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With some exceptions, ferry services on the Clyde are run by Caledonian-MacBrayne, a state-owned company formed out of the merger of the state owned Caledonian Steam Packet Company (operating on the Firth of Clyde) and David MacBrayne Ltd, a part privately owned company operating services in the Western Isles. Whilst MacBrayne had, for most of the steamer era, been in a monopoly position in its area, the Clyde was subject to continuous, often ruinous, competition.

Small fleets and independent vessels run by private owners essentially gave way in 1889 to the three main competing railway companies, who were extending their tracks to the Clyde coast and established fleets to challenge for the commuter traffic and the increasing tourist excursion trade, especially to the resorts of Dunoon (Cowal), Rothesay (Bute) and Brodick (Arran). A significant market developed for cruising in its own right, especially to escape the industrial city of Glasgow at weekends.

Only following railway nationalisation after the Second World War did the fleets eventually combine under the title of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. Caledonian-MacBrayne disposed of the last Paddle Steamer (Waverley) after the 1973 season and the last Turbine Steamer (Queen Mary) four years later. Cal-Mac as they are commonly known, now operate a series of ferry shuttle services across the Firth, providing highly efficient links for cars, cargo and foot passengers. Waverley, now under the charitable ownership of the Waverley Steam Navigation Company, continues the cruising tradition of the "Clyde Steamer".

The 1930s saw the final development of the Clyde paddle steamer, a story which began in 1812 with the pioneering vessel "Comet". The operators of the Clyde Steamers, mainly railway companies, which had fought a long and hard battle for supremacy in the trade, had severely outdated fleets and all embarked on a programme of modernisation which was the greatest since the "Golden Years" of 1890-1904. What was unusual was that the modernisation involved the use of tried and tested technology - steam, and in the case of all the ferry workhorses, paddles. Whilst this was understandable in the case of the London & North Eastern Railway's Jeanie Deans due to draught restrictions at her home base of Craigendoran, other operators had no such problem yet still chose steamers, including paddle steamers, over motor vessels. With a few exceptions, these were the last side-wheel paddle steamers built for use in Europe.

Not until the early 1950s were motor vessels prominent on Clyde ferry services, both as a cost-cutting measure and associated with the radical new designs needed to handle the growing traffic in motor cars. The introduction of the paddle steamer Waverley in 1947 could be seen as a conservative measure, but she was to sail out of Craigendoran and in any case it made sense to replace war losses quickly with tried and tested technology. She was to be the last. After a relatively short life, or so it seemed, she was withdrawn in 1973 and the turbine steamer Queen Mary thus became the last of an extensive fleet of steamers. Placed in the hands of preservationists, Waverley has continued the tradition to this day, whilst the "commercial" operators disposed of Queen Mary in 1977 to concentrate on car ferry services 

It has to be recognised that the paddle steamers were to all intents and purposes the ferries of their day and whilst the large turbine steamers could be regarded as excursion ships, for most, any excursion work was an "add-on" to their ferrying duties. Whilst Waverley does continue the tradition, the services of Caledonian-MacBrayne and Western Ferries now provide what the paddlers once provided - but in a different way, adapted to modern needs and "cargoes".

Clyde Steamer Operations and new ships built in the 1930s

The 1960s - the last full decade of steam - or that's how it seemed at the time......

CURRENT STEAMSHIP OPERATORS

Caledonian-MacBrayne inherited the services of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company but are now purely ferry operators. Waverley continues to spend the summer season on a traditional cruise programe under her charitable preservationist owners Waverley Steam Navigation Company and operated by Waverley Excursions Ltd.  The ship is owned on behalf of the Paddle Steamer preservation Society, which is also the majority shareholder in Waverley Steam Navigation Company.

Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd / Waverley Excursions Ltd (1975-date)

Rothesay was the prime destination for cruise boats from the mainland - an essential stop for boats going around Bute or to other destinations in the outer Firth and the main destination for holiday makers and excursionists in its own right. In the heyday of the steamers it could get very busy in Rothesay Bay. In this view taken in the early 1960s by Alexander Bain, two steamers (the paddler Jeanie Deans and the turbine steamer Queen Mary II) head off in different directions.To the left of the photo is one of the three "ABC" class car ferries, which provided the basis shuttle service from Wemyss Bay. 

Photo by kind courtesy of Donald Bain

General Bibliography and books about Clyde Steamers
Books relating specifically to individual operators and vessels are shown under the appropriate entry.

Dunoon Pier - a celebration
Ian McCrorie
Published in 1997 by Argyll Publishing, Glendaruel, Argyll  PA22 3AE
ISBK 1 874640 68 8
Extensive illustrated history of the pier and services at one of the Clyde's premier resorts in Ian McCrorie's informative and highly readably style. In hardback

Tighnabruaich Pier
Ian McCrorie
Published in 2002 by the Thighnabruaich Pier Association and Douglas press, Glendaruel, Argyll, PA22 3AE
ISBN 1 902831 82 9
Detailed story, copiously illustrated, of the pier on the Kyles of Bute, a favoured destination for cruises for generations

Lochranza Pier
Ian McCrorie
Published in 2003 by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, The Ferry Terminal, Gourock, PA19 1QP
ISBN 0 9507166 2 6
Written by Clyde steamer expert Ian McCrorie to celebrate the reopening of the pier on the isle of Arran for use by PS Waverley

Glory Days - Clyde Steamers
Brian Patton
First Published in 2003 by Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, Hersham, Surrey, KT12 4RG
ISBN 0 7110 2925 3
Clear text and informative extended captions alongside excellent illustrations. Nothing new but nevertheless an excellent review of the history of Clyde Steamers for beginners and experts alike

Steamers of the Clyde : NB & LNER
Alaistair Deayton
Published 2000 by Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG   www.tempus-publishing.com
ISBN 0 7524 2107 7
Brief history of the Clyde's "north bank" fleet followed by illustrations with informative captions written up by one of the acknowledged experts on Clyde (and other steamers)

ASSOCIATED WEBSITE : CLYDE TURBINE STEAMERS

Although Clyde Steamer fleets were dominated by paddle steamers, the introduction of the turbine steamer King Edward in 1901 dramatically improved the quality of the long-distance day excursion fleet. The world's first ever passenger ship powered by turbines brought a new level of speed, comfort and smoothness and in the next 35 years a number of excellent vessels joined the Clyde fleet.

The only surviving example is TS Queen Mary (seen above in 1967 at Tighnabruaich in a photo by Jake Dale) which sailed from 1933 to 1977 and later served as a floating restaurant in London. In 2014 she was purchased by the Friends of TS Queen Mary, a Scottish charity, with the intention to return her to Glasgow for static use

Click here for Clyde Turbine Steamers

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