Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
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
Waverley finally left Glasgow at 1630 on Saturday 1st June heading for Liverpool after being delayed due to a technical issue. Over the past few days both crew and volunteers put in a tremendous effort to try and ensure that Waverley was able to reach Liverpool for her first sailing on Saturday but unfortunately circumstances prevented…
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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.
After returning to the Clyde following her visit to the Western Isles Waverley entered Garvel dry dock on the morning of Wednesday 8th May for her annual visit.
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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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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