Caledonian Steam Packet Company

Introduction

This company was created by the Caledonian Railway to operate steamers on the Firth of Clyde which connected with the company's railways.

Hulls were painted dark blue, saloons white and funnels yellow.

The company became a limited company, probably around 1905.





Dates

  /  /1888Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway buys Captain Robert Campbell's business, goodwill and steamers. This would be transferred to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.
01/01/1889Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Starts to operate steamers.
01/01/1889Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Service from Broomielaw Quay to the Holy Loch via Greenock Customs House Quay and Greenock Princes Pier.
08/05/1889Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Company formed to run steamers on the Clyde on behalf of the Caledonian Railway.
01/05/1890Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Starts to operate service from Gourock Pier (Kempock Point). Gourock opened 01/06/1889.
01/06/1890Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Starts to operate service from Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier to Arran.
  /11/1951Caledonian Steam Packet Company
PS Waverley [IV], PS Jeanie Deans [II] , PS Lucy Ashton and PS Talisman transferred from the British Transport Commission to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.
  /  /1953Caledonian Steam Packet Company
A & J Inglis builds Maid of Argyll and Maid of Skelmorlie for CSP.
  /  /1959William Denny & Bros Ltd
Order placed by Caledonian Steam Packet Company for TSS Caledonian Princess, yard no 1501.
05/04/1961William Denny & Bros Ltd
Launched TSS Caledonian Princess for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company.
  /  /1969Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Company comes under the control of the Scottish Transport Group.
  /01/1969Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Becomes part of the Scottish Transport Group.
  /  /1973Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd
Created when David MacBrayne and the Caledonian Steam Packet Company Ltd merged.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This pier is open. It is a combined facility with Gourock station. Ferries operate from Gourock to Dunoon Pier and Kilcreggan Pier, and sometimes Helensburgh Pier. The pier is located on Kempock Point.
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More details
The Ardrishaig mail service, operated by MacBrayne's, ready to leave Gourock in 1965. 'MV Lochnevis' is taking the place of the more usual 'Lochfyne', ...
Brian Haslehust //1965
'DEPV Talisman', moored at Gourock Pier in April 1965, before returning to service after being repainted in the new Monastral Blue livery. Note the ...
Brian Haslehust /04/1965
The lovely ex-LNER paddle steamer 'Jeanie Deans' approaching Gourock pier. The shot is thought to have been taken in the summer of 1962. ...
Robin McGregor //1962
'PS Caledonia' comes alongside Gourock Pier in June 1966.
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Colin Miller /06/1966
4 of 26 images. more


This is one of the pre-eminent 'must see' stations in Scotland. In 1905 it replaced an original Wemyss Bay [1st] station of 1865 on a slightly different orientation (see that entry for the 1865-1905 details). It is a terminus and a combined station and pier with a very fine concourse (with semi-circular ticket office supporting the glass roof), canopied platforms, main station building with a ...

More details

See also
Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway
Panel detailing a major refurbishment of Wemyss Bay station which was completed in 1994, seen here on 25th July 2017. ...
David Bosher 25/07/2017
A new painting at the Wemyss Bay station Bookshop by Leo du Feu (unveiled today of all days, when Wemyss Bay has won the 'World Cup of Stations ...
John Yellowlees 27/05/2023
Exterior of Wemyss Bay station, on 25th July 2017. ...
David Bosher 25/07/2017
'TS Duchess of Montrose' taking on passengers at Wemyss Bay pier, on a busy summer Saturday in 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 04/07/1964
4 of 173 images. more


This two platform terminus was covered with a wooden trainshed, open to the air over the tracks. The station was located on a pier, which could be used at low tide, built on reclaimed land. There were quayside lines on both sides.
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More details

See also
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Scene at Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan, on 14 August 1964 with a Glasgow bound boat train awaiting its departure time. At the head of the train is one ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 14/08/1964
BR Standard class 4MT 2-6-0 no 76114 awaiting departure time at Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier in the summer of 1964 with a boat special for Glasgow. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 14/08/1964
One of William Robertson Shipowners finest MV Amethyst (Gem Line of Glasgow) unloading Paper Pulp bales from Norway for a paper mill on to railway ...
Gordon Steel 31/05/1972
The BLS/SLS Scottish Rambler No 5 on arrival at Ardrossan's Montgomie Pier station on 10 April 1966 from Glasgow Central behind B1 no 61342. ...
K A Gray 10/04/1966
4 of 7 images. more