The Unfortunate Thistle

on May 21, 2022

The iron paddle steamer, Thistle, was built for Messrs Laird’s Glasgow & Londonderry Steam Packet Co., by Messrs Robert Napier at Govan in 1848. She was 198½ feet in length by 26¼ feet in breadth with a depth of 16 feet. At her launch on Friday, September 1st, she stuck on the ways but finally entered the water the following day. She was fitted with two watertight bulkheads with her engine amidships. The engine providing 350 hp, was salved from the Rambler built by Messrs Napier for Messrs Laird in 1845, but sunk after a collision on the Mersey the following year. “Launch of the Thistle Steam Ship. On Friday this fine iron steamer, which was built by Mr. Robt. Napier, at his new building-yard, Govan, was partially launched. This vessel is the property of the Glasgow and Londonderry Steam Packet Co., and is the largest that they have as yet been furnished with. She is 200 feet keel...

Marchioness of Bute on Clyde and Tay

on Dec 2, 2018

On Tuesday May 6, 1890, Miss Maud Williamson, daughter of Mr James Williamson, marine superintendant of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company (Limited) gracefully named the new steamer Marchioness of Bute as she slid down the ways at the Port Glasgow yard of Messrs John Reid & Co. She was to be fitted with compound tandem engines by Messrs Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock, and was the second vessel launched that year for the Caledonian Company. Marchioness of Breadalbane and Marchioness of Bute were improved duplicates of the Caledonia, launched from the same yard the previous year, and they arrived just in time to allow the Company to take over connections from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay and Millport when the Wemyss Bay Company withdrew its service. It was just a month later that the steamer went through her trials on the sheltered waters of the Gareloch. “River Steamer Marchioness of...