The Last Clyde Steamer

In 1945 Inglis received another order from the LNER - to replace the war lost WAVERLEY of 1899. There was nothing particularly special about the order. Few employees of Inglis could then have realised that they were building the ship which was to become the yard’s most famous of all time. Yard No 1330P was launched on 2^nd October 1946 as WAVERLEY, the third of the name to be built on the banks of the Kelvin. She was destined to become the last of the famous Clyde Steamers and the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built to sail mainly on the sheltered route from Craigendoran to Lochgoilhead and Arrochar, today she continues to exhibit the indisputable quality of Inglis workmanship by operating a schedule of sailings around the United Kingdom which has never been attempted by any other ship of her type. Now at 50 years of age this venerable old lady of the Clyde has achieved world wide fame. The surviving members of Inglis staff of the 1940s can be justly proud of their achievements of half a century ago.

The WAVERLEY in 1947 as built by Inglis

coming astern from the pier at Arrochar

in Loch Long