Waverley Departs is a photograph by Steve Purnell which was uploaded on September 6th, 2015.
Waverley Departs
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to... more
Title
Waverley Departs
Artist
Steve Purnell
Medium
Photograph
Description
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. Bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, she has been restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast.
Since 2003 Waverley has been listed in the British National Register of Historic Ships core collection as "a vessel of pre-eminent national importance". She appeared in the 2011 film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
PS Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scott's first novel. She was built in 1946 to replace a PS Waverley that was built in 1899, served in the Second World War as a minesweeper and was sunk in 1940 while helping to evacuate troops from Dunkirk. Shipbuilders A. & J. Inglis of Glasgow launched the new 693 tonne steamer in October 1946. She entered service with the London and North Eastern Railway in June 1947, working the LNER's Firth of Clyde steamer route from Craigendoran Pier, near Helensburgh, up Loch Long to Arrochar. In her first year in service she wore that company's red, white and black funnel colours.
The 1948 nationalisation of Britain's railways brought their Scottish steamers into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP), a subsidiary of the Railway Executive, and the funnels were repainted yellow with a black top. In 1965 a Scottish red lion rampant was fixed to each side of both funnels. Waverley's hull was painted monastral blue[clarification needed] until 1970.
After a revival of fortunes in the 1950s, the 1960s saw a gradual change in holiday habits that led to a decline in passenger numbers and the closure of many of the small piers. 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. In 1973 the company became Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd (CalMac).
(Description courtesy of Wikipedia)
Uploaded
September 6th, 2015
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Comments (13)
Ann Horn
Wonderful capture of the historic steamer and its many passengers, Steve. That cloudy sky is simply beautiful! f/l
Vickie Emms
I've been on the Waverley. In 1998 when I last visited my homeland Scotland my aunt and cousin took us for a days outting on her.Took us around all the islands around Arran
Steve Purnell replied:
Many thanks Vickie. Yes, my parents used to take me on her in the late '50's/early 60's.