2014 marked Waverley’s 40th season in preservation – a remarkable achievement. With a timetable of 111 days she entered service on Friday 23rd May. In total 102 days were operated with 1 being lost due to a technical issue with the port boiler, the other 8 days were lost due to weather conditions. The following pictures record some of her 2014 sailings in Scottish waters.

Waverley departs Glasgow on day 2 of the 2014 season heading to Tighnabruaich.

After dropping passengers ashore on Saturday 24th May Waverley departs Tighnabruaich for a short cruise to scatter ashes.

An empty steamer. (24th May)

The brakes go on at low tide at Tighnabruaich. (24th May)

Awaiting departure from Oban’s North Pier having arrived following an early morning run from Tobermory. (31st May)

Awaiting her next turn of duty – the popular 4 Lochs and a Whirlpool. (1st June)

Waverley departs Tighnabruaich on 5th July on a short cruise to raise funds for Tighnabruaich Pier.

The John Nicholson picture of Waverley departing Tighnabruaich Pier hanging on the waiting room wall at the Pier.

Chief Officer David Howie brings her into Ayr before departing for a cruise round Ailsa Craig. (4th August)

Departing Ayr in the evening sun on Monday 4th August on charter to West FM. Passengers were requested to come dressed as pirates and some did!

Looking splendid in the light conditions at Lochranza on Sunday 24th August.

2014 saw the voluntary dissolution of Friends of the Blairmore Pier Trust which occurred at the end of June. Waverley’s final call under the Trust was on Tuesday 24th June. The Scottish Branch recognises the contribution the Trust made to ensure Waverley called regularly at the pier including the various calls for PSPS charters.

2014 also saw the first call at Keppel Pier by Waverley for over 40 years due to Millport Pier being closed. She successfully used Keppel throughout the Clyde season to maintain calls on the Isle of Cumbrae.

The Commonwealth Games brought challenges in terms of access to the ship’s Glasgow berth but she did provide the platform for a Radio Scotland broadcast on Friday 1st August.

Friday 8th August saw the 40th anniversary of the sale of the steamer to the PSPS for £1 and the special charter arranged jointly with the Clyde River Steamer Club saw the first day cruise from Ardrossan for almost 30 years.

Overall passenger numbers on the Clyde in 2014 were slightly lowered than 2013 but with lower operating costs revenue was on budget at the end of August as the ship departed for her journey south.

Looking forward to 2015 we see the 40th anniversary of the ship entering passenger service under the PSPS banner. At the time of writing Waverley is a long way from home having taken shelter in Weymouth but once home she will take on winter mode where the hard work never ends. As always all involved in the operation of Waverley deserve a well-earned rest. In particular the Branch would like to offer our very best wishes to 2nd Engineer Iain McCorkindale who retires having given many years of outstanding service to Waverley in both a voluntary capacity and as a member of the engineering crew.