Caledonian Steam Packet Company
IndustryShipping
Founded1889
Defunct1973
FateTaken over
SuccessorCaledonian MacBrayne
Area served
Clyde and West of Scotland
PS Caledonia in 1960, in CSP yellow and black funnel livery

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company provided a scheduled shipping service, carrying freight and passengers, on the west coast of Scotland. Formed in 1889 to complement the services of the Caledonian Railway, the company expanded by taking over rival ferry companies. In 1973, they were merged with MacBraynes as Caledonian MacBrayne.

Formation

Rival railway companies, the Caledonian Railway (CR), the North British Railway (NBR) and the Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) at first used the services of various early private operators of Clyde steamers. The CR failed to attract private ship owners to their new extension from Greenock to the fishing village of Gourock.[1] They had purchased the harbour at Gourock, which had advantages of a faster line from Glasgow, bypassing the Glasgow and South Western Railway Prince's Pier at Greenock, and being closer to the Clyde resorts. The CR began operating steamers on its own account in 1889.

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP) was formed as a packet company in May 1889,[2] with Captain James Williamson as secretary and manager.[3] Nominally an independent company, they bought the ships needed to operate steamer services to and from Gourock. On withdrawal of the Wemyss Bay Steamboat Company in 1890, CSP took over services to Rothesay, Largs and Millport.[4] In June 1890, they established a service to Arran from the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway railhead at Ardrossan. In the years that followed, there was significant investment in piers and ships.[1]

Amalgamations

PS Waverley in 1970, funnels in CSP livery with red lion rampant
PS Waverley restored to its original LNER livery

After years of fierce competition between all the fleets, the CR and GSWR amalgamated with several other railways at the start of 1923 to form the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and their fleets amalgamated into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, their funnels being painted yellow with a black top. At the same time the NBR (and its shipping fleet) also amalgamated with other railways to create the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), which built the PS Waverley in 1947.

In 1935, Williamson-Buchanan Steamers was taken over by the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.

In 1945, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company took responsibility for the Kyleakin to Kyle of Lochalsh ferry.

With nationalisation in 1948, the LMS and LNER fleets were amalgamated as Clyde Shipping Services,[5] under the control of the British Transport Commission.

In 1957 a reorganisation restored the Caledonian Steam Packet Company name,[5] and in 1965 a red lion was added to each side of the black-topped yellow funnels. The headquarters remained at Gourock pierhead.

At the end of December 1968 management of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company passed to the Scottish Transport Group, which gained control of David MacBrayne's the following June. The MacBrayne service from Gourock to Ardrishaig ended on 30 September 1969, leaving the Clyde services entirely to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.

Merger with MacBraynes

On 1 January 1973 the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. acquired most of the ships and routes of David MacBrayne Ltd and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne, with a combined headquarters at Gourock.[6]

List of ships operated by the company

Sources[7][8][9][10]

Type Name Built Tonnage (GRT) Operated Notes
PSMeg MerriliesBarclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow, 18832441889-1902ex Capt. Robert Campbell
Sold for service in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scrapped in 1921.
PSCaledonia (I)Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock, 18892441889-1933Scrapped in Barrow-in-Furness in 1933.
PSGalateaCaird & Co., Greenock, 18893311889-1906Scrapped in Palermo in 1911.
PSMadge WildfireMcKnight, Ayr, 18862201890-1911ex Capt. Robert Campbell
Scrapped at Troon in 1946.
PSMarchioness of BredalbaneJohn Reid & Co., Port Glasgow, 18902461890-1935Sold for scrap in 1935, but saved for use as an excursion steamer in Great Yarmouth. Scrapped in 1937 in Germany.
PSMarchioness of ButeJohn Reid & Co., Port Glasgow, 18902461890-1908Sold to Tay Pleasure Steamers in 1908. Scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1923.
PSDuchess of Hamilton (I)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 18905331890-1914She served as a minesweeper during World War I. She struck a mine in the Thames Estuary, laid by German submarine UC-3, and sank on 29 November 1915.
PSMarchioness of Lorne (I)Russell & Co., Port Glasgow, 18912951891-1914Returned after World War I, but not re-commissioned, lay at Bowling Harbour until scrapped in 1923.
PSDuchess of RothesayJ. & G. Thomson, Clydebank, 18953381895-1939Scrapped in the Netherlands after World War II.
PSDuchess of Montrose (I)John Brown & Co., Clydebank, 19023211902-1914Sunk whilst serving as minesweeper, 1917
PSDuchess of FifeFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19033361903-1953Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1953.
TSDuchess of ArgyllWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19065931906-1952Sold to Admiralty for use as a test vessel in Portland. Scrapped at Newhaven in 1970.
PSIvanhoeD. & W. Henderson & Co., Glasgow, 18802821897-1911
1916-1919 (charter)
ex Firth of Clyde Steam Packet Co.
Scrapped at Dumbarton in 1919.
SSQueen of the LakeAilsa Shipbuilding Co., Ayr, 19071521922-1949Scrapped at Kenmore in 1950.
SSCountess of Breadalbane (I)Abercorn Shipbuilding Co, Paisley, 1882951922-1936Scrapped at Loch Awe in 1936.
SSLady of the LakeAnderson & Lyall, Govan, 1882681922-1929Scrapped at Kenmore in 1929.
SSSybilla18821922-1929Scrapped
PSPrince EdwardA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19113041923-1955Scrapped at Balloch in 1955.
TSAtlantaJohn Brown & Co., Clydebank, 19064861923-1937Scrapped at Ghent in 1946.
PSJuno (I)Clydebank Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, 18985921923-1932Scrapped at Alloa in 1932.
PSGlen Sannox (I)James & George Thomson, Clydebank, 18926101923-1925Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1925.
TSDuchess of Montrose (II)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19308061930-1965Scrapped at Ghent in 1965.
TSDuchess of Hamilton (II)Harland & Wolff, Govan, 19328011932-1971Scrapped at Troon in 1974.
PSCaledonia (II)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19346241934-1969Sold for use as a floating pub in central London. Suffered fire damage beyond repair on 27 April 1980 and scrapped in Sittingbourne as a result.[11]
PSEagle IIIA. & J. Inglis/Napier and Miller, 19094321935-1946Acquired from Williamson-Buchanan Steamers in 1935, requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1939, returned in 1945 but not returned to service, scrapped in 1946.[12]
PSMarchioness of LorneFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19354491935-1955
MVWee CumbraeWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1936361935-1953
MVArran MailWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19361371936-1951
MVCountess of BreadalbaneWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19361061936-1971
TSMarchioness of GrahamFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19365851936-1958
PSJupiterFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19376421937-1960
PSJunoFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19376421937-1939Bombed and sunk whilst serving as HMS Helvellyn, 20 March 1941
MVAshtonWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1938381938-1965
MVLevenWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1938381938-1966
PSGlen Rosa (I)J. & G. Thomson, Clydebank, 18933061938-1939ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway
TSGlen Sannox (II)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19256641938-1954ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Scrapped at Ghent in 1954.
PSMercuryFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 19346211938-1939ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway. She struck a mine and sank in the Irish Sea whilst serving as a minesweeper, 24 December 1940
TSKing EdwardWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19015511943-1952ex Williamson-Buchanan Steamers
TSQueen Mary IIWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1933870
later 1,014
1943-1973ex Williamson-Buchanan Steamers, to CalMac in 1973
TS Queen Mary laid up in harbour at Greenock in 1981. The funnel was later removed and replaced with two smaller ones, as the ship originally had.
MVSkyeJ Miller & Sons, St Monance, 19228align="center"1945-1950
MVKyleakin (I)Webster & Bickerton Ltd, Goole, 192871945-1951
MVMoilH. McLean & Sons, Renfrew, 1936151945-1954
MVCuillinWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1942241945-1954
PSQueen-EmpressMurdoch & Murray, Port Glasgow, 19124111946De-requisitioned 1946 and returned to CSP (as successors to Williamson-Buchanan Steamers) but not recommissioned
PSPrincess MayA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 18992561948-1953Scrapped at Balloch in 1953.
PSLucy AshtonT. B. Seath & Co., Rutherglen, 18882241948-1949Scrapped at Faslane in 1951.
SSArran (I)Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd, Ardrossan, 19332081949-1958Renamed SS Kildonan (I) in 1952. Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1958.
SSMinardScott & Sons, Bowling, Glasgow, 19252411949-1955Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1955.
SSArdyneScott & Sons, Bowling, Glasgow, 19282421949-1955Scrapped at Troon in 1955.
MVCoruisk (I)Yorkshire Yacht Building Co., Bridlington, 1947191950-1954
PSJeanie DeansFairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan, 1931814
(as modified)
1951-1965ex British Transport Commission. Scrapped at Antwerp in 1968.
DEPVDEPV TalismanA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19355441951-1967ex British Transport Commission
PSWaverleyA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19466931951-1973ex British Transport Commission, to CalMac in 1973
MVLochalsh (I)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1951241951-1958
MVPortree (I)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1951531952-1967
PSMaid of the LochA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19535551953-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVArran (II)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19535681953-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVMaid of ArgyllA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19535081953-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVMaid of AshtonYarrow & Co., Scotstoun, 19535081953-1973
MVMaid of CumbraeArdrossan Dockyard, 19535081953-1973
MVMaid of SkelmorlieA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, 19535081953-1973
MVBute (VI)Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon, 19545691954-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVCowal (II)Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon, 19545691954-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVBroadford (I)Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 1954571954-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVGlen Sannox (III)Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon, 19571,1071957-1973to CalMac in 1973. Grounded in 2000 off Saudi Arabia in this position.
MVLochalsh (II)Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon, 1957601957-1972Converted and renamed MV Scalpay (II) in 1972, to MacBrayne's in 1972, then to CalMac in 1973.
MVKyleakin (II)Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon, 1960601960-1973Converted and renamed MV Largs in 1972, to CalMac in 1973
TSCaledonian PrincessWm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, 19613,6291961-1968to British Rail (Sealink)
MVPortree (II)James Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow, 1965631965-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVBroadford (II)James Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow, 1966641967-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVKeppelJ Samuel White, Southampton, 19612141967-1973ex British Railways (Eastern Region) MV Rose, to CalMac in 1973
MVEilean DhuUnknown, 1940281969-1970
MVDhuirnishJames Noble Ltd, Fraserburgh, 1957291969-1971
MVEilean BuidheDickie of Tarbert Ltd, Tarbert Loch Fyne, 1963341969-1971
MVCoruisk (II)Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon, 1969601969-1973to CalMac in 1973
ACVHM2 - 011Hovermarine Transport Ltd, Southampton, 1970121970-1972Experimental hovercraft.
MVCaledoniaA/S Langesunds Mek Versted, Norway, 19661,1571970-1973ex Stena Line MV Stena Baltica, to CalMac in 1973. Scrapped in Turkey in 2005.
MVKyleakin (III)Newport Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Wales, 19702251970-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVLochalsh (III)Newport Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Wales, 19712251971-1973to CalMac in 1973
MVKilbrannanJames Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow, 1972651972-1973to CalMac in 1973

References

  1. 1 2 "Caledonian Steam Packet Company". Scran - part of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  2. Duckworth, CLD; Langmuir, GE (1968). Railway and other Steamers. Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson and Sons.
  3. Bernard Dumpleton. The Story of the Paddle Steamer.
  4. Williamson, James (1904). Clyde passenger steamers. Glasgow: J. Maclehose. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  5. 1 2 Thorbjørn Campbell (13 May 2013). Arran: A History. Birlinn. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-85790-590-1.
  6. "New shipping firm to serve West of Scotland". The Glasgow Herald. 2 January 1973. p. 9. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  7. "Clydebuilt Ships Database". Archived from the original on 15 April 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. "Clyde Steamers website". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "Tramscape paddle steamers database". Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  10. "British Paddle Steamers". www.paddlesteamers.info. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  11. "Caledonia". www.paddlesteamers.info. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. Paterson, Alan J. S. (1982). Classic Scottish Paddle Steamers. David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8335-3.
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