Welcome to our fifth instalment of the Railway 200 Fridays where we highlight connections between maritime heritage and the 200 years of history of modern railways. May signaled the start of the sailing season for many historic vessels on the National Register of Historic Vessels (NRHV), including a member of the National Historic Fleet, Paddle Steamer Waverley - the focus of today's article!
PS Waverley was built in 1946 on the Clyde in Scotland for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). She is both the last Clyde paddle steamer built and the last operational sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Her sea trials were undertaken in June 1947, and she joined the LNER paddle steamer fleet the very same month.
During her working life Waverley, just like her namesake predecessor, was used as a passenger carrier and pleasure cruiser, helping connect different towns within the Firth of Clyde. She was built to replace her namesake after the first Waverley (built in 1899) was bombed and sunk during Operation Dynamo on the 29 May 1940 - Thursday last week marked the 85th anniversary of her sinking. Many of the surviving Dunkirk Little Ships have celebrated the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo with commemorative trips to the coast of France last month, including vessels on the NRHV, such as motor yachts Llanthony and Papillon, and the Thames sailing barge Pudge.
Waverley enjoyed only one year in service of the LNER. The nationalisation of Britain's railways in 1948 saw her change colours from red, white, and black of the LNER company to the yellow and black of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, her new owner. She operated on the Clyde throughout the 1950s and 60s under their banner and, by 1969, she was the only remaining paddle steamer of the old fleet. 1973 saw the Caledonian Steam Packet Company merge with MacBraynes and continue operating under Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Waverley's funnels turned red, with a yellow circle encompassing a lion, to signal the company change. As with the LNER, she spent only one season under those colours, with 1974 seeing her withdrawn from service due to high operational costs. Luckily, her cruising days weren't over.
The fate of Waverley was secured for future generations when the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS), a registered UK charity, bought her on 8 August 1974 from Caledonian MacBrayne for the token sum of £1. Douglas McGowan MBE, current president of PSPS, recalled that his friend and colleague, Terry Sylvester, did not join him for the meeting with Caledonian MacBrayne as he did not appreciate taking an 800-mile journey “just to be told we were being presented with the ship’s bell as a souvenir”. Luckily, McGowan could inform him that they also "got the rest of the ship as well". The PSPS successfully brought Waverley back into service as a sea-going paddle steamer, her livery returning to the LNER colour scheme of red, white, and black, which we can still admire today.
Seventy years ago, Waverley steamed across the Clyde and Scottish lochs, connecting Craigendoran and Balloch Pier with trains bound for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Today, she is sailing all around the British Isles, from the Hebrides to the Isle of Wight, calling at over 70 ports and piers. As part of her Railway 200 celebrations, she is offering cruises around the South Coast & Isle of Wight which will allow her passengers to connect with the Swanage Railway and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Her trips around the Bristol Channel & South West Wales will provide opportunities to visit the West Somerset, Lynton & Barnstable, and Brecon Mountain Railways, and a special cruise in August will connect the Waverley with the Dartmouth Steam Railway. Her work with heritage railways doesn't stop on train connections, either! Two of her upcoming Glasgow & Clyde Coast trips will see her going down the original LNER route up Loch Long to Arrochar, taking everyone back in time to the 1940s and her glorious first year as a railway paddle steamer.
If you are interested in joining Waverley on one of her special RAIL 200 cruises, you can find more information and how to book here. Later this month we will bring you news about Bristol, its ships, and their connections to railways. Until then, we wish you clear skies and smooth sailing through June!
Learn more about the Waverley and her connections to rail:
2 October 1946 – Launch of Waverley
Waverley’s First Day in Service – 16th June 1947
Historical LNER timetables available through The LNER Society
