The importance of the Lochgoil route to Inverary and the Highlands was recognized from the beginnings of steamboat traffic on the Clyde and the early developments will be documented in a separate article. The Lochgoil & Lochlong Steamboat Company dated from 1825. From the beginning, the company adopted a bold and attractive colour-scheme for its funnels: red with a black top surmounting alternating white-black-white bands. The Lochgoilhead mail contract provided a subsidy that ensured year-round service. The Company and its steamers had a reputation for being well run and sailed through some of the most dramatic scenery on the sea-lochs of the Clyde. After leaving Greenock, Blairmore, Cove, Ardentinny, Coulport, Portincaple, Carrick Castle (in the photograph above by Annan), Douglas Pier and Lochgoilhead were the places where calls were made, initially by ferry but later, piers were constructed as feuing, especially in the less remote parts of Loch Long side became popular.

Lochgoilhead around 1870 (Becket)

Senex relates:—“One of the oldest lines of passenger traffic on the Clyde is that served by the Lochgoil Steamboat Company. Their first boat was called the St. Catherine, after the little place of that name on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne. The route was early made a connection with Inveraray by mans of coaches running through Hell’s Glen. These coaches, by the way, were under the management of the late John Campbell, so well known by his tales for travellers who sat beside him on the box—Munchausenisms, they were sometimes styled by those of little faith. The St. Catherine was commanded by Captain Graham, very commonly called “Paddy” Graham, the reason why we cannot tell, seeing that never within our knowledge did he exhibit any traces of the Emerald Isle about him in speech or demeanour. She was succeeded by the Lochgoil or the Lochlong, we forget which, and afterwards by a smart steamer called the Breadalbane, with Captain Graham still on the paddle-box.”

Breadalbane

“The Breadalbane was succeeded by other steamers, for which the names Lochgoil and Lochlong were again used. By means of the second steamer an afternoon service from Glasgow to Lochgoilhead was opened up, the communication previous to this having been only once daily either way, that is, leaving Glasgow at 7 a.m., and returning at about 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.”

Lochgoil

“It may not, by-the-by, be generally known, or it may have been forgotten, that this boat, namely, the one returning to the Broomielaw at the time mentioned, was the pioneer of the cheap Saturday afternoon excursions from Glasgow to Bowling and back for sixpence, and which turned out such an unmistakeable success. At the outset she seemed to be the only one of the river steamers which had spare time at her disposal for the purpose of these trips; but the public so caught on to the idea of them that the others soon found, or made, time to follow suit.”

Captain Graham obituary

A photograph of Lochgoilhead pier from around 1870 with the steamer Loch Goil (Becket)

Captain Graham died on January 9, 1849. However, this article starts a little later, in the region of 1870, where the new steamer on the Lochgoilhead route was the Carrick Castle, replacing the Lochgoil that was sold that year to Messrs Steele and Bennie for work at Belfast and renamed Lough Foyle. This time coincides well with the year, 1868, in which Mr. Malcolm Turner Clark joined the Company as shipping agent in Glasgow. He would later become manager and company secretary when the company registered to become a limited company in 1889. This it finally achieved at the end of 1895.

The company developed throughout the 1870s, adding two new steamers, Windsor Castle in 1875, and Edinburgh Castle in 1879. However, the advances in highland transport with the opening of the Oban Railway in 1880 and the West Highland in 1894 provided stiff competition for the traditional steamer and coach routes. The Carrick Castle was sold in 1881 for service on the Forth and later on the Bristol Channel. The Windsor Castle was withdrawn in 1900 and sold to Turkish owners, while the Edinburgh Castle remained in service until 1909 when the Company went into liquidation and when she passed to the newly formed Lochgoil & Inveraray Company.

The Carrick Castle was built by John Fullerton & Co., of Paisley, and launched on April 30th, 1870. She was flush-decked of length 192 ft. and breadth 18 ft. Her engines were supplied by William King of Glasgow. The spacious saloon was painted white with gold and crimson velvet sofas. Forward there was a ladies’ apartment and a confortable dining saloon and bar, all in painted maple. On her first cruise, she was greeted by a large crowd at Lochgoilhead and cheered along the shores of Lochgoil. Carrick Castle was advertised to sail from Glasgow at 9:00 a.m. calling at Greenock, Gourock, Kilcreggan, Cove, Blairmore, Ardentinny, and Lochgoilhead.

Carrick Castle at the Broomielaw (Washington Wilson)

Carrick Castle leaving Lochgoilhead (Valentine)

On arrival at Lochgoilhead at 12:30 p.m., coaches were on hand for the drive through Hell’s Glen to St Catherine’s.

Moses Well in Hell’s Glen

The steamer departed at 12:45 p.m. for a railway connection at Greenock (Albert Quay), calling only at Cove, returning from Greenock at 2:00 p.m. to Lochgoilhead with calls at Blairmore and Ardentinny, only. Her final sailing of the day was the immediate return to Glasgow at 3:30 p.m. There was a separate saloon for Ladies and a full menu of meals was offered. Fares were: single 1/6d Cabin, 1/- Steerage and return 2/6d Cabin, 2/- Steerage.

Glasgow Herald June 7, 1872

Glasgow Herald June 7, 1872

Captain Barr (The Bailie)

Under the command of Captain Barr, Carrick Castle was a great favourite with the natives in the small communities on Loch Long and Loch Goil. With two services each day, there was a great increase in traffic on the route to Inveraray by way of St. Catherines.

Inveraray Pier with Fairy at the outer end of the pier (Becket)

The connection at St. Catherines was the small steamboat, Fairy, shown in the above photograph dating from the 1860s. There is another small and older paddle steamer just behind the stone cross that may be the earlier ferry Argyle.

The Company was taken to Small-Debt Court in 1870 when a Mr. Paul of Glasgow, with a summer residence at Coulport, at the end of May purchased 24 tickets on the terms:—“Special ticket, Steamer Carrick Castle, Glasgow to or from Ardentinny or Coulport, Cabin.” The steamer called at the ferry at Coulport until July 1st and then ceased to call there, leaving eight tickets unused. Mr. Paul hired a machine on eight different occasions to convey him from Coulport to Cove, the nearest Pier where he could get another steamer. Presumably he was reimbursed.

The strong trade encouraged the Company to add a further steamer, Windsor Castle, similar to Carrick Castle in initial appearance as flush decked of length 195.8 ft., and breadth 19.0 ft. She came from the Rutherglen yard of T. B. Seath and like the Carrick Castle she was engined by William King. She was unusual in that her bridge and steering platform were placed immediately forward of the funnel on the hurricane deck. This bridge position was not generally liked by Captain Barr who moved to command her.

Windsor Castle at the Broomielaw (Washington Wilson)

Windsor Castle at Lochgoilhead (Valentine)

Construction of the ship in 1875 with little saloon accommodation was unusual and revealed the innate conservatism of the Company. However, in 1878 Windsor Castle was extensively remodeled, acquiring a narrow saloon aft with alleyways and a dining room for eighty passengers.

Windsor Castle with her deck saloon aft

Windsor Castle and Cumbrae leaving Greenock Princes Pier (Valentine)

Windsor Castle at Lochgoilhead (Poulton)

Windsor Castle leaving Greenock

Windsor Castle at Ardentinny Ferry (Robertson)

Windsor Castle at Carrick Castle (Poulton)

Glasgow Herald, August 24, 1878

Glasgow Herald, August 24, 1878

In 1877, a closely related company, The Glasgow and Inveraray Steamboat Company, was set up to provide a direct tourist connection to Inveraray by way of Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute. The new company was also managed by Mr. Malcolm Turner Clark and many of the shareholders of the Lochgoil and Lochlong Steamboat Company also invested in the new enterprise. The new company built the saloon steamer Lord of the Isles, and she appeared resplendent in the same colour scheme as the Lochgoil steamers. Lord of the Isles is the subject of a separate article.

Lord of the Isles at Inveraray (Valentine)

A third steamer for the Lochgoil route was acquired in 1879. The Edinburgh Castle was the product of Robert Duncan’s yard in Port Glasgow with engines from Rankin and Blackmore. Her dimensions were; length 205.3 ft., breadth 19.9 ft. and she had a saloon aft similar to that added to Windsor Castle. Forward, her awning deck provided cover for the steerage but was not enclosed and was cut back after a time to improve the handling of the ship. The most impressive feature of Edinburgh Castle, however, was her very large paddle wheels that were 22 ft in diameter.

Edinburgh Castle (Robertson)

Edinburgh Castle at Lochgoilhead (Poulton)

Edinburgh Castle off Greenock

Again, Captain Barr took command of the latest flagship. The company now had three vessels and the Carrick Castle was advertised for excursions.

Glasgow Herald, July 4, 1879

Glasgow Herald, July 4, 1879

Glasgow Herald, June 1, 1880

Competition increased, from the Kilmun steamers that also ran to Lochgoilhead, although the patrons of the locally owned Company showed their loyalty. An expansion of business to the head of Loch Long at Arrochar might have seemed an obvious temptation with the extensive tourist traffic that attracted. The steamer, Chancellor, owned by the Lochlomond Steamboat Company had been built in 1864 and, although she had deck saloons, she was outdated.

Chancellor of 1864 at Blairmore (Valentine)

However, a new Chancellor was introduced in 1880 to service the Arrochar trade. She was a modern saloon steamer, built at Dumbarton by Messrs R. Chambers, she was 200 ft long by 21 ft in breadth and had a single diagonal engine supplied by Messrs Paul of Dumbarton.

Chancellor of 1880 at Arrochar in Loch Lomond Steamboat Colours (Valentine)

In 1881, the Carrick Castle was sold to the Forth, and the Lochgoil Company continued with its two steamers, Edinburgh Castle and Windsor Castle.

Glasgow Herald, April 4, 1885

When the Loch Lomond Company offered the Chancellor and the trade of the Arrochar connection in 1885, the Lochgoil Company took over the vessel and she appeared in the Lochgoil colours that season.

Chancellor leaving the Broomielaw in 1885 (Washington Wilson)

Chancellor (Adamson)

Chancellor at Arrochar (Poulton)

Chancellor at Arrochar Pier (Poulton)

In 1888, the North British Railway took over the Loch Lomond steamers and ran their own connection to Arrochar. More competition arose from the formation of the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. the following year, and at the end of the 1891 season, Chancellor was sold to become part of the nucleus of the Glasgow and Southwestern Railway Fleet.

Glasgow Herald, August 15, 1888

The steamers of the railway companies increased competition on the Lochgoil route and the high standard of accommodation the railway steamers provided put pressure on the private operators to improve their vessels. A new Lord of the Isles appeared in 1891 but the Lochgoil Company continued with Windsor Castle and Edinburgh Castle with minor adjustments.

Sights and scenes on the Lochgoilhead route

Drumsynie House Lochgoilhead (Ritchie)

Dressed for the steamer at Lochgoilhead Pier

Edinburgh Castle at Lochgoilhead

Edinburgh Castle at Douglas Pier (Valentine)

Edinburgh Castle with a royal standard at Carrick Castle (Valentine)

Edinburgh Castle at Carrick Castle in 1905 (Valentine)

The size of the paddle wheels of Edinburgh Castle can be appreciated in this view at Blairmore

Blairmore Pier

Edinburgh Castle at Blairmore

Edinburgh Castle approaching Gourock Pier (Robertson)

Edinburgh Castle off Gourock (Robertson)

Edinburgh Castle heading up river at Govan

Edinburgh Castle off the Broomielaw

The popularity of Travel by Lochgoilhead and Hell’s Glen to Inveraray had diminished, particularly for the summer tourist season after the introduction of the Fairy Queen on Loch Eck in connection with the widely publicized Loch Eck tour in connection with Lord of the Isles. Lochgoilhead was becoming a backwater.

Towards the end of the century, Windsor Castle was given an upgrade that included a full-width saloon forward. In this condition, she became popular for excursions.

Glasgow Herald, August 7, 1897

Windsor Castle at Carrick Castle with her forward saloon

The two steamers survived until 1900 when Windsor Castle was sold to Turkish owner. Within a few years, the introduction of the turbine steamer King Edward on the Inveraray route in direct competition with Lord of the Isles had signaled the end of an era. Both the Lochgoil and Lochlong Steamboat Company Ltd. and the Glasgow and Inveraray Steamboat Company Ltd. went into liquidation in 1909, and the assets; Edinburgh Castle, Lord of the Isles, together with Fairy Queen were taken over by a new entity, Lochgoil and Inveraray Steamboat Company Ltd. In 1912, Turbine Steamers Ltd. took over the two Clyde steamers, and Edinburgh Castle was scrapped the following year.

After the Edinburgh Castle was scrapped, Messrs MacBrayne took over the mail contract and the steamer Chevalier was the usual vessel on the route.

Chevalier at Lochgoilhead in 1913 (Ritchie)

At the beginning of the first world war, Chevalier was assigned other duties and Ivanhoe, still owned by Turbine Steamers was the regular caller. After the war, MacBrayne’s Comet was the mail steamer and is featured in a later article.