22nd January 2013

22nd January 2013 - The Paddle Steamer 'Waverley'.

Gordon Wilson

At our meeting on 22nd January, we were joined by members from Carluke Probus Club and we welcomed Gordon Wilson, from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, who gave a fascinating talk about the P.S. Waverley. She was built at Inglis’s Yard on the site of the present Glasgow Transport Museum in 1946 at a cost of £145,000 and was licensed to carry 1350 passengers, originally coal fired but later converted to oil. She replaced the first Waverley which was built in 1899 and was sunk at Dunkirk in 1940. In 1972, as the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, she was sold by Calmac to the Preservation Society for £1. She has operated all round the British coast and now spends the Summer operating excursions from Ayr, Largs, Dunoon etc. It is estimated that she contributes £8 million a year to the West of Scotland economy. She was re-boilered in 1981 and largely re-built with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2001/3. Her engines produce 2100 H.P., normal speed is 13 knots, she costs £250,000 per year to run and has a seasonal crew of about 30. Gordon was thanked for his very interesting talk. Our next meeting will be on 5th February when Jane Masters will talk about the New Lanark roof garden

Back to 2012 - 2013 programme