 11, 2024
Craigmore                              September 9, 2024
Rothesay West                          August 30 2o24
Rothesay Front                          August 29, 2024
Rothesay East                            August 28, 2024
On Rothesay Pier                         August 1, 2024
Rothesay Harbour                         July 1, 2024
A Rothesay Panorama                     June 19, 2024
Glimpses of Dumbarton                    June 1, 2024
The Rise of the M’Kellar Fleet               May 1, 2024
Clyde River Piers                          April 1, 2024
Puffers and the Crinan Canal                March 1, 2024
Coals to Cowal                             February 1, 2024
Old Largs                                 January 4, 2024
Dr James Stevenson                        December 1, 2023
Early days at Largs                         November 1, 2023
Graham Brymner                           October 1, 2023
Gossip about river steamers                 September 3, 2023
The Irish Boats                             August 22, 2023
Loch Lomond Steamers in the 20th Century    July 3, 2023
Loch Lomond Steamboats in Mid-Victorian Years  June 1, 2023
To Inveraray by the Loch Eck Route         May 1, 2023
Wartime on the Cameron Estate             April 5, 2023
Marchioness of Lorne of 1891 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â March 2, 2023 Â
Fairlie Pier                               February 6, 2023
A brush with Samuel Walters                January 4, 2023
Corrie Ferry                              December 21, 2022
Port Bannatyne                           November 17, 2022
Our River Steamers—1887                 November 5, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article VIII   November 3, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article VII   November 1, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article VI    October 30, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article V    October 27, 2022
Steamboat Traffic in the Clyde—Article IV    October 24, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article III    October 21, 2022
Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article II     October 18, 2022
An Early History—Steamboat Traffic on the Clyde—Article I  October 14, 2022
Sailing on Loch Katrine                   September 25, 2022
Three turbine steamers                   August 18, 2022
A few days on Bute                       August 9, 2022
Lochlomond Steamboat Company—Early Years  July 19. 2022
Walter M‘Gregor—an Inversnaid boatman     July 1, 2022
Irvine Harbour                           June 11, 2022
The Unfortunate Thistle                   May 21, 2022
Lost in fog                              May 13, 2022
Puffers on the Forth and Clyde Canal       May 1, 2022
Bowling                                April 1, 2022
Captain William Buchanan’s Eagle          March 10, 2022
Nationalization                          February 8, 2022                        Â
Navigating the Leven to Loch Lomond      January 21, 2022
Bridging the Leven                      January 17, 2022
A Mersey Interlude                      January 4, 2022
Livestock                              December 2, 2021
Some Clyde Cargo Steamers              November 14, 2021
Steam Yachts on the Clyde                October 8, 2021
Gipsy Queen                            September 14, 2021
Excursions from Ayr                      August 14, 2021
Early Loch Lomond Steam-boats          July 22, 2021
Gourock Railway Pier                    June 18, 2021Â
Mambeg Pier                           June 4, 2021
Garelochhead Pier                       June 3, 2021
Shandon Pier                           May 24, 2021
William M’Kim — Renton Photographer     May 14, 2021
Loch Lomond Frozen—1895              April 22, 2021
The Port of Ayr                          April 12, 2021
Early Gareloch Steamers—Part 2           April 2, 2021
Rhu or is it Row? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â March 24, 2021
Early Gareloch Steamers                  February 17, 2021
Innen’s Quay—a note on Tigh-na-bruaich   January 16, 2021
Roseneath and Kilcreggan                December 24, 2020
The Greenock and Helensburgh Steamboat Company November 26, 2020
Dumbarton’s Castle Pier                   October 12, 2020
Clynder Pier                            September 14, 2020
A trip to Lochgoilhead                    August 10, 2020
Arrochar Pier                           August 1, 2020
Lochinvar                               July 15, 2020
To Arrochar before the pier                July 6, 2020
MacBrayne’s Lochearn and Lochmor        June 26, 2020
Portincaple                             May 26, 2020
Lochgoilhead Pier                        May 18, 2020
The Daphne Catastrophe                  May 17, 2020
Douglas Pier on Loch Goil                  May 2, 2020
Sailing coasters on the Clyde               April 28, 2020
“Sunday-breakers”—The final demise       April 22,2020
“Sunday-breakers”—Duncan Dewar        April 20, 2020
“Sunday-breakers”—Rise of the Dunoon Castle      April 19, 2020
“Sunday-breakers”—Demise of the Petrel    April 17, 2020
“Sunday-breakers”—Demise of the Cardiff Castle    April 17, 2020
Carrick Castle Pier                      March 19, 2020
Messrs Hutcheson’s Clansman of 1855 Â Â Â March 10, 2020
Ardentinny and Coulport                 February 29, 2020
Messrs Hutcheson’s Chevalier            February 12, 2020
The Great Canal                        January 10, 2020
Queen of Loch Earn                     January 5, 2020
Some Puffer Tales                      December 5, 2019
Blairmore Pier                          November 16, 2019
A wreck at Tiree                        November 2, 2019
Strone Pier                            October 20, 2019
Edgar Battersby’s trip to Rothesay         September 25, 2019
Kilmun Pier                             September 15, 2019
David Napier on the Clyde                September 10, 2019
The twins of 1937 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â August 1, 2019
Caledonia and Mercury of 1934 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â July 23, 2019
Duchess of Hamilton (1932 ) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â June 11, 2019
Ardnadam Pier                           June 6, 2019
David Napier and the Belfast Trade          May 28, 2019
Collision off Greenock                     May 2, 2019
Glenfinart                               April 26, 2019
Laverock                                April 1, 2019
Duchess of Montrose (1930) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â March 16, 2019
MacBrayne’s Comet                       February 21, 2019
Mr MacBrayne’s Gael                      February 15, 2019
The Upper Navigation                     January 24, 2019 Â
All the way to Stornoway                   January 22, 2019
Marchioness of Breadalbane                December 31, 2018
Caledonian Postcards                      December 29, 2018
Marchioness of Bute on Clyde and Tay        December 2, 2018
L.M.S. Steamers Duchess of Rothesay and Duchess of Fife     November 12, 2018
The latter days of Duchess of Argyll          October 13, 2018
Toward Pier                               September 28, 2018
Hunter’s Quay                             September 8, 2018
Pointing Porters of Rothesay                  August 18, 2018
Innellan Pier                                August 13, 2018
Ossian on Loch Etive                         August 10, 2018
Round Ardlamont                            July 29, 2018
Kirn                                       July 1, 2018
Dunoon                                    June 16, 2018
Southwestern steamers in L.M.S. days           May 13, 2018
Lochfyne                                   May 8, 2018
Pirnmill and the west of Arran                  April 29, 2018
Erskine Ferry                                April 25, 2018
Hoppers                                    March 27, 2018
Skipness                                   March 25, 2018
Latter Days of Clanranald II on Loch Shiel        March 7, 2018
Carradale Pier                               February 14, 2018
The wreck of the Tynwald                     January 26, 2018
Herald and Gael                              January 25, 2018
Colintraive                                   January 20, 2018
Ormidale                                    December 20, 2017
Tigh-na-bruaich                              December 16, 2017
Kames                                      December 9, 2017
Auchenlochan                                December 2, 2017
The Storm of November 26, 1912 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â November 24, 2017
Ardrossan Harbour                            October 23, 2017
Cove Pier                                    October 11, 2017
Glen Sannox of 1925 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 16, 2017
Canadian Pacific Steamships on the Clyde        September 4, 2017
Yachts                                     August 24, 2017
Glasgow Docks                              August 5, 2017
Renfrew Ferry                                July 10, 2017
Rothesay Dock                               July 4, 2017
The latter years of Iona                        June 13, 2017
MacBrayne’s Fusilier                          June 11, 2017
MacBrayne’s Grenadier                        June 9 2017
The latter years of Columba                    June 7 2017
Saint Columba                               May 27 2017
Southbank Grouping and Tartan Lums          May 21 2017
Neil Snodgrass’ Cigar                            May 14 2017
Craigendoran Steamers between the Wars         April 27 2017
Turbine Steamers Ltd. 1919-1935 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â April 4 2017
Williamson-Buchanan Steamers                  March 27 2017
Aerial Views of the Clyde                                              March 4 2017
Greenock Harbours                             February 28 2017
Cleaning the Clyde                                                         February 11 2017
Loch Awe                                                                         February 3 2017
Firth of Clyde Steam Packet Co., Ltd. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â January 15 2017
John Williamson’s Up-river Revival              January 15 2017
Steamers on Loch Tay                                                   January 8 2017
A New Lord of the Isles—1891                    December 28 2016
To Dark Lochgoil                                                            December 22 2016
Cruising on Scotland’s Lake                       November 28 2016
Captain Williamson and the Turbine Syndicate     November 25 2016
Robert Salmon at the Broomielaw                               October 31 2016
Clyde Industrial Training-Ship Empress           October 19 2016
Campbeltown Steamboat Company                October 16 2016
The Steamers of John M‘Callum and Martin Orme  September 30 2016
Caledonian and Southwestern Advances                    August 28 2016
Marchioness of Graham                          July 4 2016
Up and Down Harbour Steamers                                 June 22 2016
Macbraynes on the Caledonian Canal                         June 10 2016
Culzean Castle                                   May 28 2016
Williamson’s Glasgow, Rothesay and Kyles of Bute SteamersMay 25 2016
Glasgow & Southwestern Railway Steamers               May 15 2016
Caledonian Steam Packet Co., Ltd.                                May 7 2016
Early Clyde Steamers V Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â April 29 2016
Marchioness of Lorne 1935 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â April 20 2016
Down the Water and Weekly Chit-Chat             April 13 2016
Sunday Steamers at Dunoon                       March 31 2016
Malwa—Messrs Caird & Co., 1908                  March 11 2016
City of Paris—Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. 1907     March 10 2016
The Sinking of the Comet                         March 6 2016
North British Steamers                           February 28 2016
Early Clyde Steamers IV Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â February 14 2016
Sailing to Islay                                   February 13 2016
Macbrayne’s Second Mountaineer                 February 6 2016
Queen Elizabeth                                 January 20 2016
Wemyss Bay                                     January 15 2016
Buchanan Steamers                              January 3 2016
Early Arran Steamers                            December 30 2015
Queen Mary—534                                December 26 2015
Campbell and Kilmun                            November 29 2015
Two Birds: Merlin and Plover                     November 15 2015
Kronprinzessin Cecile                            October 23 2015
The Turkish Fleet                                October 23 2015
Kilmun—David Napier on the Severn…and Briefly on the ClydeOctober 21 2015
Helensburgh Quay                               October 21 2015
To Rothesay                                     October 4 2015
Girvan to Ailsa Craig                              September 5 2015
Railway Connections and Racing                   August 23 2015
Captain Alexander William Cameron               August 8 2015
More Sunday Steamers                           August 3 2015
The Battle of Garelochhead                       August 2 2015
The Sunday Steamer                             August 2 2015
William Sloan & Co., Ltd. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â July 25 2015
The Princess Alice Disaster                        July 7 2015
Smaller Craft Around the Resorts                  July 5 2015
William Findlay Johnstone                        July 1 2015
Sailing Out of Oban with Pioneer and Mountaineer  June 10 2015
Linnet                                            June 5 2015
Chevalier 1866 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â June 3 2015
Iona 1864 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â May 31 2015
The Royal Route                                 May 28 2015
Toward Castle Murder                            May 26 2015
Kingston Dock                                   May 23 2015
Early Clyde Steamboats III Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â May 14 2015
Early Clyde Steamboats II Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â April 27 2015
Early Clyde Steamboats I Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â April 26 2015
Victoria on the Clyde—1847                       April 19 2015
The Allan Line                                   April 6 2015
The Teetotal Steamer—Ivanhoe                   April 5 2015
Killarney—Langlands Cruises                     March 28 2015
The Loss of the Janet McNicol                    March 22 2015
Lord of the Isles—1877                           March 15 2015
Millport                                         February 28 2015
Columba                                        February 27 2015
Clyde Steamers in World War 1 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â February 14 2015
Alliance                                         February 9 2015
Excursions                                      January 20 2015
Motor Yachts on the Clyde                        January 20 2015
Caledonia on the Holy Loch Run                                  January 6 2015
The Siege of Millport                             January 6 2015
One Man’s Vision of Dunoon—EdwardMcGeachie   December 28 2014
Paisley Steamers                                 December 24 2014
Laing’s Dunoon—1868                           December 13 2014
Daniel Adamson                                 December 11 2014
Dumbarton Steamboats                          December 9 2014
James Gallacher                                 December 8 2014
Old Gourock                                    November 28 2014
Collision on the Gareloch                         November 26 2014
Hornby at Gourock                              November 26 2014
Thomas Bollen Seath                             November 25 2014
Comte de Smet de Naeyer                         November 20 2014
The Anchor Line                                 November 16 2014
Metagama: Liner and Cargo Steamer in Collision      November 11 2014
Fly Boats                                        November 10 2014
Clyde River and Firth                             October 27, 2014