PSPS GENERAL MEETING - On Nov 15th about 70 members packed into Waverley's dining saloon to approve increased Society subscriptions and receive a report on the operation of the steamer in 1975. The vessel had, with one or two exceptions a highly successful season and members expressed their admiration and thanks to the directors of WSN for their enthusiasm and hard work.
WAVERLEY RECORD OF 1975 - Extracts from the log of Capt. Neill provided a graphic day to day illustration of the first operational season in the colours of WSN - a tribute to Waverley's officers, crew, and directors.
May 1 - May 8 Ship's articles opened at James Watt Dock, Greenock, crew signed on.…
May 10 Steam being raised….
May 12 DTI present for life saving, fire fighting and load line surveys…..
May 15 Vessel leaves dock and proceeds to Gourock to uplift gangways, compass adjustments, then to Anderston Quay….
May 22 Inaugural cruise.…
June 15 Supt Engineer injured at 05.45 when carrying out boiler repairs. Scheduled sailing to Kyles of Bute….
July 7 Ayr and Brodick. 17.15 Boiler trouble. Steamed at half speed reaching Ayr 21.30….
July 10 Sailing curtailed at Brodick due to boiler trouble.
July 11/12 At Glasgow, Radio Clyde live broadcast from vessel. Boilermakers replacing several tubes. Saturday sailing cancelled….
July 20 Belting damaged berthing at Greenock.…
July 27 Cruise terminated at Dalmuir due to loss of water in boiler. Tugs ordered.
July 28 - Aug 1 Boiler repairs…..
Aug 8 Radius pin broken on stbd wheel….
Aug 11 Unable to call at Millport (dense fog)…..
Aug 15 At Glasgow, repairing both wheels.…
Aug 16 Repairs complete 11.00 Dunoon charter….
Aug 22 Off service at Troon, tube burst in forward end of boiler.
Aug 23 PSPS charter cancelled; repairs completed 14.30; depart Troon 20.50
Aug 24 00.017 vessel secured at Anderston Quay; 10.34 Kyles charter.
Aug 25 Brodick; delayed due to damaged radius pin, stbd wheel....
Aug 30 Ayr-Millport-Largs-Dunoon-Kilcreggan-Loch Long and Loch Goil; 11.47 vessel stopped (broken radius pin);12.30 underway, Rothesay call cancelled….
Sept 7 to Loch Riddon.
Sept 8 Charter Cruise to Tail of the Bank.
Sept 9 Vessel canted and placed at lay-up berth, commenced de-storing.
Sept 10 Lay-up operations continue, 12.00 Articles closed.
(Compiler's note: Most days were "Normal Schedule" and these extracts highlight the difficulties that were overcome)
KINGSWEAR CASTLE OPEN DAY– About 65 members and guests came aboard Kingswear Castle for the Society's Open Day on Sept 27th. At 3 o'clock all work stopped as workers and visitors enjoyed a superb buffet tea. A small sales stand and donations raised a total of £18 for the KC fund.
NEW QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPI – Mississipi Queen is America's newest paddlewheel steamboat, and is set to make her maiden voyage from Cincinnati in 1976. The design and planning required more than 6 years. She is the first overnight passenger steamboat to be built since the Delta Queen in 1926. Practically every design and propulsion method was considered, but finally a steampowered stern paddlewheeler of traditional design was chosen as most efficient and practical. The new vessel is 379 ft long, 8ft draft, has a passenger capacity of over 400 and a gross tonnage of 4500 tons. The paddlewheel will be turned by a horizontal, tandem compound condensing steam engine similar to those used aboard the last steam towboats. Modern automated oil-fired steam generators developing 390 psi will be used - a far cry from the wood burning boilers of the steam packet days. The new boat is not a replacement for the Delta Queen and Delta Queen is not retiring.
Picture: Scale model shows the traditional profile of the Mississippi Queen (Steve Shanesey)
Last edited: 28/01/2010