DEPV ''Talisman'' was the world's first diesel-electric paddle vessel. Built in 1935, she was a passenger ferry on the Clyde, seeing wartime service as HMS ''Aristocrat''. From 1953, she served for 14 years on the Millport station.

History

''Talisman'' was the world's first

diesel electric Diesel may refer to: * Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression * Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines * Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine ...

paddle vessel. Built by A. & J. Inglis in 1935 for the

London and North Eastern Railway The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) was the second largest (after London, Midland and Scottish Railway, LMS) of the "Big Four (British railway companies), Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain. It ope ...

, she was a replacement for their 1896 . The new vessel's revolutionary engines gave considerable trouble, resulting in a sudden withdrawal at the peak of the 1939 season. After war time service, engine problems continued and, with the arrival of the diesel ''Maids'', ''Talisman'' was withdrawn in 1953. She was reprieved and re-engined in 1954, to replace the slow on the Millport station. She continued in summer service until her withdrawal in 1966. She was sold for scrap and broken up in 1967 by W H Arnott, Young & Co at Dalmuir.

Layout

''Talisman'' had a passenger capacity of over 1250. Large deckhouses fore and aft and a single tall funnel amidships gave her an unusual appearance for a Clyde Steamer. During the refit on returning to civilian service, new deckhouses were added, providing additional shelter. Her four British Polar

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which Combustion, ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to Mechanics, mechanical Compr ...

s powered the vessel's electricity generators that provided the power to the electric propulsions motors. Decca radar was fitted in late 1958.

Service

''Talisman'' was based at

Craigendoran Craigendoran (Gaelic: ) is a suburb at the eastern end of Helensburgh in Scotland, on the northern shore of the Firth of Clyde. The name is from the Gaelic for "the rock of the otter". It is served by Craigendoran railway station. Craigendoran p ...

, sailing to

Dunoon Dunoon (; ) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As well as forming part of the cou ...

Rothesay Rothesay ( ; ) is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. It can be reached by a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Wemyss Bay, which also offers an ...

and the

Kyles of Bute The Kyles of Bute () form a narrow sea channel that separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal, Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the Scotland, Scottish mainland. The surrounding hillsides are roughly wooded, and overlook ...

. She was requisitioned by the Admiralty as HMS ''Aristocrat'', operating as an anti aircraft ship and in other roles, including as an HQ ship at the

Normandy landings The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and ...

. After her reprieve in 1953, ''Talisman'' was successfully placed on the

Wemyss Bay Wemyss Bay () is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in Inverclyde in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is in the traditional county of Renfrewshire (historic), Renfrewshire. It is adjacent to Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire. The town ...

Largs Largs () is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town markets itself on its histor ...

- Millport route. Despite the noise and vibration of her engines, she became a popular vessel and served Millport for another 14 years.

Commemoration

The nameplate and central feature from one of the paddleboxes is featured above the bar of the Glenisle Hotel & Bistro in

Lamlash Lamlash () is a village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It lies south of the island's main settlement and ferry port Brodick, in a sheltered bay on the island's east coast, facing the Holy Isle. Lamlash is the seat of A ...

on the

Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran (; ) or simply Arran is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh-largest Scottish island, at . Counties of Scotland, Historically part of Buteshire, it is in the ...

References

External links

* * illustrated description of the ''Talisman'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Talisman Ferries of Scotland Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom 1935 ships