The early service of the Duchess of Argyll from her launch in 1906 for the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. Ltd., to her incorporation into the control of the L.M.S. Railway in 1923, has been recorded earlier in two articles. The present essay is mainly a photographic account beginning in 1925 when the standard livery with buff black-topped funnels was introduced for the combined south-bank railway fleet. As one of the original Caledonian Steam Packet Company’s steamers, Duchess of Argyll was retained under their ownership that allowed greater flexibility in sailing to destinations in Loch Fyne, Kintyre and Lochranza than was possible for the former members of the Glasgow and South Western Railway that were under direct railway control.

It was on the Arran route from Princes Pier by way of the Kyles that Duchess of Argyll was best known. In the middle of the 1925 season, however, there was a close call.

“Pleasure steamers collide.—Accident off Largs.—A collision occurred yesterday morning off Largs Pier between the well-known Clyde turbine steamers Duchess of Argyll and King Edward. There were several hundred passengers on both vessels, but no one was injured. The steamers, however, were considerably damaged, and the Duchess of Argyll abandoned her sailing.

“At the time of the accident the steamers were on their usual daily sailings from Greenock—the L.M.S. steamer to Arran and the King Edward to Campbeltown. On her excursion to Arran, the Duchess of Argyll proceeds down the Firth to Largs, then returns to Wemyss Bay to take on board Glasgow passengers. She had made her call at Largs Pier, and was swinging round to come up the Firth when the collision took place with the King Edward, which was running past Largs to make her Fairlie call.

“Bows crumpled.—The bows of the L.M.S. steamer crashed into the hull of the King Edward amidships. Fortunately at the moment the Duchess of Argyll had not a great deal of way on. Nevertheless the impact was sufficiently sever to twist her stem, and to crumple up her bows above the water-line, while the hull of the King Edward was badly dented in places and a considerable portion of the rails and the quarter-bridge stanchions were dislodged. The King Edward was probably saved from serious damage to the hull by her thick iron-bund belting.

“The Duchess of Argyll at once put back to Largs Pier, where the passengers were landed. They were later transferred to the L.M.S. steamer, Jupiter, which was on the “Round the Lochs” trip, and which subsequently took up the sailing to Arran. Subsequently the Duchess of Argyll went up the Firth to Gourock under her own steam. The King Edward went on to Fairlie, and after a short delay continued on her sailing to Campbeltown.

“Visitors alarmed.—Naturally the noise of the crash and the nature of the accident caused a great deal of alarm and excitement among passengers on both vessels. On the shore at Largs also the collision caused much commotion. There was, as usual, many holidaymakers on the pier. Their number was quickly augmented, and the esplanade was almost at once also crowded with excited spectators, who hurried from all parts of the town. Steps were taken to render assistance if necessary, all the motor boats in the vicinity getting ready to put out. One boat did put out from the shore but as its services were not required it quickly returned.

“A number of passengers looked considerably shaken by their alarming experience when the two steamers put into Largs and Fairlie respectively, and several of them abandoned their day’s outing. Before continuing her passage from Fairlie the King Edward had the wreckage removed and temporary repairs effected.

“Arrangements have been made by the L.M.S. Company to maintain the Arran sailing by one of the other vessels of their fleet. The company also made arrangements to have repairs to the Duchess of Argyll carried out immediately, and the steamer will resume service as soon as possible.

“Vessels docked.—The Duchess of Argyll went round from Gourock to Greenock and entered Lamont’s Dry Dock at the East India Harbour. The King Edward on her return from Campbeltown to Greenock also went into the East India Harbour, and squads of workmen at once started repairs on both vessels. Today’s sailing of the King Edward will be taken by the Queen Alexandra, and the Queen Empress will be put on the excursion to Loch Fyne.”—Glasgow Herald, August 1, 1925.

Duchess of Argyll at Largs

It was the new turbine, Glen Sannox, introduced that year, that had to deputise for Duchess of Argyll at the height of her first season. The new steamer was very similar in many respects to the Duchess of Argyll, perhaps reflecting the success of the latter in service.

The outcome of the collision was reported in October when the certificate of Captain John Mackay, of the Duchess of Argyll, was suspended until January 31, 1926, and Captain Turner M‘Allister of the King Edward was censured severely. In view of the seriousness of the accident, it was felt that a warning should be given against the contravention of the regulations. The Clyde had been free from serious accidents to pleasure steamers, and it was of great importance that the authorised regulations should be strictly observed.

Duchess of Argyll leaving Greenock

Duchess of Argyll off Gourock.

Duchess of Argyll off Rothesay (Adamson)

Duchess of Argyll at Rothesay Pier

Approaching Brodick

Duchess of Argyll

Passing the time telling fortunes on Duchess of Argyll

On her return to service after World War I, and in common with the other major members of the combined fleet, the Duchess of Argyll had a wooden deck shelter with storage above for life-saving equipment. This was placed aft of her upper or shade deck, between her life-boats. In 1929, this was removed and her shade deck was extended, making her similar in this respect to Glen Sannox.

Duchess of Argyll with extended shade deck (Robertson)

At Gourock around 1930

Leaving Wemyss Bay

With Mercury at Rothesay in 1930 (Valentine)

Duchess of Argyll in the Kyles (Spencer)

Duchess of Argyll in 1933 (Valentine)

At Whiting Bay with Glen Sannox and Jeanie Deans lying off in 1933 (Valentine)

At Brodick (Spencer)

Duchess of Argyll in 1935 (Feilden)

Off Greenock

In 1936, the white-funnel turbines that had maintained service to Inveraray and Campbeltown were sold to Messrs MacBrayne and the Caledonian Steam Packet Company’s steamers took over the routes. Duchess of Argyll could be found on either service, and maintained her popularity. She was fitted with a crosstrees on her mast in 1938.

Duchess of Argyll off Gourock (Robertson)

Largs pierhead with cruise to Tarbert on Duchess of Argyll advertised.

Duchess of Argyll in the Kyles (Spencer)

At Inveraray in 1937 (Valentine)

Duchess Argyll at Inveraray Pier in 1937 (Valentine)

Duchess of Argyll returning from Inveraray off Tighnabruaich (Spencer)

Duchess of Argyll remained on the Clyde during World War II on both ferry duties and tendering to troopships. After the war, she continued on ferry duties from Gourock and Wemyss Bay. She was fitted with a wheelhouse in 1948.

Wemyss Bay with Duchess of Argyll still in wartime grey and MacBrayne’s Lochfyne

Post-war Duchess of Argyll (Ralston)

Leaving Princes Pier in 1949

At Kirn in 1949 (Valentine)

Duchess of Argyll leaving Gourock in 1950 (Valentine)

Duchess of Argyll was sold to the admiralty in 1952 and became a floating laboratory anchored off Portland until she went for scrap in 1969.