Clyde paddlers

[Paulrjordan]

On behalf of our Paddleducks paddlewheel fraternity all over the
world, I'd like to extend a specially warm welcome to Al Goold who
joins us from Scotland...and I suspect pretty close to the banks of
the Clyde!

I met Al on the Scotships Yahoo group which has over 500 members and
is THE place if you want to meet folks who know all about those
gorgeous Clyde paddlers. He, along with a number of other of the
Scotship list members have been so helpful in my research of "Worthing
Belle" (originally "Diana Vernon" by Barclay, Curle)and the mention of
"paddlers" sure creates a surge of email traffic..these are serious
paddler people!

Al's father sadly passed away a couple of years ago but while he was
alive, father and son shared a passion for paddlewheelers and spent
many happy hours together aboard the "classics" of the era. If I
recall correctly their favourite (and that of many modelers too) was
the fabulous "Jeanie Deans" which we have recently seen immortalized
as a 1:48 model here on Vancouver Island (Do a search for previous
posts on our "Jeanie") Al's Dad took many photographs and created a
postcard collection of the ships they travelled on, which has now
been captured on the Internet for the world to share and enjoy. Al has
painstakingly put together a gallery of fine Clyde Paddler images
which, not only truly captures the beauty of these fine ships, but
also serves as a very loving tribute to his Dad.

I urge you all to take a look at Al's Website at:
http://www.clydesteamer.co.uk/

On the homepage click "Postcards". The images load very quickly and
you'll enjoy your visit. Take a special look at the top photo on Page
6 of the beautiful "Glen Rosa" in what are probably her early "railway
colours". Now isnt THAT a sight to get the adrenalin bouncing and
wondering.."hmmm I wonder who has plans of her??"

If you need information on Scottish Steamers and shipping both past
and present, join the Scotships group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scotships

Once again, Al... a warm "welcome" to Paddleducks from us all and
don't forget to look all around our files section which embraces
paddlers feom every era and every part of the world which you can find
at:

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

May I also take this opportunity of welcoming other new Members to the
group..please take a moment to introduce yourselves and tell us a
little about your connection with paddlewheelers..model or REAL!

PJ

[Randal R Largent]

Hmmmmmmmm.
The Great Western car ferry was by Barclay, Curle.
Will keep an eye on this thread for sure
Randy

[Paulrjordan]

Randy:
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich UK keep many Barclay Curle
plans. Glasgow University and Glasgow City archives might very well
have archived material too.

It would also be worth you posting an RFI at the Scotships group as
well.

PJ

[Alistair Deayton]

GLEN ROSA was always Railway owned, The photo shows her in the Glasgow and
South Western Railway colours, which she had from her building in 1893 until
the Railway grouping in 1923. I suspect the photo was taken during a coal
strike (1919?) when only poor quality Polish coal was available

Alistair Deayton

[Paulrjordan]

This brings up a point I've been meaning to ask, Alistair. What were
the colours of SWR paddler livery as in the "Glen Rosa" photo I
mentioned? In fact I'm sure I've seen "early" black and white photos
of LNER paddlers with similar "light" colored schemes. We're so
accustomed to seeing the black hulls of the railway steamers that
their earlier "lighter" colours look very striking.

PJ

[Dallinson]

Gentlemen.

I have two books on the Clyde Paddlers.
Namely "Classic Scottish Paddle Steamers" by Alan J.S.Peterson and " Clyde
River Steamers 1872 to 1922". By Andrew McQueen

There is another book, which I don't have, called "Clyde Passenger
Steamers". By Capt Williamson. Should be good read, as it was originally
published in 1904. Probably much more data and memories available then, than
now!!

Both these books have lots of descriptions, anecdotes and lots of black and
white photos. If I can be of help to anyone looking for details on a
specific ship (or ships), by sending them photo copies, then just say the
word.

There is an interesting note on the flyleaf of the second book, covering a
subject brought up by PJ sometime ago, " A great many Clyde Steamers had
been sold in the period 1861-1863 as blockade runners to the Confederate
side in the American civil war."
It must have been an interesting time for all, ref another note "Formerly
owner-builders had regarded their steamers as advertisements and much value
was attached to their prowess in speed races, the skipper's objective was to
get his boat there first whether full or empty, the passengers being merely
a side line"

That is all for now.
Regards
David

[Paulrjordan]

Hi David!

The book you refer to is:

"THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER: its rise and progress during the
nineteenth century: from the 'Comet' of 1812 to the "King Edward' of
1901. Auth- James Williamson, Captain. English Books/Text 382pp.
illust., ports. ; 23 cm. Pub Glasgow : J. Maclehose, 1904.

This is an extremely rare book and I have never seen one come up for
sale on the net in the past year. The only copies currently available
to the public seem to be in libraries and according to OCLC Worldcat
Library locator, copies exist only in 9 (nine) of their U.S subcriber
libraries, 1 (one) in Europe (GLASGOW UNIV LIBR), and 1 (one)in Japan
(KEIO UNIV, MITA MEDIA CTR.)

IF you ever obtain a copy..announce it HERE first, please!!!!!

<Snip>
If I can be of help to anyone looking for details on a specific ship
(or ships), by sending them photo copies, then just say the word.

Thank you, David...this is very much in the spirit of our group. So
same here, in fact a couple of Frank Burtt's books I had been looking
for recently came up on Ebay and they've just arrived in Victoria.
(who says there are no bargains on Ebay!)

A lovely copy of his 1949 "Steamers of the Thames and Medway" and
(really exciting) a fine copy of his "Cross channel and Coastal
Steamers"

I have also "scored" today three very interesting American "steamboat"
books on Ebay which sold at substantially below their "used bookstore"
price. If you've got the time and know how to search, there are all
kinds of nautical book bargains on Ebay...and often overlooked by the
great auction buying populace! You need to have a pretty good idea of
the "going rates" for these books though so you don;t overbid or get
caught up in "auction fever"!.

> There is an interesting note on the flyleaf of the second book,
> covering a subject brought up by PJ sometime ago, " A great many
> Clyde Steamers had been sold in the period 1861-1863 as blockade
> runners to the Confederate side in the American civil war."

> It must have been an interesting time for all, ref another note
> "Formerly owner-builders had regarded their steamers as
> advertisements and much value was attached to their prowess in speed
> races, the skipper's objective was to get his boat there first
> whether full or empty, the passengers being merely a side line"

Thank you David... and THAT, dear Paddleducks, really sums up the
incredibly exciting and pivotal period of maritime history which
paddlewheelers represent...For every maritime nation and in every
ocean of the world there was probably no time before and since that
"the race" for speed was so prestigious and vital. In fact the more
you learn about these darned ships, the more you WANT to learn. I'm
encouraged by this trend in our forum here to research and share more
about the "REAL" ships and to discover the ENTIRE global spectrum of
this maritime phenomenon..for it is in this way that the finest models
can be built and serve as an accurate and living record for posterity,
bringing pleasure to both builder and admirer!

Keep it coming on!!

PJ

[Alistair Deayton]

GSWR steamers had grey hulls and red black-topped funnels.
LNER had grey hulls from 1936-1939.
MacBrayne had grey hulls for a few weeks in summer 1930, but soon reverted
to black.
CSP had navy blue hulls prior to 1914 but changed to black after the war

Alistair

[Stuart Badger]

Dear all

Have been reading these posts with interest whilst labouring on with 'Old
Trafford/Reliant'. Just a reminder (if I'm not teaching you all to suck
eggs) that David McGregor sells a very nice set of drawings of a Liverpool
built Civil War Blockade Runner, the ps Hope

While we're on the research theme, I recently contacted Dundee city archives
and after talking to an amazingly helpful lady have received in the post
copies of the complete set of original builders drawings for the paddle
steamer 'SS Zampa' She was built in 1875 by Gourlay brothers for use as a
Danish river steamer and trader. She was 190 ft in length and the plans show
wonderful detail of all her decks, saloons even the internal fittings such
as cooking ranges bathrooms etc. - Not to forget the gentleman's smoking
saloon and ladies withdrawing saloon!! And the price for 3 enormous sheets
of drawings including the postage?? - the princely sum of £12 ! The drawings
are to 1/4 inch to the foot scale with some views in 1/8th inch and they
include all the lines sections etc.
I recently paid for a set of tug drawing of similar detail (although
smaller) from the National Maritime Museum £65.75 - some difference!

They also hold drawings in their collection for ps Cleethorpes (1903),
profile drawings for the ps Riberthuus (1875) and general arrangement
drawings for the psScotia (1894) . They have a massive selection of Gourlay
brothers drawings but none of the rest have those interesting wheely things
at the sides or back!! :-) BUT they do hold drawings for the engine of the
ps Pharos (1874). full list can be seen at
http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/archives/gourlay2.htm

Any way - enough Rambling - I just need someone out there who has heard of
the SS Zampa and knows what colours she was painted. Alternatively does any
one know what the company colours of the Forenede Dampskibs Selskab Of Stege
Denmark were?? - Go on - surprise
me------------------------------------------PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

Stuart Badger

[Alistair Deayton]

ZAMPA operated from 1875 to 1876 from Copenhagen to Kiel with a lot of
intermediate stops
from 1877 to 1900 from Copenhagen to Horsens
from 1901 to 191 on the Kalundborg to Aarhus route
was withdrawn in 1910 and scrapped the following year.
The owners are better known as DFDS, and had a black hull and paddle boxes,
the funnel was black with a broad red band
There is a photo of her in the DFDS company 125-year history published in
1991

An email or letter to the company head office at Copenhagen may get you more
information
www.dfds.com

Alistair Deayton

[Stuart Badger]

Alistair!!!!

You star you! I just knew someone would know - and I'm kicking myself for
not transposing the co name to DFDS -- duh! Thank you SO much for the info
and the pointer to the company - I shall of course contact them - thanks
again.

Stuart Badger