Builders: Barclay, Curle & Co Glasgow 1868
Propulsion type: Paddle, single cylinder diagonal
Owners: Capt. McLean, Capt. Williamson, Glasgow & South Western Railway, Ribble Passenger Transport Co Ltd
Service dates: 1868 - 1908
Tonnage: Gross 163 (later 196 after new boilers installed in 1892)
Comments:
This picture is, I believe, previously unpublished, coming from a private family album.
PS Marquis of Bute was an iron built, flush deck paddler and was very popular with her passengers. She had a good turn of speed and could operate at over 16 knots. She was also economical on fuel, which gave her a long working life. She commenced life as the "morning boat", sailing from Rothesay at 7.05 a.m. and ran to Glasgow via Innellan, Dunoon, Kirn and Greenock. Whilst powerful for her size, her owner, Capt. McLean had a strong dislike of racing, although she was given her head when owned by Capt. Williamson and then regularly outpaced newer and more well equipped competitors. PS Marquis of Bute was a pioneer of evening pleasure trips, sailing from Rothesay to Loch Striven, Ormidale or round Bute. These sailings were announced by the Rothesay town crier, who would be dressed in a blue coat with gleaming brass buttons. He would march along the front crying "Notice! The fine steamer 'Marquis of Bute' will sail this evening, weather permitting, on a pleasure excursion to the Head of Loch Striven. Leaving Rothesay about five o'clock. Calling at Port Bannatyne, going and returning. Fares: Cabin, ninepence; steerage sixpence." Sometimes, if the evening sailing was not full he would invite the local paperboys on board for a free trip, packing them into the bows with instructions to "bide there and behave themselves". In 1889 PS Marquis of Bute was bought by Capt. Williamson for service with his "Turkish" fleet . She was bought a couple of years later when the whole Williamson fleet was acquired by the Glasgow & South Western Railway. As she was economical on fuel it was felt, despite her lack of refinements, to be worth reboilering her in 1892, following which she was used extensively on short haul excursion work. In 1904 she was sold again to John Williamson, for whom she sailed on Belfast Lough for a couple of seasons. Her final destination in service was the Lancashire coast where, after two seasons she was finally sold for breaking up.