Steamboat travel from Glasgow to Oban and the West Highlands and Islands by way of the Crinan Canal originated with the Comet in 1819. As trade developed in the succeeding years, there were a number of innovations to reduce the time taken on the journey. The most important of these came in 1839 when cooperation between the owners Thomson & MacConnell and J. Martin and J. & G. Burns who dominated the trade, allowed the introduction of a “swift steamer” service where passengers could arrive “at Oban, Tobermory, or Fort William in the evening of the day they leave Glasgow, and at Portree and Inverness in the afternoon of the second day.” To accomplish this, the passengers had an early start leaving at 5:00 in the morning on Robert Napier’s Brenda, now running for Thomson & MacConnell, direct for Lochgilphead from there they transferred to the new track-boat Thornwood for Crinan. At Crinan they joined the Burns steamer Helen McGregor for Oban with connections to the other destinations mentioned.

The fare to Oban was 10/- in the cabin; 4/- steerage. “As it is only intended that light luggage should be taken by the track-boat, it is required that passengers will send their luggage by the steamer that sails the day previous, and which they will overtake at Oban.”

Shandon (McQueen)

The following year, new steamer, Shandon, was built by Napier for the Thomson & MacConnell Lochgilphead service and the Brenda took up the Crinan to Oban Connection, sailing on to Corpach where she berthed overnight. A new track-boat, Maid of Perth, was added in 1841 and this schedule continued until 1844, when the new iron Burns steamer, Dolphin took up the Crinan sailing.

Two years later, J. & G. Burns took over the Castle Company’s steamers and their ships provided the Glasgow to Lochgilphead service while Shandon was moved to the Crinan to Oban leg. The Queen’s visit in 1847 sparked a great increase in tourist traffic as Her Majesty’s subjects followed in her footsteps. From that date, the “swift steamer” route to Oban and the West Highlands and Islands was known as the “Royal Route.”

The new track-boat, Sunbeam, specially constructed for the Queen’s visit was placed in public service and over the next few years new steamers took over the routes, allowing a 6:00 in the morning start from Glasgow. The Pioneer, initially constructed for the Greenock Railway in 1844 was used on the Glasgow to Ardrishaig service in 1848 while the Merlin took over in 1850.

David Hutcheson (Bailie)

In February 1851, G. & J. Burns reorganized their coastal steamer business and the West Highland trade was taken over by David Hutcheson & Co. whose main partners were David and Alexander Hutcheson, previously managers of the West Highland steamships for the Messrs. Burns, and David MacBrayne. The latter was a nephew of the Messrs. Burns. The new company used Pioneer on the Clyde leg of the “Royal Route” service in 1851. For the following year, J. & G. Thomson’s yard at Clydebank produced the Mountaineer, a fine two-funneled steamer and Pioneer then took over the Crinan leg from Shandon. These improvements allowed a later, 7:00 in the morning, start to the departure time from Glasgow.

Moutaineer (McQueen)

Increased traffic demanded more new steamers and in 1855, Hutcheson’s returned to J. & G. Thomson’s yard for the Iona, a larger and faster version of Mountaineer.

Iona of 1855 (Illustrated London News)

The Iona was sold in 1862 as a blockade-runner for the Confederate States in the American Civil War and for that season, Mountaineer was called back to the Clyde. Tragically, the Iona did not manage to leave her native river as she was run down by the steamer Chanticleer in Gourock Bay. A new Iona was built for the following season but soon she too was sold to the Confederates. Like her predecessor, she was wrecked before crossing the Atlantic.

Iona of 1863 (Illustrated London News)

Iona of 1863

Next year, 1864, J. & G. Thomson produced yet another Iona, a fine product that ushered in new standards for the Clyde. Fitted fore and aft with deck saloons removed from the previous Iona on her conversion to a blockade-runner, she was 255 ft long and 26 ft broad. She had her own post office and was the principal tourist steamer on the Clyde until the advent of the Lord of the Isles in 1877.

Iona of 1864 at Ardrishaig (Becket)

Columba Centenary, Clyde River Steamer Club, Glasgow, 1978