Waverley
in 2004 : as she appeared after her "Heritage Rebuild", looking very
much like she did in 1947, her first season.
Launched 2/10/1946 at builders A&J Inglis,
Pointhouse, Glasgow, Scotland 240 feet long - 57 ft 3 in maximum breadth
Three crank triple expansion engines 29, 34 and 60 inches x 66 inches - by
Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock
693 Gross Registered Tonnes (in the 1960s)
Entered service in 1947
primarily for the London & North Eastern Railway's Arrochar
service
Planned to replace the previous Waverley (1899), withdrawn in 1939
and sunk at Dunkirk in 1940.
After railway nationalisation in 1948, transferred to British
Transport Commission ownership
Transferred in 1951 to the Caledonian Steam Packet Co, former
pre-nationalisation rivals of the LNER.
Reboilered in time for the 1957 season with oil replacing coal as
fuel. Radar fitted in 1960.
Cruised to all parts of the Clyde Estuary until withdrawn after the
1973 season by Caledonian-MacBrayne
Sold in 1974 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) after
massive public campaign in Scotland
Re-entered service in 1975 under PSPS ownership with support from
local authorities
Owned by Waverley Steam Navigation Co and operated by Waverley
Excursions Ltd on behalf of PSPS
On 28/4/77, left the Clyde for the first time to cruise from
Liverpool and Llandudno
Uncertain future after running aground on the Gantocks off Dunoon on
15/7/77 losing vital revenue
Sailings extended to the south of England in 1978, setting the
pattern for future operation
Cruised to Cap Griz Nez off the French coast on 12/5/80 for 40th
anniversary of Dunkirk evacuation.
A new boiler in 1981 improved operational and economic
performance
The 1981 cruise programme involved circumnavigating Great Britain for
the first time
Sailed to Dunkirk in 1990 for the 50th anniversary remembrance
In 1998 was awarded money from the National Heritage Lottery Fund for
a substantial reconstruction
Changes to safety legislation delayed the "Heritage Rebuild" and
Waverley sailed as normal in 1999
Rebuild contract awarded to George Prior Engineering of Great
Yarmouth. Work commenced in earnest in January 2000
Waverley reappeared for the late summer season in 2000 greatly
improved but restored wherever possible to 1947 condition
Returned to George Prior Engineering in the winter of 2002-03 for the
full completion of the Heritage Rebuild
The reconstruction, which
incorporated all new safety
requirements,
will greatly reduce maintenance costs
Waverley is officially the
world's last sea-going paddler and has been owned by and operated on
behalf of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, a charitable
organisation, since 1975 after a massive effort to save her from the
breakers forefronted by PSPS members Terry Sylvester and Douglas
McGowan. She is the last operational example of the famous "Clyde
Steamers" and the last paddler of a long line of vessels stretching back
to the Comet of 1812.
Withdrawn as uneconomic by her owners, the PSPS enthusiasts soon
established an increasingly skilled and professional organisation to
operate and market Waverley. Although she continues to receive
financial support from enthusiasts, Waverley has shown that it is
still possible to operate a traditional paddle steamer in the U.K. In
the winter of 1999/2000 she started a two-stage rebuild, supported
by money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to ensure that she
could sail economically and safely into the future. The rebuild was completed
in 2003.
Built for the sheltered waters of the Craigendoran-Arrochar route on
the Firth of Clyde, it became clear to her preservationist operators that she would
only be viable through extending her season and sailing from other
points around the British coastline. She now cruises the Clyde in
high season, but regularly visits the Bristol Channel, Solent and
Thames plus other locations in spring and autumn. In high season she
sails from the Science Centre, on the south bank of the Clyde, slightly to the
west of Glasgow city centre (but from Ayr on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,
Greenock on Thursdays).
Raddampfer Waverley in Schottland Vapeurs
à roues à aubes Waverley en Ecosse
