Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape
The Internet's largest database of
mainly European Paddle Steamers past and present
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Firth
of Clyde,
Scotland
Glasgow
& South Western
Railway
The company
developed Clyde railheads at Greenock, Wemyss Bay, Fairlie and
Ardrossan and competed with the Caledonian Railway for the Cowal,
Bute and Arran traffic. As an immediate response to the establishment
of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, the GSWR obtained powers to
run its own steamers and in 1891, purchased the fleet of Captain
Alexander Williamson. Williamson's son, also Captain Alexander, was
appointed Marine Superintendent and became the direct rival of his
older brother James at the Caledonian, and younger brother John who
established an independent fleet. The two main railways entered a
period of ferocious competition, with races from railhead to the
Clyde piers with ever newer and faster vessels. Whilst the steamers
themselves were loss-making in general, the competition was as much
as anything to attract passengers to the respective company's rail
routes from Glasgow. The GSWR and Caledonian Railways were
amalgamated under the London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923,
with the GSWR vessels being transferred directly to LMS
ownership.
Vessels Purchased
from Captain Alexander Williamson in
1891
PS Sultan
PS Sultana
PS Marquis of Bute
PS
Viceroy
Other Steamers Purchased in
1891
PS
Chancellor
PS
Scotia
New
Build
PS
Neptune
PS Glen Sannox (I)
PS Mercury (I)
PS Minerva
PS Glen Rosa
PS Jupiter (I)
PS Juno (I)
PS Mars
TS
Atalanta
Steamer Purchased from
Captain John Williamson in
1904
PS
Vulcan
Steamers Transferred to the
LMS in 1923
PS Glen Sannox
(I), PS Mercury (I), PS Glen Rosa, PS Jupiter (I), PS Juno (I), TS
Atalanta
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Firth of
Clyde