PS ''Iona'' was a MacBrayne

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine driving paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, whereby the first uses were wh ...

, which operated on the Clyde for 72 years, the longest-serving Clyde steamer.

History

''Iona'' was built in 1864 to replace ''Iona'' (II) of 1863. She was built by

J & G Thomson John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a Scottish Naval architecture, marine engineering and shipbuilding firm. It built many notable and world-famous ships including , , , , , and ''Queen Elizabeth 2 (ship), Queen Elizabeth 2''. At its heig ...

of Clydebank, for David Hutcheson & Co., which became David MacBrayne Ltd in 1879. Two previous Clyde vessels had borne the same name. Both had been sold to the USA for

blockade running A blockade runner is a merchant vessel used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait. It is usually light and fast, using stealth and speed rather than confronting the blockaders in order to break the blockade. Blockade runners usuall ...

and lost early en route. ''Iona'' became the longest-serving Clyde steamer. After 72 years service, she was retired and broken up side-by-side with her younger sister, at shipbreakers, Arnott & Young at Dalmuir in March 1936.

Layout

''Iona'' had a curved and engraved bow and two funnels. Some of her fittings came from the earlier ''Iona'' (II). In 1873 she was fitted with telegraphs and steam steering gear for service on the

Ardrishaig Ardrishaig () is a coastal village on Loch Gilp, at the southern (eastern) entrance to the Crinan Canal in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland. It lies immediately to the south of Lochgilphead, with the nearest larger town being Oban. Hi ...

route. She was re-boilered in 1875 and again in 1891, with Haystack type boilers. During the 1891 refit, her funnels were lengthened and moved closer together.

Service

''Iona'' (III) was the main

steamer until the arrival of in 1878. After that, she continued to operate the early and late season service, sailing out of

Oban Oban ( ; meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William, Highland, Fort William. During the tourist seaso ...

for the rest of the summer. She stayed on the Clyde during the Great War and for a short while was chartered to the

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 r ...

, working from Wemyss Bay. After the war, she was refitted and had new saloons added. She then sailed to

Lochgoilhead Lochgoilhead (, IPA: �kʰʲaun̴̪ˈɫ̪ɔxˈkɤilə is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It stands at the head of Loch Goil. Location The village is surrounded by se ...

and Arrochar, and later from Oban to Fort William.

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iona, PS 1864 Clyde steamers 1864 ships