(c) 2008 Young Paddle Wheels. All Rights Reserved. Design by Jack Woodhams.
Part of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, a registered charity No.2167853
Part of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, a registered charity No.2167853
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YOUNG PADDLE WHEELS
The PSPS own three ships, the Waverley, Kingswear Castle and Balmoral. Each ship has been restored lovingly and offer cruises on the Clyde,Bristol Channel and the Medway, as well as the annual tour of Britain which Waverley does.
The PS Waverley was built in 1947 on the design of the Jeanie Deans, to replace Waverley (1) which sank off of Dukirk in the war whilst carrying troops. Infact, the remains of the ship can still be found, and the PSPS own some artefacts brought up from the wreck in 1985.
The new Waverley was slightly smaller than the 1931 built Jeanie Deans. Her length, for example, at 240' was 11' less and her passenger certificate allowed 1,350 whereas Jeanie allowed 1,480. First and second class accommodation was provided including a dining saloon, lounge, tearoom and a shop on the main deck. Two large deck shelters were built on the promenade deck with the bridge, wheelhouse, master's room and two lifeboats placed over the forward shelter. The after deck also had two lifeboats and also the mainmast. Once all this was built, she was towed to Greenock's Victoria Harbour where Rankin and Blackmore fitted a double ended boiler and her majestic triple-expansion steam engine. Then, she was fitted with the most important part a Paddle Steamer...the paddles. These were 18-ft in diameter, and they were rimless each with eight wooden feathering floats ( to find out more about engines and boilers and paddles then got to the ' how a paddle steamer works' page). Waverley had traditional fan-vented paddle box of traditional appearance with scroll work and figure head of Scott’s hero, Edward Waverley. Once completed, Waverley went on trials were her top speed of 18.5 knots was attained with the engine running at 56rpm (revolutions per minute), but in service she normally operates at about 15 knots. The Waverley had her maiden voyage soon after her trials, on the 16th June 1947. At the end of 1947 Waverley lost her LNER colours (the colours she is in at the moment) and was repainted with buff funnels (go to the Jeanie Deans page to see the sort of colour she was painted in) In 1957 she and two other steamers, Jeanie Deans and Talisman. This allowed the eventual replacement of the buff with a Caley bright yellow. This change of ownership saw change in the ships; Jeanie Deans saw minimal change and was seldom asked to carry out task alien to a 'north bank' steamer. Talisman, on the other hand, saw a lot of change, she was converted from steam to diesel propulsion. Waverley saw an increase in ferry services. Jeanie Deans saw decline for many years and was eventually withdrawn at the end of September 1964 and the next season saw PS Caledonia joined the fleet.
The end of an Era?
The Waverley sailed for the last time on Sunday, 30th September. In the morning of the 30th, she was filmed and in the afternoon sailed round Brute. On 1st October she entered James Watt Dock, Greenock, for lay-up.
Bought for a Pound
Today, a pound wont by much, but in august 1974 it bought a 693-ton paddle steamer! The Scottish Transport Group recognised this was the end of an era stretching from 1812 when Henry Bell's little paddle steamer Comet sailed from Glasgow. The PSPS had been interested in Waverley for many years. The two groups came together and through Caledonian MacBrayne (Waverley’s owners at the time) agreed to sell Waverley for a pound.
Will she ever return to steam?
At the time of Waverleys purchase, returning to steam wasnt on their list of priorities. They thought she had sailed for the last time, and the PSPS were planning to convert it into static museum/restaurant. But two very active and optimistic PSPS members, Terry Sylvester and Douglas McGowan were investigating ways on how to return her to steam. After a few months of hard thinking they had it- she could be a tourist attraction for the South West region of Scotland. The city of Glasgow, Strathclyde Region and others were invited to join the experiment of returning a paddler to steam. On 8th of August, 1974 Waverley was handed over from CalMac to Waverley Steam Navigation Company Ltd., a company formed by the PSPS. That was the easy part. Waverley lay idle in the dock. But the PSPS members were not idle. Recognising the 'put up or shut up' challenge from the STG, the PSPS members and friends formed working parties and set about cleaning the ship up and ticking of items on a long maintenance list. They painted the funnels from the CalMac red with the CalMac yellow crest into her original bright pristine red, white and black. This allowed a public appeal to launched for funds to add to an anonymous gift of £10,000 and £11,000 from Glasgow Corporation. There aim was to return Waverley to steam in the summer of 1975. But the funds were drying out and Waverley’s future was uncertain. But a £30,000 grant from Strathclyde Region meant that Waverley would sail again. By April 1975 crew were being engaged. The public appeal raised £40,000 and the Scottish Tourist Board added £30,000.
"Off she goes!"
On 10th May, 1975, the boilers were lit and she left James Watt Dock for trials. After seven extremely busy days, the city of Glasgow police bagpipe band gave Waverley a magnificent send of on her first public sailing on 22nd May 1975. All who had helped with her restoration in some way were onboard for the sailing from Glasgow to Dunoon.
Recent Rebuilds
2004 Waverley saw a 'Heritage Rebuild' and she was made to look as original as possible. During this time, she saw the removal of her Crankshaft for the first time since she was built.
The new Waverley was slightly smaller than the 1931 built Jeanie Deans. Her length, for example, at 240' was 11' less and her passenger certificate allowed 1,350 whereas Jeanie allowed 1,480. First and second class accommodation was provided including a dining saloon, lounge, tearoom and a shop on the main deck. Two large deck shelters were built on the promenade deck with the bridge, wheelhouse, master's room and two lifeboats placed over the forward shelter. The after deck also had two lifeboats and also the mainmast. Once all this was built, she was towed to Greenock's Victoria Harbour where Rankin and Blackmore fitted a double ended boiler and her majestic triple-expansion steam engine. Then, she was fitted with the most important part a Paddle Steamer...the paddles. These were 18-ft in diameter, and they were rimless each with eight wooden feathering floats ( to find out more about engines and boilers and paddles then got to the ' how a paddle steamer works' page). Waverley had traditional fan-vented paddle box of traditional appearance with scroll work and figure head of Scott’s hero, Edward Waverley. Once completed, Waverley went on trials were her top speed of 18.5 knots was attained with the engine running at 56rpm (revolutions per minute), but in service she normally operates at about 15 knots. The Waverley had her maiden voyage soon after her trials, on the 16th June 1947. At the end of 1947 Waverley lost her LNER colours (the colours she is in at the moment) and was repainted with buff funnels (go to the Jeanie Deans page to see the sort of colour she was painted in) In 1957 she and two other steamers, Jeanie Deans and Talisman. This allowed the eventual replacement of the buff with a Caley bright yellow. This change of ownership saw change in the ships; Jeanie Deans saw minimal change and was seldom asked to carry out task alien to a 'north bank' steamer. Talisman, on the other hand, saw a lot of change, she was converted from steam to diesel propulsion. Waverley saw an increase in ferry services. Jeanie Deans saw decline for many years and was eventually withdrawn at the end of September 1964 and the next season saw PS Caledonia joined the fleet.
The end of an Era?
The Waverley sailed for the last time on Sunday, 30th September. In the morning of the 30th, she was filmed and in the afternoon sailed round Brute. On 1st October she entered James Watt Dock, Greenock, for lay-up.
Bought for a Pound
Today, a pound wont by much, but in august 1974 it bought a 693-ton paddle steamer! The Scottish Transport Group recognised this was the end of an era stretching from 1812 when Henry Bell's little paddle steamer Comet sailed from Glasgow. The PSPS had been interested in Waverley for many years. The two groups came together and through Caledonian MacBrayne (Waverley’s owners at the time) agreed to sell Waverley for a pound.
Will she ever return to steam?
At the time of Waverleys purchase, returning to steam wasnt on their list of priorities. They thought she had sailed for the last time, and the PSPS were planning to convert it into static museum/restaurant. But two very active and optimistic PSPS members, Terry Sylvester and Douglas McGowan were investigating ways on how to return her to steam. After a few months of hard thinking they had it- she could be a tourist attraction for the South West region of Scotland. The city of Glasgow, Strathclyde Region and others were invited to join the experiment of returning a paddler to steam. On 8th of August, 1974 Waverley was handed over from CalMac to Waverley Steam Navigation Company Ltd., a company formed by the PSPS. That was the easy part. Waverley lay idle in the dock. But the PSPS members were not idle. Recognising the 'put up or shut up' challenge from the STG, the PSPS members and friends formed working parties and set about cleaning the ship up and ticking of items on a long maintenance list. They painted the funnels from the CalMac red with the CalMac yellow crest into her original bright pristine red, white and black. This allowed a public appeal to launched for funds to add to an anonymous gift of £10,000 and £11,000 from Glasgow Corporation. There aim was to return Waverley to steam in the summer of 1975. But the funds were drying out and Waverley’s future was uncertain. But a £30,000 grant from Strathclyde Region meant that Waverley would sail again. By April 1975 crew were being engaged. The public appeal raised £40,000 and the Scottish Tourist Board added £30,000.
"Off she goes!"
On 10th May, 1975, the boilers were lit and she left James Watt Dock for trials. After seven extremely busy days, the city of Glasgow police bagpipe band gave Waverley a magnificent send of on her first public sailing on 22nd May 1975. All who had helped with her restoration in some way were onboard for the sailing from Glasgow to Dunoon.
Recent Rebuilds
2004 Waverley saw a 'Heritage Rebuild' and she was made to look as original as possible. During this time, she saw the removal of her Crankshaft for the first time since she was built.
P.S Waverley