Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ronniej]

Further to my recent post on Glasgow Museums which made mention of the Paddle Steamer Waverley I thought this article I wrote for my car club might be of interest.

We are all familiar with the restoration and preservation of our cars.
I would like to tell you a similar story except it is on a far greater scale.
Built in 1947 by A.J. Inglis for The London & North Eastern Railway this vessel replaced the original Waverley of 1899 which was bombed and sunk at Dunkirk.
She was originally under the command of Captain A.J. Campbell who had been in command of the earlier vessel when she was lost.
She spent most of her working life at Craigendoran, near Helensburgh and was a familiar site on the Clyde resorts and lochs.
With the decline of the cruising market in the 1960s her future became increasingly uncertain and in 1974 she was withdrawn from service with a trip to the breaker’s yard seeming almost inevitable.
However, by this time she was the only paddler left and there was a strong lobby advocating her preservation, even if only as a static museum piece.
Her then owners, the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. (Later Calmac.) offered her to a group of enthusiasts for the nominal sum of £1.00.
With the vessel secure there remained the small matter of preparing her for further service!
Unpaid volunteers did the unskilled work with tools and equipment being begged and borrowed from local engineering companies.
There were exhilarating breakthroughs and heart-breaking setbacks.
(Does this sound familiar?)
She returned to service in 1975 but by this time she was showing her age and the effects of years of under investment and there was a number of embarrassing breakdowns.
With the support a variety of public bodies and an increasingly professional management team she weathered numerous crises, any one of which could have been final.
With help from the Heritage Lottery Fund she has undergone a major refit which has cleverly incorporated modern safety equipment without spoiling her classic lines. (Familiar again?)
In some respects she is better now than when she first became operational well over 60 years ago.
She is now in service over the summer both on the Clyde and many ports throughout the British Isles where she has become a familiar and much loved sight.
She is very photogenic and must be one of the most photographed vessels in the country.
If you like old machinery (a fair bet if you are reading this) a trip on Waverley is a marvelous experience with her massive triple expansion engines being on full public view.
At some point during the summer she should be sailing from a port near you and you may wish to consider taking a trip on her.
I don’t think you will be disappointed.
She was recently added to the National List of historic vessels placing her in the company of many famous craft including Nelson’s Victory and Cutty Sark (Another Clyde built vessel.)!

Ronnie Johnston ,
Glasgow

(I added in the photo, RJ)

[Landy Des]

Interesting article, thanks for posting.

My wife and I have booked a trip on the Waverly around the Isle of Wight departing from Yarmouth later in the summer. Very much looking forward to it.

[traction39]

I did a trip a couple of years ago from Penarth to Minehead.

Really enjoyed the day. Trip involved Penarth to Minehead, a link on the West Somerset railway and a return to Penarth from Cleveden

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Minehead Harbour

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Alistair

Citroen Light 15 1953, "12" 1939,
Riley 9 Special 1932

[Ronniej]

Thanks for posting the pics of the engines.
It is fascinating to watch them at work when the ship is underway.
However, when a man left his family on deck to “have a look at the engines” it was often an excuse to slip away for a drink!
Your remarks about the West Somerset Railway brought back a few memories.
I have travelled this line a few times and the little stations with fine floral displays reminded me of childhood seaside holidays.
I always thought the GWR engines with their fine livery and copper rimmed funnels were the best looking on the British network.

[Mog]

I remember going on a trip to Lundy Island on a paddle steamer, but as I was about 6 years old, I cannot remember any more details.

[Ronniej]

Waverley includes Lundy Island in her itinerary when she visits the Bristol Channel in September but if you made the visit a while ago it would not have been her that you travelled on.
Probably one of the “White Funnel” vessels like Bristol Queen.
I have sailed on Waverley on several excursions when she is away from the Clyde but have not yet managed the Lundy sailing.
It seems to be an enchanting place and this trip is on my “Bucket List”.

[baconsdozen]

I seem to remember going on a paddle steamer as a very young child. I seem to remember there were two,one called the 'Medway Queen' or something like that.Does that make any sense?
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Mog]

In the early 1950's I lived at Hastings. The paddle steamers came to Hastings Pier , I never went on a trip from there.

[Penguin45]

Medway Queen still exists - being refurbished in Gillingham. You'll be able to take a trip on her yet.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

[smiffy220]

I sailed on the Waverley a few years ago from the end of Southend pier in Essex all the way up the Thames and into the pool of London. They opened Tower Bridge for us too. It rained for most of the way up, but we still had a lovely trip and this is a fantastic ship and well worth a trip anywhere.
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Born to rally, forced to work!

1980 Opel Manta 2.0 SR Berlinetta
1934 Morris Cowley Four (my late fathers)

[Uncle Alec]

I managed a round-the-island IOM trip from Peel to, er, Peel on Waverley. The acceleration away from the dockside is phenomenal.

[gillberry]

We have done the Great Yarmouth to London trip twice and enjoyed every moment of if especially when they opened the bridge, if younget the chance do it
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1968 Volvo Amazon estate (Gracie)
1967 Cheltenham Nyala caravan

[Penman]

Hi
Haven't ridden on Waverley but did thew Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde trip many times in the late 40s and through the 50s, they were lovely old paddle steamers as well
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10