Cardboard Vessels
Our latest blog reports on an inland event. held by the Linlithgow Union Canal Society.
Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
Our latest blog reports on an inland event. held by the Linlithgow Union Canal Society.
Well actually it’s almost certainly the same one. Thanks to Keith Robertson who, in response to our latest post, has sent the picture above. Dolphin lovers have only two Wednesdays left this year to see the Dolphin at Ardlamont Point from a Waverley cruise to Tarbert.
The forecast for 14th August was bright at first with cloud and rain later. It was perhaps not the most promising day for a sail on Waverley. Nevertheless over 400 were on board for the Wednesday trip through the Kyles of Bute to Tarbert. Waverley’s cruise that day started at Ayr but your correspondent joined…
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ITV News West Country have broadcast a news report on Balmoral’s appeal to raise £350k to ensure that Balmoral can sail in passenger service next season.
As some PSPS members will be aware Waverley Excursions Limited have a new website.
More photos from Sunday’s hospitality cruise. Thanks to PSPS member Roy Tait for supplying these photos.
Our hospitality cruise this year had a new feature as it took place on a sell-out Sunday which is now a regular event with discounted tickets, coach tours and good weather. Whilst it’s good to see the ship full, it is a problem for those of us used to a “turn up a go service”.…
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The Scottish Branch hospitality cruise will take place on Sunday 4th August as Waverley sails from Glasgow to Lochranza. Members are invited to join the Branch committee on-board and take the opportunity to visit the engine room and/or the bridge. In addition on Sunday there will be an auction held on the return journey to auction two…
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Waverley has continued to attract the crowds over the past few days. Between Friday and Sunday (19th-21st July) she carried around 2000 passengers. Both Saturday and Sunday were sold out in advance with Sunday having been sold out for a few days. The Sunday cruise to Campbeltown from Glasgow is the longest sail timetabled within the Clyde season.…
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The Society is looking to upgrade its use of digital communications to both attract new members and keep the membership informed. To achieve this we intend to modernise the principal PSPS website and develop our presence on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. While our ships are part of our heritage, our membership surely includes…
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Waverley made her first call at Girvan on Monday 15th July having sailed from Glasgow via Largs and Ayr to offer her usual Clyde Monday cruise round Ailsa Craig. The following few pictures show her approaching the harbour, berthing and then alongside. In total she is scheduled to make 4 calls at Girvan as she…
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In view of the 2012 result for the Branch evening charter the committee looked at possible alternatives to the Greenock, Helensburgh, Blairmore and Loch Long cruise which has been offered for a number of years. The main reason for looking at alternatives was the fact that Waverley was not due to return to the Clyde until the…
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This year’s Scottish Branch Evening Charter was a tremendous success, thanks in the main to the tremendous efforts of Paul Semple who organised it and promoted it to great effect …. okay maybe the weather helped a wee bit. If this was all that Paul did for the Mighty Paddler in the course of a…
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Waverley’s Clyde timetable for 2013 once again allows a cruise from Ayr to Tarbert (Loch Fyne) which was the cruise long associated with a Tuesday on the Clyde weekly timetable. Indeed the Tarbert cruise from Ayr has been part of her regular Clyde timetable since her first year in preservation in 1975 although in 1976 it…
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A new website has been launched for the Balmoral appeal at http://www.mvbalmoral.org.uk. The website has been created to help publicise the recently launched public appeal. The appeal target is for £350 000 so that Balmoral can operate in 2014. Balmoral is currently berthed in Bristol city docks and is being maintained by a dedicated band…
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On Monday 8th July Waverley had no scheduled sailing as is normally the case for the first couple of Mondays in July. On some occasions in the past the ship would leave Glasgow at 0500 on the Tuesday following the off-service day and run light to Ayr to pick up her 1000 departure. On other occasions she would…
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The Clyde season is now in full swing as Waverley makes her way around the many towns and villages of the Firth of Clyde. Over the past few days she has provided the perfect platform to view the Firth in all its spender in perfect sailing conditions. Waverley arrives back at Tarbert on Wednesday 3rd July…
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The PSPS Scottish Branch charter will take place on the evening of Thursday 11th July. This year the itinerary has been changed to offer an evening cruise to view the north Arran coast. Waverley will depart Millport at 1805 and Largs at 1900, returning to Millport at 2145 and Largs at 2215. A return time…
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On Friday 7th June BBC Wales broadcast a news item about Waverley and her current sailings on the Bristol Channel. The report can currently be seen using the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22823089 P Semple
The following pictures were taken today (Monday 20th May) by Roy Tait showing Waverley being re-floated and then being guided out dry dock before she ran trails and compass adjustments.
Waverley began her 2013 sailing season on Friday 3rd May with her traditional programme of cruises around the Western Isles based in Oban. Last year those venturing north were rewarded with 11 hot and sunny days. This contrast this year could not have been more pronounced. Truncated to five days of cruising, Waverley departed…
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Scottish Television (STV) have broadcast a report as Waverley is about to begin the 2013 season. The following link will open up the report. It was filmed over several days during the winter refit with further footage recorded as she prepared for sea trails earlier this week. Click Here Paul Semple
Waverley sailed down the River Clyde for the first time in 2013 on Wednesday 30th April on sea trials ahead of her annual visit to Oban. 2013 marks the 39th year of Waverley operating in preservation. She left Glasgow shortly after 2pm and sailed down river to Loch Long and then returned to the city…
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The forty-third Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Branch will take place on Friday 19th April at 7.30 p.m.at the Renfield St Stephen’s Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow to transact the following business: 1) To receive apologies for absence2) To approve the minutes of the forty-second AGM3) To receive a chairman’s report4) To receive…
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A website has now been set up giving some details about PS Monarch and the sailings she will be offering this year. She is due to enter service at the end of May with a charter to the Wessex Branch. The poster below has been produced to promote her sailings from Wareham Quay. Monarch Website.…
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On Kingswear Castle’s first public cruise on Good Friday a BBC film crew recorded the event while also interviewing Andrew Pooley, General Manger for the Dartmouth Steam Railway & RiverBoat Company. The following link shows the report from BBC Spotlight which was broadcast. Click Here! Paul Semple
On Friday 29th March Kingswear Castle was once again offering cruises on the River Dart. Her last public sailing on the Dart was in 1965 before she was purchased by the PSPS for the sum of £600. Kingswear Castle’s first sailing in 2013 on the River Dart from Dartmouth was advertised as a Homecoming Charity Cruise where…
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The small Paddle Steamer Monarch is due to enter service in May this year offering cruises along the river Frome from Wareham Quay. Monarch was built in 1984 and has seen service in Kent and on the Medina in the Isle of Wight. Extensive refurbishments have been carried out which involved her sponsons and paddle…
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The Maid to the Loch was first lowered into the waters of Loch Lomond on 5th March 1953 having been built at the Pointhouse yard of A & J Inglis Glasgow. It was yesterday (5th March 2013) that a public appeal for funds to return the Maid to service on Loch Lomond was launched. The appeal for £4.9M to restore…
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On Thursday 7th Febuary Kingswear Castle steamed up the River Dart to Totnes on a trial run. This was her first call at Totnes since 1965. Since her last visit Steamer Quay has been widened so there is now a reduced turning space to allow KC to cant before heading back down river to Dartmouth.…
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