The early years of Captain William Buchanan’s career as a steamboat owner on the Clyde have been documented in the articles dealing with W. F. Johnstone, Railways and Racing, and Early Arran Steamers. Captain Buchanan’s steamers carried a black funnel with a white band, a remnant of their origins with the Castle Company’s steamers. The hulls and paddle boxes where black providing a rather utilitarian look.

The Eagle of 1864 is a good place to start the remainder of the story. From the yard of Messrs Charles Connell & Co., she was an impressive vessel with two funnels forward of her paddle boxes but her engines, by Messrs Henderson were too powerful for her hull and her early career involved many adjustments, including lengthening the hull by 16 feet in 1866.

Eagle at the Broomielaw around 1866 (Annan)

Nevertheless, the Eagle was a reliable steamer and earned Captain Buchanan an excellent reputation as he sailed from the Broomielaw to Rothesay and back and connected with the railway at Greenock.

Eagle at the Broomielaw with Dunoon Castle and Lancelot around 1870 (Washington Wilson)

Eagle at Gourock Quay in 1871 (Robertson)

Captain Buchanan added the Rothesay Castle to his fleet at the beginning of 1867.  The Rothesay Castle had been built in 1865 by Messrs Henderson, Colbourne & Co., for Messrs Watson and Brown and had sailed on the Rothesay station until she was acquired by Captain Buchanan after her owners had drowned in the loss of the Arran Castle. Captain Buchanan employed her on the Rothesay station in consort with the Eagle until, in 1874, he was offered the contract for the connection between Ardrossan and Arran that carried the mails. The Rothesay Castle was placed on the Ardrossan to Arran service.

Rothesay Castle at the Broomielaw in 1867 with Petrel berthing (Washington Wilson)

In the spring of 1876, the Eagle was given new engines by Messrs W. King, and her old engines reserved for a new hull. When she appears on the river for the 1876 season, the Eagle had a single funnel and was a much improved vessel.

Eagle with one funnel around 1877

The original engines removed from the Eagle were placed in a new hull constructed by Messer H. Mcintyre & Co. of Paisley in 1878, and the resulting ship, Brodick Castle, took over the Ardrossan to Arran route from Rothesay Castle.  The Brodick Castle was designed to serve on the boisterous seas of the lower firth with a large forecastle and a small deck saloon aft, a distinct improvement on her predecessor.

Brodick Castle at Lamlash around 1880

Brodick Castle at Brodick Pier around 1880 (Valentine)

The Rothesay Castle was sold to owners in Bordeaux in 1879, and was renamed Gironde-Garonne.

Rothesay Castle as Gironde-Garonne

Rothesay Castle as Gironde-Garonne

Rothesay Castle as Gironde-Garonne

Also in 1879, the old, established fleet of Captain Duncan Stewart was wound up. Captain Stewart had died in 1877 and his sons continued the business for just over a year until they found a buyers for the last of the steamers, the Elaine. The Elaine had been built in 1867 by Messrs R. Duncan & Co., but had been bought by Captain Stewart to replace his steamer Lorne in 1874. Captain Buchanan placed the Elaine on the Rothesay station.

Elaine loading at the Broomielaw around 1880

Elaine (Adamson)

Elaine off Gourock in 1881 (Robertson)

A further addition was made to the Rothesay station in 1880 when Scotia was constructed by Messrs H. M’kintyre & Co., for Captain Buchanan. With her well placed funnels, she was a handsome steamer with a deck saloon aft.

Scotia off Erskine in May 1884

In 1885, Messrs Keith and Campbell whose combined fleets sailed to the Holy Loch, the Gareloch, and to Arran by way of Rothesay and Kilchattan Bay got into financial difficulties and the owners were forced to sell their seven steamers and the goodwill of their business to Captain Buchanan. Hugh Keith retired from the business but Captain Bob Campbell immediately set up in competition for the Holy Loch station.

Three of the steamers had sailed mainly on the Gareloch route for Hugh Keith.

Balmoral

The Balmoral had been built as Lady Brisbane in 1842 by Messrs J. Barr of Paisley and was a flush-decked steamer with a steeple engine. Captain Buchanan retained her sailing to Garelochhead until 1890 when she suffered a catastrophic engine collapse and her hull was sold as a coal-hulk to Irish owners.

The Hero, built by Messrs Wingate & Co. in 1858 had a varied career and was another of the steamers employed on the Gareloch until the opportunity was taken to sell her at the beginning of May, 1886 to the River Tay Steamboat Company (Limited) to sail between Dundee and Perth.

Shandon

The Shandon, was built in 1864 as the Chancellor by Messrs Blackwood & Gordon for the Loch Lomond steamer connection at Arrochar. She was an advance on the other Gareloch steamers as she had deck saloons and her main deck extended out to the edge of the sponsons. Captain Buchanan retained her on the Gareloch Route.

The fourth Keith steamer was the Guinevere. She was built by Messrs R. Duncan & Co. for Messrs Graham Brymner & Co. in 1869 and had sailed on the Broomielaw to Arran station. Of raised quarter-deck design she had been outclassed by the saloon steamer Ivanhoe since 1880 and catered to the lower end of the excursion market. Captain Buchanan employed the Guinevere on the Rothesay station, moving the Scotia with her saloon accommodation to sail on the pleasure excursion to Arran by way of Rothesay and Kilchattan Bay.

Guinevere off Erskine

Guinevere

Guinevere off Gourock (Robertson)

The remaining three steamers sailed mainly to the Holy Loch for Captain Campbell.

The Vesta was the oldest of the three steamers, dating from 1853 and was a flush-decked steamer built by Messrs J. Barr for the Largs trade of Messrs Henderson & M’Kellar. Captain Buchanan retained her on the Holy Loch station but in 1886, she was destroyed by fire while lying overnight at Ardnadam pier.

The Vivid dated from 1864 and was built by Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. for Captain Campbell. She sailed to the Holy Loch piers for Captain Buchanan, latterly in connection with the Glasgow & South Western Railway until about 1890 when she was transferred to the Rothesay station. Originally flush-decked, by the time she came into the Buchanan fleet, she had been fitted with a short saloon aft.

Vivid

Vivid (Adamson)

The newest steamer belonging to Captain Campbell was the Benmore.  A product of the yard of Messrs T. B. Seath & Co., Rutherglen, she was of raised quarter-deck design and was a most comfortable and useful steamer.

Buchanan’s Benmore, with white funnel lying alongside the Arrochar steamer, Chancellor, and Buchanan’s Vivid at the Broomielaw in 1885. Eagle is at the berth downriver and Campbell’s two-funneled Meg Merrilies is waiting for a berth. (Washington Wilson) 

In the summer of 1885, Captain Buchanan ran her on the Kilmun station in her original Campbell colours in direct competition with Captain Cambell’s new steamer, the Meg Merrilies. The ensuing competition was fierce but despite a lower fare for the trip, the Benmore was bested by her rival and was withdrawn from the Holy Loch trade that was thereafter carried on by the Vesta and Vivid for a few years more.

Buchanan’s Benmore in 1887

Benmore off Gourock in 1887

The Benmore was given new boilers in 1886 and appeared with two funnels on the Rothesay station, but in 1888 she reverted to a single funnel.

Benmore in the 1888-1891 period (Adamson)

Brodick Castle at Weymouth

At the end of 1886, the Brodick Castle was sold to owners in the south of England and the Scotia underwent a significant modification with the fitting of a large forecastle to replace her on the Ardrossan to Arran station.

Scotia in 1887 in Lamlash Bay

For the 1887 season, the Eagle replaced the Scotia on the Arran by way of Rothesay station, and was provided with a deck saloon on top of her already raised quarter-deck, giving her an odd top-heavy appearance.

Eagle in 1887 on the Broomielaw to Arran station

The smartness of the steamers around this time was improved by waiting the upper-works white.

Guinevere with white upper-works around 1887.

The death of Captain William Buchanan was announced in the Glasgow Herald on October 27, 1890. His sons continued the business. At his death the Buchanan steamers sailed on the Ardrossan to Arran station with Scotia, the Broomielaw to Arran station with Eagle, to the Gareloch with Balmoral and Shandon, to Rothesay with Elaine, Guinevere, Benmore and Vivid.

However, there were changes afoot. The Balmoral‘s machinery collapsed in 1890, and at the end of the 1891 season, the Glasgow and South Western Railway Co. purchased the Scotia and the goodwill of the Ardrossan to Arran connection in order to compete with the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. steamers that had taken the major share of traffic on the route. The Benmore was also sold to Captain John Williamson.

The new railway steamers had introduced a new standard of comfort on the Clyde and it had become clear that deck saloons were now required to successfully compete for business. A new steamer, Isle of Arran, was ordered from the yard of Messrs T. B. Seath & Co. in 1892 to run on the Broomielaw to Arran station.

Launch of the Isle of Arran at Rutherglen (Shearer)

Isle of Arran at Corrie

The Isle of Arran was a handsome vessel with a full-width saloon aft and a narrower saloon forward of the machinery and was immediately popular.  She carried an awning over the promenade deck aft that acted as a flotation device in the event of an emergency.

Isle of Arran off Gourock (Robertson)

Isle of Arran

Broomielaw in 1892 with Isle of Arran leaving (Annan)

As a result of the introduction of the Isle of Arran, the Eagle was displaced to the Broomielaw to Rothesay sailing. In that year, too, the Guinevere was sold to Turkish owners but was lost on her journey to the east.

Eagle in Rothesay Bay (Adamson)

Eagle did not remain on the Rothesay station long as in 1894 both she and Shandon were sold to the Ship Canal Passenger Steamer Co. (1893) Ltd. to run on the Manchester Ship Canal. Further details can be found in the article on the Daniel Adamson. The withdrawal of the Shandon, Elaine was placed on the Gareloch station until she was sold for breaking up at the end of the 1899 season. At that point, the Gareloch service was withdrawn.

A well loaded Elaine off Gourock (Robertson)

To replace the Eagle, the steamer Guy Mannering was purchased from the North British Steam Packet Co. Built by Messrs Caird & Co. as Sheila in 1877, she had been a very fast steamer but the addition of a saloon aft had caused a reduction in speed and she was made available for sale to the Messrs Buchanan. Her short detached smoking cabin in the forward part of the vessel was replaced by a fore-saloon and she was admirably suited for the Rothesay service. She was renamed Isle of Bute.

Isle of Bute off Kirn

Isle of Bute in Rothesay Bay

Competition from the railway companies on the Broomielaw to Arran service forced Messrs Buchanan to withdraw from that station and so Isle of Arran and Isle of Bute carried on as the mainstay of the company, sailing from the Broomielaw to Rothesay and offering a number of excursions in addition. The remaining steamer. Vivid, carried out excursion work until the turn of the century when she was laid up at Renfrew and broken up in 1902.

Vivid towards the end of her career

For the first few years of the new century, Isle of Arran and Isle of Bute continued to sail from the Broomielaw to Rothesay, the former at 11:00 a.m. and the latter at 10:00 a.m. Improvements in the cleanliness of the river had increased the popularity of the up-river sailings and retrenchment among the railway fleets meant that this was a period of growth for Buchanan Steamers.

Isle of Bute with Isle of Arran ahead at the Broomielaw

Isle of Bute leaves on the 10:00 a.m. sailing while Isle of Arran waits her departure at 11:00

Isle of Bute and Isle of Arran at the Broomielaw

Isle of Arran leaving the Broomielaw with Lord of the Isles

In 1903, the steamers began to run on Sundays. In the following year another steamer was added in June. The Duchess of York was also a former North British Steam Packet Co. steamer, the Jeanie Deans built in 1884 by Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co.. Like Guy Mannering, deck saloons had been added to her that affected her speed and she was sold to owners in Belfast before returning to the Clyde as a Sunday breaker. Messrs Buchanan renamed her Isle of Cumbrae and she took up sailings along with her two consorts in June 1904.

Isle of Cumbrae

Isle of Cumbrae in Rothesay Bay

Isle of Cumbrae leaving Garelochhead, Whitsun 1906

The company became Buchanan Steamers Ltd. in 1905. A characteristic of the Buchanan Steamers was a strong reliance on advertising. A flyer dating from this period is shown below.

  

A series of printed postcards (to be sold onboard) was also produced highlighting the points of interest and ports of call on the steamers’ routes.

  

  

  

  

 

 

Cheap fares and a cleaner river gave a great boost to the trade and the popular excursions to Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute, or Loch Striven, or round Bute or round the Cumbraes were greatly loved by the working men and women of Glasgow.

Isle of Arran leaving Port Bannatyne on a Sunday excursion in August 1908. A railway steamer occupies the pier and passengers would have to traverse its deck

Isle of Arran at Dunoon

Isle of Arran heading out on a cruise from Rothesay pier

Isle of Arran turning back for Rothesay on a non-landing cruise through the Kyles of Bute. Columba is at Tignabruaich pier.

Isle of Cumbrae at Bowling Pier

Isle of Arran passing Scotstoun (Robertson, Glasgow)

Isle of Bute passing Scotstoun (Robertson, Glasgow)

Isle of Cumbrae passing Scotstoun (Robertson, Glasgow)

In 1910, the company added a new steamer, named Eagle III. Built by Messrs Napier & Miller, she was equipped with saloons fore and aft and a promenade deck stretching to the bow. In her first season, it was discovered that she listed badly when loaded with a good crowd but in the off season her hull was almost rebuilt and she re-emerged as a successful vessel capable of handling the leisurely schedules of the up-river excursion trade.

Eagle III off Gourock (Robertson)

Eagle III at the Broomielaw

Eagle III passing Craigmore

The appearance of the Eagle III resulted in the disposal of the Isle of Bute in July 1912 to the Morecambe shipowner, Samuel Cordingly who used her on excursions in Morecambe Bay. Unfortunately she was damaged against a pier and withdrawn to be broken up the following year.

A rare photograph of Isle of Bute in Morecambe Bay

The company changed the colour of the paddle boxes in 1912 from austere black to white. Isle of Bute is pictured in her last few months on the Clyde.

Isle of Arran after 1912 (Robertson)

Isle of Arran at Rothesay

Isle of Bute with white paddle boxes (Robertson)

Isle of Cumbrae at Govan with white paddle boxes

Eagle III off Gourock with white paddle boxes (Robertson)

Eagle III leaving Rothesay

The final addition to the fleet came in March 1913, when Madge Wildfire, built by Messrs S. M’Knight & Co. of Ayr for Captain Robert Campbell for the Kilmun trade in 1886 and subsequently owned by the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. Ltd., was purchased. She was a most useful vessel with excellent saloon accommodation and up to date machinery and appointments. She was renamed Isle of Skye.

Isle of Skye (Adamson)

Isle of Skye approaching Govan Pier

Just over a year later, war was declared and with the exception of the Isle of Cumbrae, the fleet was requisitioned. The Isle of Cumbrae spent the war on charter to the Glasgow & South Western Railway to maintain connections in the upper firth with Greenock. At the end of the war, she was broken up at Dumbarton. The Isle of Skye, Isle of Arran and Eagle III survived hostilities but the return of peace left them with different owners.

Isle of Cumbrae at Princes Pier during World War I