Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
A sure sign that summer is coming (or at least that part of the year that used to be summer) – Waverley made her first voyage of 2010 yesterday when she paddled down from Glasgow to Greenock and entered Garvel Graving Dock for her pre-season overhaul. In fact the vessel looks remarkably good going into…
Read more
Update on Progress at the Albion Dockyard, Bristol.(Words G Stewart – Pics Dave Elms) Almost 12 months have passed since our last article on this historic project and work has been continuing apace at Albion Dry Dock, Bristol. Time to catch up then!! On Thursday 15th October this project reached a major milestone when the…
Read more
Dear All, By the time you read this, you should have had a letter in your latest Paddle Wheels concerning, our offer of the PS Lincoln Castle currently moored in Grimsby. I will avoid muddying the waters with too much detail about the visit and my impressions, as one of the chief drivers as to…
Read more
During the SS Sir Walter Scott rededication day on Loch Katrine last year the 110 year old steam ship was joined (temporarily) by 2 steam launches. At the following link you can see Neil Warbrick’s pictures of the splendid steam launch Dalmore (with a familiar face on board) at the event: SL Dalmore at Trossachs,…
Read more
A few YouTubes just to get you in the mood for Waverley’s upcoming visit to the Inner Hrbrides in late May (with apologies for the almost legendary YouTube mis-match of audio and video – outwith the poster’s control!): The first part is taken from a production called ‘Highland Voyage’, which was based on the crew…
Read more
Anyone who has driven through Port Glasgow over the years will not have failed to notice the replica of the Henry Bell’s pioneer paddle steamer COMET on display in front of the town hall. The replica vessel was built by apprentices from Port Glasgow shipbuilders Lithgows and was launched on Sat 1st Sept 1962. Unfortunately…
Read more
It is with great regret and sadness that we have to record the death of another stalwart supporter of the preserved excursion vessels PS Waverley and MV Balmoral.
We received an email from branch member Jim McIntosh which included an photo of a print he had purchased from the Waverley Gallery in Prestwick of Waverley in Ayr Harbour. This print has been created from a photograph by Stuart Redmond who has used a technique which makes the photo look like a painting. I…
Read more
After many years of steady deterioration the former Portsmouth – Ryde paddle steamer Ryde, built by the famous William Denny & Brothers shipyard in Dumbarton, is under demolition. Initial pictures of the operation can be seen at http://s1023.photobucket.com/albums/af354/e-trotters/PS%20Ryde/ Thanks to Martin Longhurst (PSPS National Secretary) for the information. Stuart Cameron
The following embedded links take you to YouTube versions of the classic British Transport Films’ promotional documentary ‘The Coasts of Clyde’. It is loaded in three parts (presumably due file size, bandwidth or some other restrictions). If interested you can buy higher resolution copies of this film on DVD. I think this film demonstrates why…
Read more
We often think of Waverley and Maid of the Loch as among the last of the many thousands of reciprocating engine passenger steamers built on the Clyde. Credit for the development of the compound and triple expansion versions of the engine, which finally enabled steam ships to win the battle with sailing vessels for…
Read more
No doubt the first of many – my first picture of Waverley in 2010 – January 1st at just after 13:00 (click on picture for better sarpness) It has been claimed, more than once, that Waverley is the most photographed ship in the World. Well that would probably be impossible to prove one way…
Read more
Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and are getting over the New Year celebrations. Thats two months gone bye already since Waverley finished her 2009 season and May 2010 is getting nearer. A couple of photos of PS Waverley under her coat of snow at Pacific Quay, Glasgow, taken last week. At least a…
Read more
The Clyde paddler steamer Mercury, second of the name to serve in the LMS Railway Clyde fleet, was the first of a new breed of paddlers, being fitted with concealed paddleboxes, which when viewed from a distance, could result in the vessel being identified as a screw driven ship. Mercury was delivered in 1934 from…
Read more
A few pics of the late Colin MacDonald and his Caledonia Sounds during their long association with Waverley on the Clyde.
Sadly one of the stalwarts of Waverley musician Colin McDonald has passed away after a brave fight against cancer.Colin and his band Caledonia spent some 16 summer seasons entertaining Waverley passengers in the Jeannie Deans lounge and his devotion to the ship was legendary to all who knew him. Colin was not only the leader…
Read more
Kilted Chief Officer
Interesting picture of Waverley and the liner QM2 as the latter departs Greenock in October 2009 can be seen at the following Flickr link and another two from earlier in the day http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmktid/4029922476/sizes/o/in/pool-27359622@N00/
Assistant Purser and Waverley enthusiast Simon Morgan has organised the following fundraising festive singalong.
On Sunday 4th October, while on passage between Harwich and Clacton, RAF Rescue Helicopter ZH540, from B Flight RAF 22 Squadron based at Wattisham, carried out an exercise with PS Waverley and landed one of the aircraft crew on Waverley’s deck. I’ve seen the Coastguard helicopters come and take a close look at Waverley on…
Read more
(Apologies for the ‘greyness’ of some of these images – the north bank of the Clyde is not ideal for southfacing shots in October – the sun was not enough to improve the situation but enough to cause frustration) Usually on Trafalgar day each year Waverley’s crew are busy putting the vessel into winter hibernation…
Read more
(Click on images for larger format)After a very calm and quick return home from London Waverley prepared for her final four days of public sailings for 2009 (16th to 19th Oct) plus a very special private charter to naval shipbuilder BVT Surface Fleet Solutions on Trafalgar Day for the launch of the fifth and penultimate…
Read more
Waverley returned from her South Coast and Thames season yesterday (Wednesday) in readiness for her final weekend of sailings for 2009. Alasdair MacKenzie captured her as she approached Greenock.
Why not come ashore at Greenock and head to the Royal West Amateur Boat Club, listen to some good music and raise money for Waverley all at the same time? Book tickets at the Boat Club by calling 01475 723260 – evenings and Sat/Sun afternoons See below…
Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 will visit the Clyde for the first time on Monday 19th October. The 150,000grt vessel is the first true Transatlantic Ocean Liner built since QE2 and is now the only one after the latter’s retirement from the Cunard fleet last November. To mark her fifth year in service Queen Mary…
Read more
The following embedded YouTube film clip shows a short excerpt of film from the famous John Brown shipyard at Clydebank. There is a very short sequence showing a paddle tug at the stern of a cargo vessel passing upriver – it appears to be one of the renowned Clyde Shipping Company tug fleet – possibly…
Read more
A few pictures of Waverley during an August day in 2009, courtesy of Richard Dennis: One of the all too few summer days in August 2009, Waverley passing the Mirren Shore at Port Glasgow. Above, Waverley passing off the Inverclyde shoreline, formerly the site of the East, Glen and Kingston shipyards operated at various times…
Read more
Waverley’s last weekend of her summer season on the Clyde is usually a very busy one with heavy loadings for the Cowal Games on the Saturday. 2009 was no exception with a good number transported direct from Glasgow to Dunoon on Saturday morning. After unloading at Dunoon, Waverley returned to Greenock to take up her…
Read more
The ‘Cowal Games’ at Dunoon (or the Cowal Highland Gathering to give the event its proper title) is always one of the busiest days in Waverley’s year. In recent years it has begun with a direct Glasgow to Dunoon sailing followed by the ship doubling back to Greenock to pick up her normal Saturday excursion,…
Read more
