Hi Folks,
On this day in 1946 Waverley took to her native element from A&J Inglis' Pointhouse Shipyard on the River Kelvin for the first time.
I am repeating an excellent wee Facebook article and photos posted today by former PSPS Committee colleague and general Clyde Engineering expert Mr Stuart Cameron (with his kind permission):
"2nd October 1946
72 years ago today, on 2nd October 1946, the A & J Inglis shipyard in Glasgow launched the paddle steamer Waverley. Time was to show that the paddle steamer Waverley would be the last of hundreds of paddle steamers to be built for ferry and excursion services on the River and Firth of Clyde. It had all started with the paddle steamer Comet in 1812. In 1970, following the withdrawal of her fleet-mate, the PS Caledonia of 1934, Waverley became the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world.
Few people that watched Yard No 1330P be named Waverley and subsequently launched on that early October day in 1946 could have predicted that Waverley would still be in active service 72 years later on October 2nd, 2018. Currently, she is operating far as she gets from her home base, on her annual visit to London and the River Thames. She is due back in her native City of Glasgow in about 10 days time for her final passenger sailings of 2018 on October 13th and 14th. Hopefully, the weather will be kind to her and her crew for the long haul back from London to Glasgow, which typically takes 3-4 days with one stop en route if the weather is kind.
Incidently Waverley has recently surpassed the service life of David MacBrayne's PS Iona of 1864 to be come the second longest serving paddle steamer in Scottish coastal waters, the longest being Sir James Mathieson's ps Mary Jane (later MacBrayne's Glencoe) which served for 85 years.
Happy Birthday Auld Yin."
Photo Captions:
1. PS Waverley just after her launch by Lady Matthews on 2nd October 1946. She was built to replace the previous PS Waverley, which was lost due to enemy bombing during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. That Waverley had been launched off the same slipway, just over 48 years earlier on 29th May 1899.
2. The Clyde-facing elevation of A & J Inglis' Pointhouse Shipyard in Glasgow. The Company produced over 500 vessels there between 1863 and 1963 when it ceased trading. The site of these buildings is now occupied by the Riverside Museum.
The sign on the arch over the big gates reads "Pointhouse Ship Yard and Slip Dock" The name "A & J Inglis Ltd" appeared lower down on the actual gates but cannot be seen in this view.
3. Waverley's aft funnel being replaced at A & J Inglis fitting out quay on the River Kelvin in 1962. Sadly this proved to be her last visit to her builder's yard, which closed just under a year later after a century of shipbuilding.
4. PS Waverley passing under Tower Bridge on the River Thames where she is operating on this 72nd anniversary of her launch.
5. PS Waverley on her native Firth of Clyde in the summer of 2018 (where we hope to see her safely home for the winter, next week)
The only year, since 1947, that she did not perform any sailings was 1974 while she was passing from commercial ownership of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd into the ownership of the registered charity (not-for-profit company) Waverley Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
Ladies and Gentlemen - this goes to prove there is "Nothing Stronger Than The Heart Of A Volunteer"
Happy birthday auld girl - lang may yer rid, white and black funnels reek!!
Clydebuilt and Proud
Gav
