On Fridays from 6th July to 24th August 1962 our Waverley was advertised in the steamer notices to run the “Up River Cruise to Glasgow Viewing the famous shipyards and docks of the Clyde”. Leaving Largs at 10.15am (with motor vessel connection from Millport at 9.25am), she was due at Glasgow at 1.50pm with return departure at 4.20pm for arrival back at Largs at 7.55pm
However it was not always Waverley which took these sailings even though she was billed as the boat doing it. For example on Friday 10th August, with Waverley otherwise engaged on a private charter, it was Caledonia which took her place as she had also done on Friday 6th July. On this occasion on 10th August, Caledonia developed a problem with her steering on the return leg delaying her for almost an hour at Gourock.
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
This article was first published on 10th August 2019.
