Late Victorian & Edwardian Era Scottish Passenger Steamers (Part Two)

"SS Queen Alexandra" at Cambeltown, Kintyre

This is a further gallery which features a series of views of late Victorian to Edwardian era Scottish passenger paddle and screw steamers. Sadly few examples of this type of transport remain, let alone in operation.

 A very (!) crowded "SS Queen Alexandra" sailing on the Firth of Clyde,
pre 1908

The Turbine Screw Steamer "SS Queen Alexandra" was built by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton in 1902 but had a relatively short career on the Clyde. A serious fire on the 10th September 1911 left her so badly damaged that her owners, "The Turbine Steamers Syndicate", ordered a replacement. Her new owners, the Canadian Pacific Railway, had her repaired and thence, renamed "Princess Patricia" then she sailed the west coast of Canada until being broken up in 1937. Her sister ship, the "S.S. King Edward", although slightly smaller and slower, continued sailing until 1951. Both postcards date from 1908.

"P.S. Lord of the Isles" (built 1877) at Inverary, circa 1890

The Paddle Steamer "P.S. Lord of the Isles" was built for The Glasgow Steamboat Company by D & W Henderson of Partick in 1877. She remained on the Clyde for 13 years before being sold to the Victoria Steamboat Association (VSA) in 1890 thereafter being employed as an excursion steamer on the Thames River, London. She suffered the ignominious fate of having both funnels smashed when she ran into London Bridge in 1894. Lord of the Isles sailed to the Essex coast and despite poor reliability she was a firm favourite with her London passengers. The VSA suffered financial problems and in 1896 "Lord of the Isles" was sold and renamed Jupiter. Her new owners ran her to Southend and Margate for a few seasons before she was laid up. In 1904 she was again sold and returned to her native Clyde, being renamed "Lady of the Isles". She was not a success, being too old fashioned for the discerning Clyde trade and after just one season she was broken up at Dumbarton in 1905.

A Paddle Steamer at Lochgoilhead Pier, Loch Goil

This unknown paddle steamer moored at Lochgoilhead at the head of Loch Goil emphasises the important service which such steamers provided to otherwise relatively remote and sparsely populated areas.

Bibliography :

- Internet Sources 

- All images are from my own personal collections and may be freely copied for non-commercial use provided a link is given back to this page.