Author Topic: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)  (Read 103513 times)

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Offline Waverley

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #60 on: Jan 03, 2010, 05:50 PM »
Scroll down for the impressive photo entering Poole harbour then click "see also the video".   

http://www.waverleyandbalmoral.co.uk/waverley/gallery/index.htm
Robert

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #61 on: Jan 08, 2010, 09:48 PM »
Went down today to see Waverley, currently frozen into the River Clyde!





Full set of photos here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/4257068515/ - its VERY cold here, I've never known anything like it.  Water mains in the street have now started to freeze!
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #62 on: Jan 24, 2010, 02:53 PM »
The videos that have been posted here are WELL worth a look

http://pspsscotland.blogspot.com/2010/01/coasts-of-clyde.html

Amazing how much the world has changed and so quickly...
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Clyde Paddler

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #63 on: Jan 24, 2010, 10:19 PM »

My Mum taped 'Coasts of Clyde' for me from daytime tele, many years ago, but I'd never spotted that wee boy as being Stuart Cameron. 

Strangely enough, just yesterday, a package dropped through the door, which turned out to be a video sent by ma wee auntie in Renfrew (which she said she'd promised to send, a year or two ago - which doesn't ring any bells).  This official video is entitled 'Doon the Watter' and contains 'Glasgow Belongs to Me', 'Coasts of Clyde' and 'The Land of Robert Burns'.  Copyright British Railways Board 1988, with an RRP of £11.45.  That sounds like quite a lot back in '88, bearing in mind that's now more than 20 years ago - and the year I was bar manager on the Mighty Paddler.  Those were the days ...
HELEN
Harrogate, UK

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #64 on: May 06, 2010, 01:45 PM »
I had a wee look at her last week, before she headed off down to Greenock for her annual overhaul.

She's looking good!  Couple of pictures attached.
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #65 on: May 11, 2010, 08:35 AM »
Was on the old girl doing electrical testing on Sat. Lovely day - it was actually warm at Garvel!! (Its not nicknamed Siberia Point for nothing!!!)

After lunch I went for a wee walk down into the dock.
Garvel have made a great job of the paintwork again this year - especially the funnels which are a slightly deeper shade of red rather than the orangey red of the last few years!!
Some pics follow in this and the next messages........

« Last Edit: May 11, 2010, 10:51 AM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #66 on: May 11, 2010, 08:37 AM »
Follow on from previous email

Pic:

(1) Stem from the dock floor - this is her most imposing view. The ripples you can see are caused - to some extent - by the mix of rivetting and welding on her hull. When built Waverley had wooden decks throughout - after the heritage refit she now has steel decks from promenade down. The welding of these plates cause the hull plates to distort slightly - it depends on the temperature as to the extent!!
(2) The rudder - note the weld lines which denote the size of the original rudder. There are also flat plates welded top and bottom which help channel the water and prevent it spilling over the top. This helps her steer a little better.
(3) View on the port paddle wheel from below - the wooden floats very much in view here. If you look up to the right of shot you may be able to see the feathering gear which adjusts the angle of the float so it enters the water in the optimum position. If you listen Waverley's paddle beats you will hear 7 soft and 1 hard beat. The hard beat is number 1 float which is fixed angle - this provides the datum angle for the other 7.

« Last Edit: May 11, 2010, 08:55 AM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #67 on: May 11, 2010, 08:47 AM »
A couple more from Saturday:

Pic:

(1) The sand bow - this raked section to the forefoot was necessary as her home pier at Craigendoran (near Helensburgh) became very shallow at low tides and vessels regularly took the bottom. The sand bow allowed them to do so without digging in excessively.
(2) View from the control platform in the upper Engine Room.
(3) The forward lounge from the entrance to the crew accomodation

She is due out Tues / Wed where she will either proceed (after compass adjustment) back to Glasgow or go into the adjacent James Watt Dock for further work before returning to Glasgow. Either way she will be ready and waiting for her first passengers of the year on Friday 28th May - sailing at 7am from Glasgow to Oban via Greenock, Campbeltown and Port Ellen.

If any of you plan to take this unique sail - make yourselves known during the day - I'm usually sitting on the paddlebox steps (either side) and my other half is quite small so you wont miss us!!  ::)

Gav
« Last Edit: May 11, 2010, 01:22 PM by Clydebuilt1971 »

Offline Jem

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #68 on: May 11, 2010, 09:13 AM »
Thanks Gav for the fantastic photo's and explanation to go with them, really interesting. She is a lovely vessel. I've sailed to Ilfracombe from Bristol and back on Balmoral,must try Waverley one day.

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #69 on: May 11, 2010, 09:19 AM »
Great shots Gav, thanks very much!  She's looking amazing.  Wish I could join her on Saturday... its a shame they only make this trip once a year!

Jem - much as I love Balmoral, she's VERY different to Waverley!  You should join us in a month's time on the Clyde to find out! :)
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #70 on: May 11, 2010, 12:23 PM »
Thanks Gav for the fantastic photo's and explanation to go with them, really interesting. She is a lovely vessel. I've sailed to Ilfracombe from Bristol and back on Balmoral,must try Waverley one day.

Hi Jem,

Waverley is on the Bristol Channel from early to mid June. See www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk for her timetable. As Rob says Balmoral and Waverley are two very different animals despite only two years between them (Waverley 1947, Balmoral 1949).

Gav

Online Lynda Bradford

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #71 on: May 11, 2010, 04:43 PM »
I was looking through old photos in my sister's photo album last week and saw this one of a steam boat at Dunoon Pier.  Is this the Waverley?
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Offline Jem

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #72 on: May 11, 2010, 06:04 PM »
Great shots Gav, thanks very much!  She's looking amazing.  Wish I could join her on Saturday... its a shame they only make this trip once a year!

Jem - much as I love Balmoral, she's VERY different to Waverley!  You should join us in a month's time on the Clyde to find out! :)
Hello Rob and Gav, Much as I'd love to join you all onboard her. I'm restricted because I need a lot of help now days due to my disability being so progressive, it's a right pain in the arse but that's life. I know she does have disabled access, better than Balmoral which is great for me and my wife. I must book this trip on her to Ilfracombe soon. Day trips I can still manage which is possible here from Bristol :)
Anyhow I have seen her in the flesh way back in 1988 while I was sail training (in my fitter days) on the Brigentine Soren Larsen. Sorry the photo isn't to clear, it was taken off the Isle Of Wight. Hope you  all have a great time onboard and look forward to hearing your news......

Offline Clyde Paddler

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #73 on: May 11, 2010, 09:19 PM »
I was looking through old photos in my sister's photo album last week and saw this one of a steam boat at Dunoon Pier.  Is this the Waverley?
Lynda, this is PS Jeanie Deans, my all-time favourite and Waverley's 'big sister', built pre-WW2 ~ larger, much more luxuriously appointed and better looking, with the straight bow and counter stern ("every ship should have one"!) and, unfortunately, gone before Gavin's time.  Ach weel, being as old as me has obviously had some advantages.  If only I could remember what they were... ???

Anyway, great pics Gav, and a sure sign that summer is on its way.

Rob, are you confused over days and dates, here?  The northward leg of the Western Isles sojourn is on Friday 28th May, with coach return to Glasgow if you're not staying on.  You can also get a coach connection up to Oban to join her on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
HELEN
Harrogate, UK

Offline Clydebuilt1971

Re: PS Waverley (The World's last ocean-going Paddle Steamer)
« Reply #74 on: May 12, 2010, 01:12 PM »
Hi Helen,

I think I confused things regarding dates by not actually putting the date in the original post - I noticed this and edited it. In between times Rob had posted.

Waverley came out of Drydock yesterday and was lying at Customhouse Quay, Greenock as of this morning. I think she has some boiler setup to do before returning to Glasgow. A significant overhaul of her boiler control system has been carried out as part of the ten year maintenance plan.

WSN director Joe McKendrick kindly sent me the pic below of her emerging yesterday.

Just over two weeks left until the first sailing on 2010 woohoo!!

 ;D