PS Waverley Approaching Penarth is a photograph by Steve Purnell which was uploaded on June 10th, 2013.
PS Waverley Approaching Penarth
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to... more
Title
PS Waverley Approaching Penarth
Artist
Steve Purnell
Medium
Photograph
Description
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. Bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, she has been restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast.
Since 2003 Waverley has been listed in the British National Register of Historic Ships core collection as "a vessel of pre-eminent national importance". She appeared in the 2011 film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
PS Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scott's first novel. She was built in 1946 to replace a PS Waverley that was built in 1899, served in the Second World War as a minesweeper and was sunk in 1940 while helping to evacuate troops from Dunkirk. Shipbuilders A. & J. Inglis of Glasgow launched the new 693 tonne steamer in October 1946. She entered service with the London and North Eastern Railway in June 1947, working the LNER's Firth of Clyde steamer route from Craigendoran Pier, near Helensburgh, up Loch Long to Arrochar. In her first year in service she wore that company's red, white and black funnel colours.
The 1948 nationalisation of Britain's railways brought their Scottish steamers into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP), a subsidiary of the Railway Executive, and the funnels were repainted yellow with a black top. In 1965 a Scottish red lion rampant was fixed to each side of both funnels. Waverley's hull was painted monastral blue[clarification needed] until 1970.
After a revival of fortunes in the 1950s, the 1960s saw a gradual change in holiday habits that led to a decline in passenger numbers and the closure of many of the small piers. Since 1969 and the formation of the Scottish Transport Group, the CSP had been gradually merging with the West Highland shipping and ferry company David MacBrayne Ltd. In 1973 the company became Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd (CalMac).
She is seen here approaching Penarth Pier along the Bristol Channel from the West with Steep Holm and Flat Holm in the background.
(Description courtesy of Wikipedia)
She is probably the most photographed boat in the world.
Uploaded
June 10th, 2013
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Comments (14)
Steve Purnell
Sold as a greeting card and a mug. Many thanks to the buyer from Canonbie in Dumfriesshire.
Jim Carrell
Steve - Great treatment of the image to replicate the age of the steamer; really like the crisp image! Jim
Gerald Marella
Interesting treatment on this one, Steve. Has an antique feeling and keeps my eye involved. v.
Steve Purnell replied:
Thank you Gerald, That was exactly the emotion that I was looking for with this image.