Paddle Steamer Resources by
Tramscape
The Internet's leading database of
Paddle Steamers past and present
PLEASE
NOTE THAT THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS WEBSITE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE AT : http://paddlesteamers.freehostia.com
Unfortunately
the website became too large for its original internet location and had to be
moved
This mainly text-only version represents the website as it was up until
1st July 2009 and does not include any more recent information or updates.
It includes some photographs which were included in earlier versions of
this website. For the latest information and all the photos, click on the link
above
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The Clyde was the home of PS Comet, built in 1812 and the first steamship in regular service in Europe. She is now remembered by the full-sized replica displayed close to the side of the estuary at Port Glasgow. The Clyde is also home to PS Waverley, built in 1946/7 and now the last operational sea-going paddle steamer in the world |
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With some relatively
minor exceptions, ferry services on the Clyde are run by
Caledonian-MacBrayne, a state-owned company formed out of the merger
of the state owned Caledonian Steam Packet Company (operating on the
Firth of Clyde) and David MacBrayne Ltd, a part privately owned
company operating services in the Western Isles. Whilst MacBrayne
had, for most of the steamer era, been in a monopoly position in its
area, the Clyde was subject to continuous, often ruinous,
competition.
Small fleets and independent vessels run by private owners
essentially gave way in 1889 to the three main competing railway
companies, who were extending their tracks to the Clyde coast and
established fleets to challenge for the commuter traffic and the
increasing tourist excursion trade, especially to the resorts of
Dunoon (Cowal), Rothesay (Bute) and Brodick (Arran). A significant
market developed for cruising in its own right, especially to escape
the industrial city of Glasgow at weekends. The sons of Captain
William Buchanan and Captain John Williamson, son of Captain
Alexander, whose brothers James and Alex ran two of the three railway
fleets, remained in private ownership. John Williamson was also a
founding partner in the Turbine Steamer Syndicate, established to run
the world's first commercial Turbine Steamer, King Edward, in
1901.
Only with railway nationalisation after the Second World War did the
fleets ultimately combine under the title of the Caledonian Steam
Packet Company and it was not until 1971 that services for Dunoon and
cruises were concentrated on the port of Gourock (Caledonian) after
the final closure of Craigendoran (North British / LNER).
Caledonian-MacBrayne disposed of the last Paddle Steamer (Waverley)
after the 1973 season and the last Turbine Steamer (Queen Mary) four
years later. Cal-Mac as they are commonly known, now operate a series
of ferry shuttle services across the Firth, providing highly
efficient links for cars, cargo and foot passengers. Waverley, now
under private ownership, continues the cruising tradition of the
"Clyde Steamer".
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THE ULTIMATE FLEET - CLYDE STEAMERS OF THE 1930s
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Now you can read about the 1960s, when the steamers built in the 1930s had their final flourishing before the character of the Clyde changed for good. Follow on from the article about Clyde Steamers of the 1930s or go directly on this link. |
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Clyde Turbine Steamer Queen Mary : former fleetmate
of PS Waverley |
CURRENT OPERATORS
Caledonian-MacBrayne inherited the services
of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company but are now purely ferry
operators. Waverley continues to spend the summer season on a
traditional cruise programe under her charitable preservationist
owners.
Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd / Waverley
Excursions Ltd (1975-date)
These companies do not operate steamship services
Caledonian-MacBrayne Ltd
(operated steamers 1973-1977 and offered limited cruising with notor vessels
for some years subsequently)
Western
Ferries : Car ferry services from McInroy's Point (near Gourock) to Hunters'
Quay (near Dunoon)
Clyde
Marine Cruising / Clyde Marine Services : Operators
of small passenger vessels MV The Second Snark and MV Clyde Cruiser
Apart from the cruises offered by PS Waverley, Cal-Mac's
withdrawal from cruising has left Clyde Marine Services / Clyde Marine Cruising
as the main provider of excursion opportunities on the Clyde. For many years
this company, originating in tendering business, have offered short cruises
and pier-to-pier services in the upper firth with their small ex-tug/tender
motor vessels Kenilworth and The Second Snark. Kenilworth was withdrawn in 2006
and replaced by "Clyde Cruiser" an excellent new motor vessel which
is available for charter. The Second Snark (built 1938 for use at Wm. Denny's
Dumbarton shipyard and in the fleet since 1969) now concentrates on cruises
from Greenock and Helensburgh to Blairmore (for connecting buses to Benmore
Botanical Gardens) and into Loch Long from early May to mid-October. The Second
Snark's schedule until recently included regular trips to Lochranza (Arran)
via Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute and to Largs and Millport, but she is now
strongly marketing sailings into "Scotland's Fjord" and into Scotland's
new "National Park".
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ROTHESAY BAY
Photo by kind courtesy of Donald Bain |
Clyde Steamers - An Enthusiast's Guide : An excellent mini-history of Clyde Steamers packed with fascinating and unusual detail - by Donald Kelly
General
Bibliography and books on "Clyde Steamers"
Books relating specifically to individual operators
and vessels are shown under the appropriate
entry.
Dunoon Pier - a celebration
Ian McCrorie
Published
in 1997 by Argyll Publishing, Glendaruel, Argyll PA22 3AE
ISBK 1 874640
68 8
Extensive illustrated history of the pier and services at one of the
Clyde's premier resorts in Ian McCrorie's informative and highly readably style.
In hardback
Tighnabruaich Pier
Ian McCrorie
Published
in 2002 by the Thighnabruaich Pier Association and Douglas press, Glendaruel,
Argyll, PA22 3AE
ISBN 1 902831 82 9
Detailed story, copiously illustrated,
of the pier on the Kyles of Bute, a favoured destination for cruises for generations
Lochranza Pier
Ian McCrorie
Published
in 2003 by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, The Ferry Terminal, Gourock, PA19 1QP
ISBN
0 9507166 2 6
Written by Clyde steamer expert Ian McCrorie to celebrate the
reopening of the pier on the isle of Arran for use by PS Waverley
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