Builders: J&G Thomson 1866
Propulsion type: Paddle twin cylinder oscillating
Owners: David Hutcheson & Co, David MacBrayne, David MacBrayne Ltd.
Service dates: 1866 - 1939
Tonnage: Gross 173 (later 250 grt)
Comments:
This long lived steamer plied the Caledonian Canal between Inverness and Banavie for seventy three years. Fort Augustus seems to have been a particularly good place for photographing her as I have more than one picture of her at that location. This picture comes from the Brian Fisher collection. PS Gondolier was a well fitted iron paddler who was much loved by her patrons. She had alleyways round her aft saloon, but had full width saloons forward and a well deck for her bow passengers. Originally fitted with twin cylinder oscillating engines and two locomotive boilers, she received a 1902 haystack boiler from the old Grenadier in 1930, after the latter boat was broken up. When Gondolier was withrawn at the end of the 1939 season she was taken over by the Admiralty and after her engines, boiler, sponsons, paddle boxes and saloons were removed, she was taken to Scapa Flow and sunk as a blockage to enemy shipping. For an interesting, early photograph of her in the lochs at Fort Augustus please click here. For a series of lovely photos of her in the locks of the Caledonian Canal in 1930 please click here.