Waverley and Balmoral leaving drydock - Monday 30th April 2012

Monday, 30 April 2012

Waverley and Balmoral leaving drydock - Monday 30th April 2012

The following sequence of photographs shows Waverley and Balmoral leaving drydock.

Waverley was undocked, with the help of Clyde Marines two tugs Biter and Beaver Bay,

and moved to Greenock Custom House Quay - the last short section under her own power.

Balmoral and Waverley afloat and waiting for the dock gates to be opened

Easing out of the drydock, assisted by tug Biter on the stern. Beaver Bay waits to attach a bow rope

A stiff breeze made extra work for the tugs

Canted and heading for Custom House Quay

After Waverley had been safely undocked and moved to Custom House Quay,

some crew from Waverley and tug Beaver Bay returned to attend to Balmoral.

Balmoral assisted out of the dock by Beaver Bay

Balmoral now under her own power, heads for James Watt dock

A close up of Balmoral's new paint scheme on her stern

Safely into the James Watt Dock and heading to tie up alongside

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Monday, 30 April 2012