Clyde Steamers in World War 1

on Feb 14, 2015

The declaration of a state of war on August 4th, 1914 had little immediate effect on the Clyde and the river traffic. The construction of warships had been a feature of the shipyards for the previous six or seven years as Britain built up its fleet of Dreadnought battleships, but for the steamships that served the summer resorts, there was little impact until the following spring. In early February 1915, a number of Clyde steamers were taken by the Government to transport troops across the English Channel. Among them were the large paddle steamers Duchess of Hamilton, Duchess of Montrose, and Glen Sannox, and the turbine steamers, Duchess of Argyll, Queen Alexandra and King Edward. Painted black, they quickly established an important link for the army. The Glen Sannox was found unsuitable and returned to the Clyde, but the turbines in particular had a long and distinguished service...

Alliance

on Feb 9, 2015

In 1861, the Glasgow Publisher, John Cameron, produced a five-part serialization of Hugh Macdonald’s “Days at the Coast.” The parts were entitled “The Frith of Clyde, Descriptive Sketches of its Watering Places, Scenery, and Associations” and were illustrated with a number of engravings not found in earlier or indeed subsequent editions. One of the engravings illustrates an odd-looking craft sailing down the Gareloch off the village of Row, unmistakable because of its church spire. The odd looking craft is undoubtedly the Alliance, and a she was a complete departure from the sleek, fast greyhounds that comprised the usual craft on the Clyde. The origins of the Alliance come from the jaundiced eyes of some who had discovered the luxurious amenities available in many of the steamboats that sailed on the rivers of America. The idea of offering such craft on the Clyde dates to 1854 when...

Excursions

on Jan 20, 2015

The rapid extension of the railway network in the late 1840s and early 1850s brought forth the works excursion. For the first time it was possible for an employer to close a works for the day and for the operators, en masse, to board a train and steamer connection for a few hours respite from the daily toil. Refreshed by sea breezes and healthy fare, the workers returned with feelings of gratitude to provide another year of service to the generous employer. Dalmonach Works in 1851 Such was the situation in the Vale of Leven where the railway connection between Balloch and Bowling on the Clyde opened in 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace. The Dalmonach Works of James Black & Co. had created a stir at the Exhibition and their order book was full. They began to organize an annual trip, making use of the railway. The annual trip in 1853 was on Saturday August...

Caledonia on the Holy Loch Run

on Jan 6, 2015

In the aftermath of the First World War, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company’s Caledonia resumed the role she had had since 1909 as the Holy Loch steamer for the pooled sailings for the Caledonian and G&SW fleet. From the time of her re-entry into service in November 1920 and on into LMS days following amalgamation on January 1, 1923, she was on this service summer and winter except for her annual overhaul when generally Marchioness of Breadalbane was her deputy. Caledonia at Princes Pier before 1923 Caledonia was the first of the ferry-class paddle steamers built for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1889 and at just over thirty years old she was still a useful member of the fleet and well suited to the Holy Loch run where maneuverability at the piers was more important than speed. Caledonia around 1921 with her fore windows boarded for the winter (Robertson) The...

The Siege of Millport

on Jan 6, 2015

In June, 1906, the Clyde steamer ferry services to Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae were shared between the Glasgow and South Western Railway, operating out of Fairlie Pier and the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, operating out of Wemyss Bay.  The Caledonian connected with Largs, Keppel, Millport and some services went on to Kilchattan Bay and Rothesay on Bute.  The Fairlie connection from the Glasgow and South Western was similar providing the shortest ferry crossing but also with connections to the Bute Piers.  The Piers at Keppel and Millport had recently been purchased by the Millport Town Council and a considerable improvement made at Millport.  As a consequence, the Town Council increased the annual payments to be made by the steamer companies.  The steamer companies’ responses were predictable and the resulting stand-off that took place at the end of June and the beginning...

One Man’s Vision of Dunoon—Edward McGeachie

on Dec 28, 2014

From the 1900s to the early 1930s a photographer, Edward McGeachie, opened for business in Pier Road, Dunoon, N.B., and among his subjects were the steamers frequenting the Cowal coast. McGeachie’s studio was located on the Pier Esplanade and many local families used him for portraits. He also did commercial work with publicity materials for local hotels and produced a number of fine postcards of Dunoon and its immediate surroundings. He was particularly adept in selecting excellent compositions and his negatives were used extensively by other postcard manufacturers.   Dunoon Pier around 1927 with Kenilworth and Kylemore  Edward was born in Newton, Ayr in 1877 where his father, Peter, was manager of the Ayr Chemical Works. His mother Betsy (Galloway) came from Limekilns in Fife. Edward was educated at Newton Academy where he won the due medal for Mathematics and French. By 1901, he had...