PS Waverley steaming down the Firth of Clyde
Career (UK)
Name:	PS Waverley
Operator:	Waverley Excursions
Builder:	A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow
Yard number:	1330P
Launched:	2 October 1946
Maiden voyage:	16th June 1947
Status:	in service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Coastal excursion paddle steamer
Tonnage:	693 grt
Length:	239 ft 11 in (73. The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer Firth in The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Anthony and John Inglis founders of A & J Inglis Ltd, were Engineers and Shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland during the mid-19th century Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1 m) s
Beam:	57 ft 3 in (17. 4 m) s
Draught:	6 ft 3 in (1. 9 m) s
Installed power:	Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock
Propulsion:	steam diagonal triple expansion 2100ihp
Speed:	14 knots in service Trials speed (1947) 18. Greenock ( Gaelic Grianaig g̊ɾʲiənɛg̊ʲ is a large town and former Burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council area of western 37 knots at 56 rpm
Capacity:	1350 passengers
Notes:	[1]

The paddle steamer Waverley is the last operational Clyde steamer, and the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. The era of the Clyde steamer in Scotland began in August 1812 with the very first successful commercial Steamboat service in Europe when Henry Bell 's A paddle steamer is a ship or boat driven by a Steam engine that uses one or more Paddle wheels to develop thrust for propulsion. Named after Sir Walter Scott's first novel, the Waverley regularly sails from Glasgow and other towns on the Firth of Clyde, the Thames, the South Coast of England and the Bristol Channel; as well as making more infrequent excursions from other British ports. Sir Walter Scott 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 &ndash 21 September 1832 was a prolific Scottish Historical novelist and Poet popular throughout The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer Firth in The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Bristol Channel ( Môr Hafren) is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset

History

The Waverley was built in 1946 as a replacement for an earlier PS Waverley of 1899 that took part in the WW II war effort as a minesweeper and was sunk in 1940 while helping with the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A minesweeper is a Naval Warship designed to counter the threat posed by Naval mines The dedicated purpose-built minesweeper first appeared during Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Battle of Dunkirk was the defense and evacuation of the British and Allied forces that had been separated from the main body of the French defenses by the German advance The new 693-tonne steamer was launched in October 1946 at builders A & J Inglis, Glasgow, and entered service in June 1947. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anthony and John Inglis founders of A & J Inglis Ltd, were Engineers and Shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland during the mid-19th century Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom She was built for the London & North Eastern Railway Company to sail on their Firth of Clyde steamer route from Craigendoran Pier, near Helensburgh, up Loch Long to Arrochar, and in her first year in service, she wore that company's red, white and black funnel colours. The The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer Firth in Helensburgh ( Baile Eilidh in Gaelic) is a Burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Loch Long ( Loch Long in Gaelic is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Arrochar can refer to The village of Arrochar Scotland in Argyll and Bute The Arrochar Alps are a group of small mountains near In 1948 nationalisation of Britain's railway companies brought the steamers under the control of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP), a subsidiary of the Railway Executive, and the funnels were repainted yellow with a black top. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1965 a Scottish red lion rampant was fixed to each side of both funnels, and her hull was painted monastral blue until 1970.

After a revival of pre-war fortunes in the 1950s, the 1960s saw a gradual change in holiday habits leading to a decline in passenger numbers, and the closure of many of the small piers. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Since 1969, and the formation of the Scottish Transport Group, the CSP had been gradually merging with the West Highland shipping and ferry company David MacBrayne Ltd, and in 1973 the company became Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Caledonian MacBrayne (usually shortened to Cal Mac; Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn in Scottish Gaelic) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries

Restoration

The Waverley was withdrawn after the 1973 season as too costly to operate and in need of significant expenditure. By then the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) had been set up as a registered UK charity, and had acquired the near-derelict small River Dart paddler PS Kingswear Castle. See also PS ''Waverley'' PS ''Wingfield Castle'' Caledonian MacBrayne, keen to ensure that the ship was preserved, sold the Waverley to the PSPS for the token sum of one pound (GBP). Neither side really believed that the vessel would return to steam, but just in case, Caledonian MacBrayne stipulated that she should not sail in competition with their remaining cruise vessel, TS Queen Mary. The two funnel Clyde steamer TS Queen Mary was built at the William Denny Shipyard at Dumbarton for Williamson-Buchanan A public appeal was launched to secure funding for the return of the Waverley to service and the fund-raising operation was successful. The PSPS found themselves running a cruise ship operation: Waverley Excursions.

Since then the Waverley has been joined in the PSPS fleet by PS Kingswear Castle and MV Balmoral, and has had a series of extensive refits and a lot of restoration work, including a new boiler and improvements to meet modern safety standards. See also PS ''Waverley'' PS ''Wingfield Castle'' The Motor Vessel Balmoral was built by J I Thornycroft at Woolston Southampton in 1949 commissioned by the Southampton Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd She has circumnavigated Britain and every year carries out extensive sailings around the country.

Between 2000 and 2003 the ship underwent a substantial rebuild, funded principally by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This major exercise took place in two stages at the shipyard of George Prior at Great Yarmouth and has succeeded in returning the ship to her original 1947 condition.

Layout

Passengers passing the engine room see the huge piston rods driving the cranks on the shaft that turns the paddle wheels on each side (the supports are now painted green, not black).

The steamer has noticeable red, white and black funnels with a traditional brown grained ( or "scumbled") superstructure and black paddle wheel boxes, decorated with gold lettering on each side. The ship's operators claim the Waverley is "probably the most photographed ship in the world". ^[2]

The Waverley is powered by a triple-expansion, three-crank diagonal steam engine (made by Rankin & Blackmore, Engineers, Eagle Foundry, Greenock, Scotland), which is rated at 2,100 IHP and achieved a trial speed of 18. A steam engine is a Heat engine that performs Mechanical work using Steam as its Working fluid. Greenock ( Gaelic Grianaig g̊ɾʲiənɛg̊ʲ is a large town and former Burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council area of western Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. 37 knots at 57. 8 rpm. Passengers can watch these engines from passageways on each side of the engine room. ^[3]

Gallery

The Waverley lying in Brodick Bay in front of Brodick Castle, waiting for the car ferry to leave before returning to the pier

The Waverley arives at Blairmore pier

The Waverley sets off from Greenock

PS Waverley leaves Dunoon on her way back up the Clyde

References

• McCrorie, Ian (1986). Brodick Castle is a Castle situated outside the Port of Brodick on the Isle of Arran, an island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland Greenock ( Gaelic Grianaig g̊ɾʲiənɛg̊ʲ is a large town and former Burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council area of western Dunoon ( Dùn Omhain in Gaelic) is a resort town situated on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. Clyde Pleasure Steamers. Greenock: Orr, Pollock & Co. ISBN 1-869850-00-9.

Footnotes

External links

• Waverley Excursions
• Paddle Steamer Preservation Society
• Waverley supporters website
• Paddle Steamer Waverley's Engines
• Waverley Photographs taken in Glasgow