Builders: J & G Thomson Ltd, Clydebank 1893
Propulsion type: Paddle Compound Diagonal
Owners: Belfast and County Down Railway, P & A Campbell Ltd
Service dates: 1893 - 1919
Tonnage: Gross 363
Comments:
Launched as Slieve Donard for the Belfast & County Down Railway, she worked in Northern Ireland until purchased by Campbells in 1899. She operated for Campbells in the Bristol Channel and on the South Coast and is shown here at coming in to one of the Brighton piers. Her fare from Eastbourne to Brighton was 1/6d (7.5p). She was not without mishap, running aground in the Bristol Channel in 1907 and colliding with Cosen's Empress in 1901, when she dented her bow. She was considered unfit for reconditioning after the First World War as her structure had been damaged by fire after a hit received during a bombing raid at Dunkirk. Her engines were, however considered perfectly serviceable and after a stormy journey, she was towed to the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company works at Troon, where Campbells were having a new steamer built. Carrying Albion's engines, Glen Gower was launched by Mrs Alec Campbell on 14 February 1922. Her engines carried on until Glen Gower was scrapped in 1960. For a picture of a passenger group which includes my Grandmother, Annie Sophia Lee, please click here. This picture comes from the Brian Fisher collection and I am grateful to Brian for allowing me to show it here.