Builders: William Denny & Bros Dumbarton
Propulsion type: Paddle, Compound diagonal
Owners: Caledonian Steam Packet Co Ltd
Service dates: 1890-1915
Tonnage: Gross 553
Comments:
Capable of carrying up to 1780 passengers, this steel built paddler was 250ft long and was considered to be one of the most successful boats ever to have been served on the Clyde. She was built to accommodate the Ardrossan to Arran service after the opening of the Lankarshire and Ayrshire Railway in the year of her launch. She had, at over 30 ft wide, an "immense" saloon for the time and was sumptuously fitted out with a full length promenade deck. In 1906 she was moved to carry excursion passengers from Gourock and proved to be very popular. She was a very well balanced steamer in appearance. In the Great War she was requisitioned as a troop carrier but was lost in 1915 when she struck a mine in the English Channel. Some of her crew were saved by the Yarmouth Belle, which was paired with the Duchess and which was also damaged in the explosion.