Cruise on the Paddle Steamer, Waverley
PS Waverley, Weymouth Pleasure Pier
On Friday, September 3rd 2010, I went on the last Ocean going Paddle Steamer in the world.
The PS Waverley was built in 1947 to replace an earlier Paddle Steamer built in 1899 which carried the same name, which played vital roles in both World Wars, until it was sunk at Dunkirk in 1940.
The PS Waverley of today, was built in Glasgow by A & J Inglis, for use on the Firth of the Clyde, commissioned for the London & North Eastern Railway Co.
She has four decks, which consist of an upper seating deck, the Promenade deck (Observation Saloons), lower deck (Engine room, Restaurant & Upper Bar) & the 4th deck (Lower Bar, Staff facility’s).
Passengers are able to view the Engine from the Gangways each side of the Engine Room, it’s fascinating to watch the giant Triple Expansion Engine at work.
Waverley’s Engine has an output of 2100hp and at full power run at about 50rpm, the Triple Expansion design is typical of most large Sea going Steam powered vessels, as the Steam is used 3 times, before being fed into a Condenser, Condensed back to Water and fed back into the Boiler.
The Waverley’s Boiler is Oil Fired, I’m not sure if she used to be Coal fired, I would presume so though.
Our cruise departed from the Seaside Town of Weymouth, and took a 3 hour Cruise up to Portland Bill, out to Lulworth Cove and back to Weymouth.
Website: http://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/
Gallery:
View from the upper Seating area
Lulworth Cove from Waverley
Durdle Door, or the Dragon
Waverley's Bow
Waverley out at Sea, on the evening Show Boat
Below is my two videos of the Cruise:
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Regarding whether Waverley was ever coal fired, quoting from “Waverley: The story of the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer” (sold on board), “For her first ten years, she was coal-fired but in 1957 her boiler was converted to burn heavy fuel oil.”
Yes, I remember seeing that whilst on board her, but for some reason completely forgot about it when writing this article!
Cheers J
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