# Caledonian Steam Packet Company

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company provided a scheduled shipping service, carrying freight and passengers, on the west coast of Scotland. Formed in 1889 to complement the services of the Caledonian Railway, the company expanded by taking over rival ferry companies. In 1973, they were merged with MacBraynes as Caledonian MacBrayne.

## Formation

Rival railway companies, the Caledonian Railway (CR), the North British Railway (NBR) and the Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) at first used the services of various early private operators of Clyde steamers. The CR failed to attract private ship owners to their new extension from Greenock to the fishing village of Gourock. They had purchased the harbour at Gourock, which had advantages of a faster line from Glasgow, bypassing the Glasgow and South Western Railway Prince's Pier at Greenock, and being closer to the Clyde resorts. The CR began operating steamers on its own account in 1889.
The Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP) was formed as a packet company in May 1889, with Captain James Williamson as secretary and manager. Nominally an independent company, they bought the ships needed to operate steamer services to and from Gourock. On withdrawal of the Wemyss Bay Steamboat Company in 1890, CSP took over services to Rothesay, Largs and Millport. In June 1890, they established a service to Arran from the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway railhead at Ardrossan. In the years that followed, there was significant investment in piers and ships.

## Amalgamations

After years of fierce competition between all the fleets, the CR and GSWR amalgamated with several other railways at the start of 1923 to form the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and their fleets amalgamated into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, their funnels being painted yellow with a black top. At the same time the NBR (and its shipping fleet) also amalgamated with other railways to create the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), which built the PS Waverley in 1947.
In 1935, Williamson-Buchanan Steamers was taken over by the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.
In 1945, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company took responsibility for the Kyleakin to Kyle of Lochalsh ferry.
With nationalisation in 1948, the LMS and LNER fleets were amalgamated as Clyde Shipping Services, under the control of the British Transport Commission.
In 1957 a reorganisation restored the Caledonian Steam Packet Company name, and in 1965 a red lion was added to each side of the black-topped yellow funnels. The headquarters remained at Gourock pierhead.
At the end of December 1968 management of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company passed to the Scottish Transport Group, which gained control of David MacBrayne's the following June. The MacBrayne service from Gourock to Ardrishaig ended on 30 September 1969, leaving the Clyde services entirely to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.

## Merger with MacBraynes

On 1 January 1973 the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. acquired most of the ships and routes of David MacBrayne Ltd and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne, with a combined headquarters at Gourock.

## List of ships operated by the company

Sources
| Type | Name | Built | Launched | Tonnage (GRT) | Operated | Notes |
| PS | Meg Merrilies | Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow | 1883 | 244 | 1889-1902 | ex Capt. Robert Campbell Sold for service in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scrapped in 1921. |
| PS | Caledonia (I) | Rankin & Blackmore, Greenock | 1889 | 244 | 1889-1933 | Scrapped in Barrow-in-Furness in 1933. |
| PS | Galatea | Caird & Co., Greenock | 1889 | 331 | 1889-1906 | Scrapped in Palermo in 1911. |
| PS | Madge Wildfire | McKnight, Ayr | 1886 | 220 | 1890-1911 | ex Capt. Robert Campbell Scrapped at Troon in 1946. |
| PS | Marchioness of Bredalbane | John Reid & Co., Port Glasgow | 1890 | 246 | 1890-1935 | Sold for scrap in 1935, but saved for use as an excursion steamer in Great Yarmouth. Scrapped in 1937 in Germany. |
| PS | Marchioness of Bute | John Reid & Co., Port Glasgow | 1890 | 246 | 1890-1908 | Sold to Tay Pleasure Steamers in 1908. Scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1923. |
| PS | Duchess of Hamilton (I) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1890 | 533 | 1890-1914 | She served as a minesweeper during World War I. She struck a mine in the Thames Estuary, laid by German submarine UC-3, and sank on 29 November 1915. |
| PS | Marchioness of Lorne (I) | Russell & Co., Port Glasgow | 1891 | 295 | 1891-1914 | Returned after World War I, but not re-commissioned, lay at Bowling Harbour until scrapped in 1923. |
| PS | Duchess of Rothesay | J. & G. Thomson, Clydebank | 1895 | 338 | 1895-1939 | Scrapped in the Netherlands after World War II. |
| PS | Duchess of Montrose (I) | John Brown & Co., Clydebank | 1902 | 321 | 1902-1914 | Sunk whilst serving as minesweeper, 1917Paddle Steamer Duchess of Montrose |
| PS | Duchess of Fife | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1903 | 336 | 1903-1953 | Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1953. |
| TS | Duchess of Argyll | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1906 | 593 | 1906-1952 | Sold to Admiralty for use as a test vessel in Portland. Scrapped at Newhaven in 1970. |
| PS | Ivanhoe | D. & W. Henderson & Co., Glasgow | 1880 | 282 | 1897-1911 1916-1919 (charter) | ex Firth of Clyde Steam Packet Co. Scrapped at Dumbarton in 1919. |
| SS | Queen of the Lake | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ayr | 1907 | 152 | 1922-1949 | Inherited from the Loch Tay Steamboat Company 1922. Scrapped at Kenmore in 1950.The Queen of the Lake at Kenmore. Dundee Courier Wednesday 2 November 1932 |
| SS | Countess of Breadalbane (I) | Abercorn Shipbuilding Co, Paisley | 1882 | 95 | 1922-1936 | Scrapped at Loch Awe in 1936. |
| SS | Lady of the Lake | Anderson & Lyall, Govan | 1882 | 68 | 1922-1929 | Inherited from the Loch Tay Steamboat Company 1922. Scrapped at Kenmore in 1929. |
| SS | Sybilla | | 1882 | | 1922-1929 | Inherited from the Loch Tay Steamboat Company 1922. Scrapped |
| PS | Prince Edward | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1911 | 304 | 1923-1955 | Scrapped at Balloch in 1955. |
| TS | Atlanta | John Brown & Co., Clydebank | 1906 | 486 | 1923-1937 | Scrapped at Ghent in 1946. |
| PS | Juno (I) | Clydebank Shipbuilding & Engineering Co | 1898 | 592 | 1923-1932 | Scrapped at Alloa in 1932. |
| PS | Glen Sannox (I) | James & George Thomson, Clydebank | 1892 | 610 | 1923-1925 | Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1925. |
| TS | Duchess of Montrose (II) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1930 | 806 | 1930-1965 | Scrapped at Ghent in 1965. |
| TS | Duchess of Hamilton (II) | Harland & Wolff, Govan | 1932 | 801 | 1932-1971 | Scrapped at Troon in 1974. |
| PS | Caledonia (II) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1934 | 624 | 1934-1969 | Sold for use as a floating pub in central London. Suffered fire damage beyond repair on 27 April 1980 and scrapped in Sittingbourne as a result. |
| PS | Eagle III | A. & J. Inglis/Napier and Miller | 1909 | 432 | 1935-1946 | Acquired from Williamson-Buchanan Steamers in 1935, requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1939, returned in 1945 but not returned to service, scrapped in 1946. |
| PS | Marchioness of Lorne | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1935 | 449 | 1935-1955 | |
| MV | Wee Cumbrae | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1936 | 36 | 1935-1953 | |
| MV | Arran Mail | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1936 | 137 | 1936-1951 | |
| MV | MV Countess of Breadalbane | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1936 | 106 | 1936-1971 | |
| TS | Marchioness of Graham | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1936 | 585 | 1936-1958 | |
| PS | Jupiter | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1937 | 642 | 1937-1960 | |
| PS | Juno | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1937 | 642 | 1937-1939 | Bombed and sunk whilst serving as HMS Helvellyn, 20 March 1941 |
| MV | Ashton | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1938 | 38 | 1938-1965 | |
| MV | Leven | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1938 | 38 | 1938-1966 | |
| PS | Glen Rosa (I) | J. & G. Thomson, Clydebank | 1893 | 306 | 1938-1939 | ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| TS | Glen Sannox (II) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1925 | 664 | 1938-1954 | ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Scrapped at Ghent in 1954. |
| PS | Mercury | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1934 | 621 | 1938-1939 | ex London, Midland and Scottish Railway. She struck a mine and sank in the Irish Sea whilst serving as a minesweeper, 24 December 1940 |
| TS | King Edward | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1901 | 551 | 1943-1952 | ex Williamson-Buchanan Steamers |
| TS | Queen Mary II | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1933 | 870 later 1,014 | 1943-1973 | ex Williamson-Buchanan Steamers, to CalMac in 1973 TS Queen Mary laid up in harbour at Greenock in 1981. The funnel was later removed and replaced with two smaller ones, as the ship originally had. |
| MV | Skye | J Miller & Sons, St Monance | 1922 | 8 | 1945-1950 | |
| MV | Kyleakin (I) | Webster & Bickerton Ltd, Goole | 1928 | 7 | 1945-1951 | |
| MV | Moil | H. McLean & Sons, Renfrew | 1936 | 15 | 1945-1954 | |
| MV | Cuillin | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1942 | 24 | 1945-1954 | |
| PS | Queen-Empress | Murdoch & Murray, Port Glasgow | 1912 | 411 | 1946 | De-requisitioned 1946 and returned to CSP (as successors to Williamson-Buchanan Steamers) but not recommissioned |
| PS | Princess May | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1899 | 256 | 1948-1953 | Scrapped at Balloch in 1953. |
| PS | Lucy Ashton | T. B. Seath & Co., Rutherglen | 1888 | 224 | 1948-1949 | Scrapped at Faslane in 1951. |
| SS | Arran (I) | Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd, Ardrossan | 1933 | 208 | 1949-1958 | Renamed SS Kildonan (I) in 1952. Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1958. |
| SS | Minard | Scott & Sons, Bowling, Glasgow | 1925 | 241 | 1949-1955 | Scrapped at Port Glasgow in 1955. |
| SS | Ardyne | Scott & Sons, Bowling, Glasgow | 1928 | 242 | 1949-1955 | Scrapped at Troon in 1955. |
| MV | Coruisk (I) | Yorkshire Yacht Building Co., Bridlington | 1947 | 19 | 1950-1954 | |
| PS | Jeanie Deans | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Eng. Co., Govan | 1931 | 814 (as modified) | 1951-1965 | ex British Transport Commission. Scrapped at Antwerp in 1968. |
| DEPV | DEPV Talisman | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1935 | 544 | 1951-1967 | ex British Transport Commission |
| PS | Waverley | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1946 | 693 | 1951-1973 | ex British Transport Commission, to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Lochalsh (I) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1951 | 24 | 1951-1958 | |
| MV | Portree (I) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1951 | 53 | 1952-1967 | |
| PS | Maid of the Loch | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1953 | 555 | 1953-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 Paddle Steamer Maid of the Loch at Balloch Pier. |
| MV | Arran (II) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1953 | 568 | 1953-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Maid of Argyll | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1953 | 508 | 1953-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Maid of Ashton | Yarrow & Co., Scotstoun | 1953 | 508 | 1953-1973 | Motor Vessel Maid of Ashton leaving Blairmore. |
| MV | Maid of Cumbrae | Ardrossan Dockyard | 1953 | 508 | 1953-1973 | |
| MV | Maid of Skelmorlie | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow | 1953 | 508 | 1953-1973 | |
| MV | Bute (VI) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon | 1954 | 569 | 1954-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Cowal (II) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon | 1954 | 569 | 1954-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Broadford (I) | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1954 | 57 | 1954-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Glen Sannox (III) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon | 1957 | 1,107 | 1957-1973 | to CalMac in 1973. Grounded in 2000 off Saudi Arabia in this position. |
| MV | Lochalsh (II) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon | 1957 | 60 | 1957-1972 | Converted and renamed MV Scalpay (II) in 1972, to MacBrayne's in 1972, then to CalMac in 1973. |
| MV | Kyleakin (II) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Troon | 1960 | 60 | 1960-1973 | Converted and renamed MV Largs in 1972, to CalMac in 1973 |
| TS | Caledonian Princess | Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1961 | 3,629 | 1961-1968 | to British Rail (Sealink) |
| MV | Portree (II) | James Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow | 1965 | 63 | 1965-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Broadford (II) | James Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow | 1966 | 64 | 1967-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Keppel | J Samuel White, Southampton | 1961 | 214 | 1967-1973 | ex British Railways (Eastern Region) MV Rose, to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Eilean Dhu | Unknown | 1940 | 28 | 1969-1970 | |
| MV | Dhuirnish | James Noble Ltd, Fraserburgh | 1957 | 29 | 1969-1971 | |
| MV | Eilean Buidhe | Dickie of Tarbert Ltd, Tarbert Loch Fyne | 1963 | 34 | 1969-1971 | |
| MV | Coruisk (II) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | 1969 | 60 | 1969-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| ACV | HM2 - 011 | Hovermarine Transport Ltd, Southampton | 1970 | 12 | 1970-1972 | Experimental hovercraft. |
| MV | Caledonia | A/S Langesunds Mek Versted, Norway | 1966 | 1,157 | 1970-1973 | ex Stena Line MV Stena Baltica, to CalMac in 1973. Scrapped in Turkey in 2005. |
| MV | Kyleakin (III) | Newport Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Wales | 1970 | 225 | 1970-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Lochalsh (III) | Newport Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Wales | 1971 | 225 | 1971-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |
| MV | Kilbrannan | James Lamont & Co, Port Glasgow | 1972 | 65 | 1972-1973 | to CalMac in 1973 |