Welcome Alistair

[Straw Boss]

On behalf of Paddleducks all around the world, I like to extend a
VERY warm welcome to Alistair (Deayton)
Alistair@deayton.freeserve.co.uk who has joined us from Paisley in
Scotland (how well I remember the on-the-ice duels between the
ferocious "Paisley Pirates" and our "Brighton Tigers.

Alistair is a very knowledgable contributor to the forums at
Scotships@yahoo.groups (all about the Scottish Ships past and
present) and also PSWaverley@Yahoogroups for all supporters of Paddle
Steamer "Waverley" ..just about the most famous sidewheeler this side
of the Atlantic..and mercifully..still operating!

As you all know we have an affinity for the beautiful, sleek "Clyde
Paddlers" many of whom were named after famous characters in Sir
Walter Scott's Classic novels. In fact my exposure to them was, as a
child when a number of them (including "Waverley 2") plied the South
Coast of England where I grew up.

I do invite you to visit our archives (files/links) which contain
paddlewheeler information submitted by our enthusiasts from all
around the world ..it's a fascinating place to visit.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files

You'll find a section on Clyde Paddlers there and in our Paddleducks
gallery I believe is a spectacular model photo of "Jeannie Deans"
here on Vancouver Island. We also have a lovely 1/48 R/C model
of "Waverley" in our Club and I just saw another one (a static model)
which is for sale in a jewelry store in Victoria for around
$1,000.00. (apparently professionally built in England at a cost of
$5,000.00) Paddleduck Dave Powell has also just conducted sea trials
on his sidepaddler based on the famous LNER Sidewheeler "Talisman".

I hope Alistair will be a constant contributor and resource in
Paddleducks and I look forward to seeing our archives grow with more
images and information on Scottish Paddlers of ALL description
...specially some of those great looking little steam tugs. I would
also love to hear about anyone else modeling Scottish paddlers.

So, please do tell us about yourself, Alistair, and about any
model boats you have built or owned, especially paddlers.
Please feel free to add images to the galleries and once, again,
we're glad to have you join us. WELCOME!!!

Paul J
(Paddleducks Moderator)

PS Alistair..on your next trip aboard "Waverley" can you please peek
in the engine room and tell us if her paddle shafts are connected
(or can be disengaged from each other) or maybe you could simply
phone the Chief engineer and ask for us !

[Alistair Deayton]

Thank you for your kind welcome.
I do not make models and have never made models since my childhood.
I have researched and am continuing to research surviving paddle (and screw)
steamers throughout the world, and I had an article with a full list,
published in Steamboat Bill last year.
JEANIE DEANS is spelt with one "n", not two.
There were few paddle tugs in Scotland, certainly only one in post-war
years, but some survived on the north-east coast of England, including the
Eppleton Hall, now in San Francisco, and the RELIANT, which was in the
National Maritime Museum at Greenwich until they re-arranged the displays in
the Neptune Hall and managed to lose the parts which they had dismantled her
into.
The Waverley on the south coast was not a Clyde steamer. P & A Campbell
originated on the Clyde, but moves to Bristol Their last WAVERLEY was
originally the BARRY of the Barry Railway Company and was lost in 1941
whilst serving as a minesweeper.
It was not normal for paddle steamers this side of the Atlantic to have a
split paddle shaft. The WAVERLEY and others I have seen in the UK,
Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Hungary, Austria and Denmark all have a
single paddle shaft, >

Alistair Deayton
Paisley
Scotland

[Paulrjordan]

Sadly it seems as though there a barely more than a handful of
surviving paddlers in the UK. Has your "Steamboat Bill" list found
its way to the internet yet or is there some web site that catalogues
surviving paddlewheelers throughout the world? We have had
discussions here about the remarkable collection of surviving
paddlewheelers on the Murray River in Australia which I'm sure you are
also familiar with.

> There were few paddle tugs in Scotland, certainly only one in
> post-war years, but some survived on the north-east coast of
> England, including the Eppleton Hall, now in San Francisco, and the
> RELIANT, which was in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich
> until they re-arranged the displays in the Neptune Hall and managed
> to lose the parts which they had dismantled her into.

Yes, and both shameful examples of the neglect for the British
Maritime heritage ! In many ways it parallels the era of steam
locomotives, which seem to have always had far more attention and
money lavished on their preservation than ships.

> The Waverley on the south coast was not a Clyde steamer. P & A
> Campbell originated on the Clyde, but moves to Bristol. Their last
> WAVERLEY was originally the BARRY of the Barry Railway Company and
> was lost in 1941 whilst serving as a minesweeper.

Thank you for correcting this...so what is the history of the current
"Waverley"?

> It was not normal for paddle steamers this side of the Atlantic to
> have a split paddle shaft. The WAVERLEY and others I have seen in
> the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Hungary, Austria and
> Denmark all have a single paddle shaft,

Well this certainly clarifies the issue somewhat. So as I understand
it now, these were permanently fixed shafts that could not be detached
for ANY independant control of the wheels. I'd be fascinated to learn
more about the "laws" which may have related to the "split shafts".

Thanks for this info, Alistair, and if you see any other mistakes in
my postings, don't hesitate to correct them. I'm going to correct
'Jeanie's" spelling now!

PJ