Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape

The vessel has been out of service since 1981 but is under restoration for an eventual return to cruising on Scotland's most famous lake. She is open daily (weekends only in October to January) for inspection and refreshments. Areas of the ship are also available for hire for private functions.  Picture above : June 2004

Built in 1953 by A & J Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow
Engines : Compound Diagonal ( 24 and 48 inch x 51 inch) by Rankin and Blackmore of Greenock, Scotland.
Dimensions: 191 feet (208 ft overall) x 28.1 ft
555 Gross Registered Tonnes

The "Maid" is the last of the long line of major paddlers built for cruising Britain's estuaries and lakes. Built by A & J Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow, builders of the famous PS Waverley, she was sent the short distance to her home port of Balloch on Loch Lomond in pieces by rail and reassembled on the slip on the outhern end of Scotland's largest and most famous lake.She was launched on 5th March, 1953 and made her first scheduled sailing on 25th May.

Replacing two smaller, older steamers, the Maid was the ultimate development of the paddler, although closely following the format of Clyde steamers designed in the 1930s. Due to her operation on inland waters, a two cylinder engine was specified; an engine more typical of Clyde steamers of the turn of the century.

Painted all white with an all-buff funnel and green boot-topping, her appearance reminded of the Swiss lake steamers as she plied from Balloch to the northern head of the Loch. In later years, calls were limited to Inversnaid, for a bus connection to Stronachlachar on Loch Katrine to meet SS Sir Walter Scott, and Tarbet. At Tarbet passengers were collected for the Loch Lomond leg of the Three Lochs Tour, having disembarked a Clyde steamer, usually PS Waverley, at Arrochar at the head of Loch Long and reaching Tarbet by a short bus ride or brisk walk.

After her last public cruise on August 30th 1981, the Maid was put up for sale. The offer of the Alloa Brewery Company in association with the local motor launch and marina operators Verigen Ltd, which had plans to restore her to service was accepted. For varying reasons these plans failed and between 1982 and 1989, services were provided by the MV Countess Fiona, the former Clyde motor vessel Countess of Bredalbane.

New owners for the Maid and the Contess in 1989 were the Australian Sea Management Corporation in association with the English shipowners James Fisher & Sons, whose ambitious plans to restore the Maid and bring an Australian-built catamaran to the Loch were cut short when Sea management went into liquidation before the start of the 1990 season. Maid of the Loch Ltd was the name of the subsidiary which operated Countess Fiona during the 1989 season

The Francis Hotel Group based in Newcastle, England purchased the Maid, the Countess and Balloch Pier from the receivers. Planning to develop the tourist potential of the Balloch site, it was unclear whether the Maid featured in the new owner's plans. Little progress was made and this company also went into liquidation in early 1992.

The local Dumbarton District Council became the next owners, taking control in December 1992.

Backed by the efforts of local enthusiasts, whose efforts had helped ensure that the vessel had not deteriorated beyond repair, the Maid was, in 1995, transferred to the ownership of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, a charitable organisation. With a business plan for future operation, continued volunteer support and increasing commercial sponsorship, the future for the vessel now looks promising and the vessel is being restored after years of neglect.   

MAID OF THE LOCH - PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION

27th June 2006 : A Historic Day

With the slipway alongside the pier at balloch and its steam machinery renovated and returned to operational condition, Maid of the Loch was winched out of the water for a few hours to test the slipway and inspect the hull. These photos by Lairich Rig posted on the geograph website show her on the historic day

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1033330
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1033306

Please support the Maid of the Loch to return to service

A donation form (including Gift Aid declaration for UK taxpayers) can be downloaded from the Maid of the Loch Steamship Company's official website on this link

http://www.maidoftheloch.com/donations.jpg