Models of Clyde Steamers

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Glasgow Museums has a collection of ship models representing passenger steamships which served on routes on the Clyde and around the Firth of Clyde. From Henry Bell’s tiny Comet of 1812 to the iconic Waverley, still regularly sailing on the Clyde today, these vessels provided essential passenger connections and light cargo carriage between Glasgow and the towns of the river, firth and associated sea-lochs. The early steamers were owned by small companies, such as the Dumbarton Steamboat Co, owners of Loch Lomond (1845), or family-owned firms, such as the Campbell’s of Kilmun or Williamson’s of Rothesay and tended to provide services direct from the Broomielaw or between the Firth of Clyde piers. As the nineteenth century progressed the steamer services became more entwined with the railways – the North British Railway Company on the north banks of the Clyde and the Glasgow and Southwestern Railway Company and the Caledonian Railway Company to the south. They came to provide a unique system of integrated rail and steamer transport giving regular departures and speedy transits from their piers at Helensburgh, Greenock, Gourock and Wemyss Bay. Nationalisation of the railways saw most passenger ferry services taken over by British Railways from 1947 and by Caledonian MacBrayne from 1973. There are 41 models of vessels ranging from very simple builder’s design models of steamers such as Sultana (1868) to wonderfully detailed display models such as that showing Meg Merrilies (1866). As speed was an important feature of the Clyde services, many steamers were built with the most advanced types of engines and boilers, in particular the pioneering passenger turbine steamer King Edward (1901). Steamer providers also competed to have the most elegant and luxurious vessels on their routes and this can be particularly seen in the model of Glen Sannox (1892), which shows the vessel’s salmon and grey livery as well as the stylish internal features of her saloons. Paddle steamer Waverley (1947) and turbine steamer Queen Mary are the “last of the line” in terms of the traditional Clyde steamer and the former still operates a summer service on the river and firth, offering trips “Doon the Watter” to new generations of lovers of sea air and steam technology.

Broader term

Shipping

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Emily Malcolm