World of Ships – May 2018

16 I World of Ships I Paddle Steamers

and Blackmore provided a two-cylinder

compound diagonal engine that was little

different in size and output to that provided

for Clyde steamer Kylemore, built in 1897,

but was considered adequate for what was

needed on Loch Lomond and powered the

vessel at a service speed of 14 knots.

Maid of the Loch had support from

Prince Edward in her fi rst two seasons and

sailed on alone after the withdrawal of the

2011-built veteran, with runs from Balloch

to Tarbet, Inversnaid and Ardlui at the Head

of the Loch. There was a switch of ownership

from the British Transport Commission to

the Caledonian Steam Packet Company in

1957, which then came under the control of

the Scottish Transport Group in 1969. During

the 1970s Tarbet joined Ardlui on the list

of closed piers, but money was spent on

improvements at Rowardenan and Inversnaid,

and Luss was reopened.

Traffi c failed to grow as well as expected,

despite local authority support, the axe falling

in 1981, with Maid of the Loch put up for sale

after fi nal trips on 31 August. The vessel was

bought by Ind Coope Alloa Brewery in March

1982, but restoration plans came to nothing

and there was a move to Sea Management

Corporation in April 1989, only for the

Australian company to go into receivership.

This was also the fate of Maid of the Loch’s

next owners, the Francis Leisure Group,

but when she was put on the market by the

receivers, Dumbarton District Council stepped

in with the support of PSPS, and working

parties started on board in May 1993. Within

a year they had transformed what had become

little more than a rusting and periodically

Maid of the Loch at Balloch, with the

funnel top-sheeted to keep out the

elements, 2011. (Nicholas Leach)

ABOVE The two-cylinder compound diagonal

engine built for Maid of the Loch by Greenock-

based Ranking and Blackmore.

ABOVE Maid of the Loch high and dry on the

Balloch slipway. (Loch Lomond Steamship Co)

ABOVE The Balloch Slipway’s steam engine, used

to haul vessels out of the water, can be visited when

Maid of the Loch is open for business.

builders A. & J. Inglis, with sections being

transferred from their Pointhouse Yard for

reassembly on a temporary slipway at Balloch.

Launched in a near-complete condition on

5 March 1953, Maid of the Loch began trials

on 4 May and, after being named on 22 May,

started regular trips on 25 May.

Maid of the Loch appeared with a white hull

and superstructure, plus a buff funnel, with

accommodation for 1,000 passengers spread

over four decks, with a bar and tearoom on

the lower deck; a dining salon seating 70

forward on the main deck, with a lounge and

bar aft; facilities being completed by two

promenade deck observation lounges, the

after lounge having an open-top deck. Rankin

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