The Clyde Steamers

	The Clyde Steamers "DOON THE WATTER" CELEBRATING THE RIVER CLYDE AND ITS FAMOUS "CLYDE STEAMERS" "Glasgow made the Clyde, but the Clyde made Glasgow" (Website Est. 2009)

RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE THE CLYDE STEAMERS
Photo: On board the P.S. Waverley as she sails on a classic "Doon the Watter" cruise experience along the Firth of Clyde towards Rothesay while en route from Glasgow to Tighnabruaich via the Kyles of Bute on the 25th July 2009 (Alex Naughton Collection)
	Introduction Coasts of the Clyde (1959) British Transport Films http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papBsCiqVEU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDwn7Z9n2FU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obLzUBTUW3k Glasgow Belongs To Me (1963) British Transport Films http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmXdOQI3Q_4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXnKqDTmTF0 The River Clyde runs through Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, a city built on international trade and major centre for steel, engineering and shipbuilding from the industrial revolution into the present day. It soon widens into an estuary with industrial towns dotted along it's steep sided banks. Further downstream, holiday resorts developed along the mainland coast and on the numerous islands in the Firth and wealthy industrialists built homes amidst the beautiful scenery. With city dwellers always keen to get away for a holiday at one of the resorts or take in the delights of a cruise up one of the many sea lochs, and islanders keen to commute to or deliver goods to markets on the mainland, the advent of steamship technology meant that the Clyde would become one of the foremost areas for its development. With so many shipbuilding companies located along the Clyde building sea-going ships for Britain and the world, it was only natural that many of them were also involved in building the "Clyde Steamers". The era of the Clyde Steamers in Scotland began in August 1812 with the very first successful commercial steamboat service in Europe, when Henry Bell's P.S. Comet began a passenger service on the River Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock. From the outset steamboat services were aimed at holidaymakers. Soon steamers were sailing as far afield as Largs, Campbeltown and Inveraray. Steamer services were also introduced onto the inland lochs, with the P.S. Marion appearing on Loch Lomond in 1816. Steamers also developed on lochs near the Firth of Clyde including Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine and to a lesser extent Loch Awe and Loch Tay. Once the railway networks spread, the steamship fleets enhanced their position through operating agreements with the individual railway companies and by dovetailing timetables. Three new fleets were formed, each associated with one of the main railways serving the Clyde coast and each with its own distinctive naming system and carefully chosen colours. Such co-ordination encouraged holiday makers as well as casual travellers and helped build up a lucrative business with baggage and mail. Limited commuter services developed as wealthy business people built resplendent villas on hitherto inaccessible shores. The influence of the railways also extended to steamer services on the inland lochs such as Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and Loch Tay. But the steamer operations on Loch Awe and Loch Tay were quite late in coming under the influence of the railway companies as they only became part of the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. (CSP) from 1922. With the rapid industrialisation and population growth of 19th century Glasgow great numbers were eager to be released from the grimy city on Fast Days and during the annual Glasgow Fair week, went on a cruise down the Clyde to clean unspoilt scenery. The Glasgow Fair is a holiday during the last fortnight in July in the city of Glasgow. 'The Fair' is the oldest of a number of similar holidays, dating from the 12th century. The name derives from the actual fair staged on Glasgow Green during the period, full of menageries, freak shows, waxworks and whisky booths. Until as recently as the 1960s, most local businesses and factories would close on 'Fair Friday' and workers and their families would crowd railway stations, such as Glasgow St Enoch, Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central and the steamer terminals on their way to holiday destinations, often only 20 miles (32 km) away on the Firth of Clyde in a tradition called "Doon the Watter". Tiny villages, perhaps with a stone jetty, soon became resorts with wooden piers and villas, hotels and public houses. Local residents would let out rooms, and boarding houses developed. Established towns like Dunoon and Rothesay became major resorts. The wealthy built sandstone villas at places like Kilcreggan, Blairmore and Innellan to which they could commute daily, or weekly, during the summer. In 1901 the world's first passenger turbine ship, T.S. King Edward, was delivered. In the 1930s the Clyde Steamer fleet reached its pinnacle. Despite the economic depression of the times where was a significant renewal of the fleet. This was the last significant use of steam technology for new estuarine vessels anywhere in Europe. As the most modern of their kind, they constituted "The Ultimate Fleet". After the Second World War the 1950s and 60s marked the last heyday of the Clyde Steamers. The 1950s saw the progressive withdrawal of many of the much-loved steamers which had survived the rigours of the Second World War. As part of the 1951 Modernisation Plan, the motor vessels "Maids" were ordered for ferry services and short cruises. The Maid of Ashton, Maid of Argyll, Maid of Skelmorlie and Maid of Cumbrae entered service in 1953. Even more significantly, the following year saw the introduction of three car ferries, "Arran", "Bute" and "Cowal", also diesel-powered. These were nicknamed the "ABC" ships. These were designed primarily as car ferries but also could be used as general purpose cargo ships at times. Their names hinted that these three most important destinations would, in future, be served by dedicated car (and lorry) carriers to ease the flow of goods to these remote communities, but also to recognise that visitors now wanted to take their cars to the islands and islanders wanted to do the reverse. In 1957 the Glen Sannox entered service for the Isle of Arran ferry service. From this point on, the importance of fast and efficient point-to-point ferries became clear and set the direction for the service pattern we see today. The 1960 summer season saw the Firth of Clyde covered by a maze of routes : point-to-point ferries, inter-resort services on the upper Clyde, long-distance routes to the furthest-flung corners of the Firth, and a dedicated cruise ship based at both Glasgow and Ayr. The paddlers "Jeanie Deans", "Caledonia", "Waverley" and the diesel-powered "Talisman" sailed alongside the turbine steamers "Duchess of Montrose" (the oldest vessel at 30 years of age), "Duchess of Hamilton" and "Queen Mary". "King George V", similar in design to the Caledonian's turbines, was also seen on the Clyde from time to time on David McBrayne's route to Ardrishaig transporting mail for the western Isles.The 1960s was a decade of change in many parts of British society, and the new trend towards taking foreign "package" holidays was just one sign of growing wealth and changing tastes - one which was to finally relegate excursion cruising from the mainstream. Soon many much loved Clyde Steamers were gradually retired from service. As well as the famous Clyde Steamers there were also smaller vessels on the Clyde such as the Rothesay excursion boats like the Maid of Bute of 1937. But most notably there were the Clyde Sludge Boats nicknamed "The Clyde Banana Boats". The Clyde sewerage purification scheme was introduced by Glasgow Corporation between 1894 and 1904. In 1904 their first Clyde sludge boat was acquired. After the First World War, convalescent soldiers were given free outings on the Corporation's vessels, and from 1925 this practice was developed considerably. The Dalmarnock of 1925 had accommodation for 70 passengers with a comfortable saloon and dining saloon. Later on the S.S. Shieldhall built in 1954 could carry 80 passengers. She was the last passenger steamer to be built for service on the Firth. These trips on the Clyde Sludge Boats, for organised groups only, were free and gave the opportunity of a day out on the Firth of Clyde to many who would not have been able to afford the fare for the railway steamers, thousands being carried over the years. Despite their lowly calling , the sludge boats were always kept immaculately maintained, and in a smart colour scheme of grey hull, brown upperworks and a yellow funnel. The M.V. Garroch Head built in 1977 was the last of the Clyde Sludge Boats. She made the last sailing with passengers on the 24th September 1998 and closed the service on the 31st December 1998 as new regulations meant that it was impossible to dump waste material at sea. Thus the long tradition of public service was ended as was the regular use of Gaelic by their crews. In 1969, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company was removed from its link to railway industry and became part of the Scottish Transport Group, a state-owned entity dominated by bus operators. This signalled the final break with the traditional role of providing the last leg of railway passengers' journey to the coast and heralded a new era of providing a "road bridge" across the Firth. In 1973 CSP merged with David MacBraynes to form Caledonian MacBrayne. The management of the new company soon were keen to provide new purpose built ro-ro car ferries. In the early 1970s and beyond the Ro-Ro revolution took hold on the Clyde as newbuilds entered service. The Jupiter was the first of these and was built in 1973 and entered service on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry in 1974. She was soon followed by a sister ship Juno in 1974. This first newbuilding programme by Caledonian MacBrayne was concluded with the introduction of the Pioneer in 1974. She was the first ship of the fleet that was designed to be equally at home on services of either the former CSP routes or the former David MacBrayne routes. She spent her early years on the West Highland routes but since then has served on most of Caledonian MacBrayne routes. By the 1970s there were just two Clyde Steamers left, P.S. Waverley and T.S. Queen Mary. P.S. Waverley was retired in 1974 at the end of the 1973 season and the T.S. Queen Mary in 1977. The glorious heyday of the Clyde Steamers was gone. Today, with Caledonian MacBrayne, car ferries continue to criss-cross the Firth of Clyde with their "road bridge" crossings. The legacy of the Clyde excursion steamer lives on with the preserved P.S. Waverley. The Waverley thankfully was saved by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 and was soon restored and today operated by Waverley Excursions has revived the traditional Clyde Steamer excursion trip. Today the Sir Walter Scott still sails serenely on Loch Katrine and the Maid of the Loch is being restored to operate once more on Loch Lomond. Lastly the legacy of the Clyde Sludge Boats lives on with the S.S. Shieldhall which is preserved and now operates on the Solent based out of Southampton, thus the last of the Clyde Sludge Boats lives on. So the legacy continues.	THE CLYDE STEAMERS "DOON THE WATTER"
		MENU: Clyde Piers "Clydebuilt" - The Famous Shipyards of the River Clyde Preserved Clydebuilt Ships The Renfrew Ferry The Clydeport HQ Building, Glasgow Related Links CLYDE STEAMER OPERATORS: Caledonian Steam Packet Company Limited (CSP) London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) Turbine Steamers Ltd Williamson-Buchanan Steamers Ltd Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd THE CLYDE STEAMERS: Paddle Steamers P.S. Comet (1812) P.S. Lucy Ashton (1888) P.S. Waverley (1899) P.S. Jeanie Deans (1931) P.S. Caledonia (1934) D.E.P.V. Talisman (1935) P.S. Marchioness of Lorne (1935) P.S. Jupiter (1937) P.S. Waverley (1946) Turbine Steamers T.S. King Edward (1901) T.S. Duchess of Argyll (1906) T.S. Queen Alexandra (1912) T.S. King George V (1926) T.S. Duchess of Montrose (1930) T.S. Duchess of Hamilton (1932) T.S. Queen Mary (1933) T.S. Marchioness of Graham (1936) Railway Owned "Little Motor Boats" M.V. Wee Cumbrae (1935) M.V. Arran Mail (1936) M.V. Ashton (1938) M.V. Leven (1938) Rothesay Excursion Boats M.V. Maid of Bute (1937) M.V. Gay Queen (1938) Clyde Sludge Boats S.S. Dalmarnock (1925) S.S. Shieldhall (1954) M.V. Garroch Head (1977) Loch Awe M.V. Countess of Breadalbane (1936) Loch Tay S.S. Lady of the Lake (1882) Loch Katrine S.S. Sir Walter Scott (1900) Loch Lomond P.S. Maid of the Loch (1953) MODERNISATION AND THE RO-RO REVOLUTION: M.V. Maid of Ashton (1953) M.V. Arran (1954) M.V. Glen Sannox (1957) M.V. Jupiter (1973) M.V. Pioneer (1974) M.V. Saturn (1977)




	Websites: Waverley Excursions Ltd http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk S.S. Shieldhall (1954) http://www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk P.S. Maid of the Loch (1953) http://www.maidoftheloch.com S.S. Sir Walter Scott (1900) http://www.lochkatrine.com http://www.steamshipsirwalterscott.org.uk/ SPT Gourock - Kilcreggan and Helensburgh Ferry http://www.spt.co.uk/ferry/gourock.aspx ClydeLink Ltd (The Renfrew-Yoker Ferry) http://www.clydelink.co.uk/ Clyde Cruises (Clyde Marine Services Ltd) http://www.clydecruises.com/ Cruise Loch Lomond http://www.cruiselochlomond.co.uk/ Sweeney's Cruises, Loch Lomond http://www.sweeney.uk.com/ Loch Lomond Seaplanes http://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com/ Craignish Cruises, Oban http://www.craignishcruises.co.uk/ Gordon Grant Tours http://www.staffatours.com/ Staffa Trips http://www.staffatrips.co.uk/ Arisaig Marine Ltd http://www.arisaig.co.uk/ Bruce Watt Cruises, Mallaig http://www.knoydart-ferry.co.uk/ Crannog Cruises, Fort William http://www.crannog.net/cruises.asp Loch Shiel Cruises http://www.highlandcruises.co.uk/ Loch Duich Cruises http://www.loch-duich-cruises.co.uk/ Jacobite Cruises, Loch Ness http://www.jacobite.co.uk Cruise Loch Ness http://www.cruiselochness.com/ Loch Ness Cruises http://www.lochness-cruises.com/ Bella Jane Boat Trips, Isle of Skye http://www.bellajane.co.uk/ The Majestic Line http://www.themajesticline.co.uk/ Hebridean Island Cruises http://www.hebridean.co.uk MV Maid of the Forth http://www.maidoftheforth.co.uk/ Forth Boat Tours http://www.forthtours.com/	David MacBrayne Ltd www.david-macbrayne.co.uk Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Ltd www.calmac.co.uk Northlink Ferries Ltd www.northlinkferries.co.uk Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd www.cmassets.co.uk Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd www.western-ferries.co.uk The Skye Ferry - Glenelg to Kylerhea www.skyeferry.co.uk The Cromarty Ferry www.cromarty-ferry.co.uk John O'Groats to Orkney Ferry www.jogferry.co.uk Pentland Ferries www.pentlandferries.co.uk Orkney Ferries www.orkneyferries.co.uk Shetland Ferries http://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries/

Photo: A classic Clyde Steamer view from on board P.S. Waverley looking out over the stern as she sails along the Firth of Clyde on the 25th July 2009 with Toward Lighthouse on the left and the former Inverkip power station near Wemyss Bay to the right while en route on a classic "Doon the Watter" cruise from Glasgow to Tighnabruaich via the Kyles of Bute. (Alex Naughton Collection)

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The Red Ensign (British Merchant Navy)