Builders: Napier Shanks & Bell, Yoker 1892
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owners: Glasgow & South Western Railway Ltd, London, Midland & Scottish Railway Co
Service dates: 1892 - 1933
Tonnage: Gross 378
Comments:
This lovely picture was taken by John P. Rodd 1906 -1969 and is displayed here by kind permission of his son John. It shows Mercury at Weymss Bay towards the end of her career when in LMS colours.
Despite having an open foredeck, Mercury was an up to date steamer for the time and had powerful compound diagonal engines, capable of over 18 knots. She and her sister, Neptune, were built for a variety of work including cruising, railway connections and charters in the Firth of Clyde and were very well fitted out. Both steamers saw war service as minesweepers and both were damaged by mines. Neptune sadly was lost on 20 April 1917 and Mercury was mined twice. On the first occasion her bows were blown off and although she was repaired, she was back in service only one day when her stern was blown off. This time she was repaired and survived the war without further mishap. When the G&SW was taken over by the LM&S she briefly sported a tricolour funnel and then her hull was painted black with a white topping around the saloon windows and paddle box. She survived until 1933, when she was withdrawn and sold for breaking up at Barrow in Furness by T W Wards.