Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
An exhibition of photographs and other artefacts from the organisations involved and a rare opportunity to view material and items from the Clyde River Steamer Club Archive is being held on Saturday 13th April, 2013 – 11 am until 4pm Carmichael Hall, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Glasgow G46 6UG ADMISSION IS FREE!! There will…
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Clyde-built PS Earl Godwin of the London CC fleet leaving the berth on the Thames just downstreamof Hungerford Bridge (Photo from the collection of Dr J Meister, Basel,Switzerland) In 1905 London County Council began operating a river service, to use the modern term, between Hammersmith and Greenwich. Interestingly, this was two years after the Clyde…
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The Caledonian team Packet Company paddle steamer Duchess of Fife, built 110 years ago by the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd, Govan (same yard that is now building the largest sub-assemblies of the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy). Duchess of Fife was requisitioned into the Royal Navy during both world wars…
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Kingswear Castle was towed from the Medway on 11 December by the tug Christine, she reached Portland the following day and had to seek shelter until 18 December before finally arriving on the Dart. Her first public cruise is scheduled for Friday 29 March (Good Friday) when she will offer a cruise from Dartmouth with…
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For some years now one Paddle Steamer can be found in steam on Lake Luzern operating over the festive period but this year another lake put it’s paddler into service. On Lake Thun Blümlisalp was used for the first time for winter duties. She operated two cruises each day, one from Thun to Beatenbucht in…
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The Scottish Branch’s annual festive cruise successfully took place on Saturday after some initial concerns about weather. Leading up to Saturday the forecast was not good but in the end the wind dropped for a few hours allowing the cruise to take place as planned. As usual M.V. Cruiser was provided by Clyde Marine Services…
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Kingswear Castle is set to return to the River Dart on a 15 year charter by Dart Pleasure Craft in association with the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company. Kingswear Castle has operated successfully on the River Medway and Thames Estuary since 1985 and it is 47 years since she last sailed her home waters.…
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The annual Festive Lunch Cruise will take place on Saturday 29th December aboard M.V. Cruiser from Greenock to Loch Goil. Cruiser will depart from Victoria Harbour Greenock at 11am and return at 3.30pm, she will call at Blairmore for a brief visit ashore before sailing up Loch Long and into Loch Goil. Tickets are now…
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The following pictures were all taken on Saturday 17th November of Balmoral at her winter berth at Princes Wharf in Bristol City Docks. She is berthed adjacent to the M Shed. M Shed is a museum dedicated to the story of Bristol and the people that made the city. M Shed website link is found here.…
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The following poster contains details of the forthcoming Blairmore Pier Fundraiser event to be held on Sunday 18th November. The next meeting of the Scottish Branch will be on Friday 16th November when Graham Mackenzie, MD of The Solent Steam Packet Limited, gives an illustrated talk on the history and preservation of the former Glasgow…
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After a non-stop direct journey from Southampton Waverley arrived at her Glasgow berth a little before 5am on Sunday 21st October in time to take up her final sailing of 2012 from Glasgow to Tighnabruaich. This sailing was the usual Saturday roster in the main summer season but on this occasion with a shorter time allowed at…
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Glasgow Plamtation Quay No 81, Sunday 21st Oct 2012 at approximately 20:30. Thanks to everyone involved in making the 2012 season happen. (photo: Stuart Cameron)
Just before 9am on Friday morning Waverley departed Southampton. Wind conditions have improved to allow her to proceed along the South Coast making way for Glasgow. At 1100 from Milford on Sea promenade she was caught on camera by Keith Adams off the Needles in very gloomy and overcast conditions. P Semple
Some more vews from London (taken by Stuart Cameron on 5th – 6th October 2012). Showboat Sailing from Gravesend arriving at London Tower Millennium Pier Waverley and HMS Belfast Waverley and ‘the City’ towers The view from London Bridge around midnight on 5th October 2012 Saturday 6th October 2012- Waverley is preparing to sail for Southend…
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The following report on Waverley’s first weekend on the Thames this year was passed to the Branch by Roy Tait. “Waverley arrived at Margate early on Friday morning having sailed 130 nautical miles overnight from Portsmouth. After embarking her self-loading cargo she paddled round the Kent coast bound for the City of London via Whitstable, Southend-on-Sea…
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The Autumn edition of Paddle Wheels has now been posted out to members although due to a printer error the wrong issue number and season is printed on the front cover. Along with the current issue members will find the winter syllabus card showing the dates and subject of Branch meetings. The syllabus for this winter is…
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After completing her final sailing on September 19th on charter Balmoral made her way to Avonmouth docks. The ship is currently berthed in Avonmouth rather than Bristol due to the much greater ease of pressing her into service if the need arises over the next 3 weeks. If she were to be berthed at Bristol…
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The following picture of Maid of the Loch was taken by John Beveridge on Saturday (23rd September). The Maid is proudly dressed with signal flags, name pennant, flag staff at the bow and an ensign. The flags were provided by the Scottish Branch in time for the Jubilee in June this year. John adds that…
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The following pictures (except the first) were provided by Roy Tait of Balmoral at Oban North Pier. Her visit to the Western Isles was marked by some poor weather but those who choose to join her for the Corryvreckan whirlpool trip on Sunday September 2nd were not disappointed. The whirlpool lived up to its name…
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Photos taken on Waverley on the upper reaches of the Clyde in August 2012 – click on an image for larger size. The Clydebank Titan was the second of the six Giant Cantilever Cranes to be erected on Clydeside, being built at the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank in 1906-07 by the Glasgow structural engineering…
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It was a sombre Waverley which lay at Ayr Harbour on the morning of Tuesday 21th August with her red ensign at half mast. After a very heavy downpour Waverley left Ayr at 10am with three long blasts given as she started her last scheduled Ayr to Long Goil cruise for summer 2012. Shortly after Waverley had cleared…
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It is with the deepest regret and a very heavy heart that I have to intimate the passing of one of the greatest of PS Waverley’s supporters over the past 30 years.
– a tale of Poppy Leaves and Paddle Steamers Paddle Steamer Mary Jane at Tarbert Loch Fyne in 1856 Today, the 12th of August 2012, 200 years after the pioneer Clyde paddle steamer, the Comet, first churned up the still river waters, PS Waverley performs her one and only Sunday visit to Tarbert Loch Fyne of 2012 –…
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Most of Waverley’s regular passengers will be aware that Craig Peacock, Catering Manager, has found new employment with Northern Lighthouse Board. Craig first joined Waverley as chief cook in 1992 and then in 1996 was also to be found as chief steward. For more than half of his 20 years with the company he held…
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As part of the bicentenary celebrations of Henry Bell’s Comet, Stuart Noble, chairman of Helensburgh Heritage Trust made a presentation to Waverley.
In August 1812, two centuries ago, the River Clyde would see a transport revolution – one that would change the economy of the river for ever. A Helensburgh hotel owner began to operate Europe’s first ever commercial steam ship from Glasgow to Greenock. No longer would ships be dependent on the tide or the wind.…
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On Sunday 8th July the joint Charter of Waverley organised to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Clyde River Steamer Club took place. The weather was kind compared to the recent pattern in that very little rain fell with virtually no wind which allowed for perfect conditions to ferry land in Loch Riddon using…
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The following few pictures were taken as Waverley arrived and departed Greenock on Thursday evening for the annual Scottish Branch evening charter of Waverley. Unfortunately the weather was not great although it did remain dry for some of the cruise. Waverley arrives at Greenock from Largs having completed her day sailing Heading for Helensburgh after…
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All PSPS members should now have received their summer 2012 Paddle Wheels magazine along with a Waverley Clyde Timetable produced by the Scottish Branch. This timetable is very similar to those produced by WEL for some years as the main Clyde advertising leaflet. The Scottish Branch committee felt it appropriate to produce enough timetables for all…
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