TS ''Queen Alexandra'' was a MacBrayne

turbine A turbine ( or ) (from the Greek , ''tyrbē'', or Latin ''turbo'', meaning vortex) is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work. The work produced can be used for generating electrical ...

steamer built in 1912 and operating cruises on the Clyde. Following extensive modifications, in 1935, as ''Saint Columba'', she took over the "Royal Route" from Glasgow to

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 ...

until scrapped in 1958.

History

TS ''Queen Alexandra'' was built in 1912 by

William Denny and Brothers William Denny and Brothers Limited, often referred to simply as Denny, was a Scotland, Scottish shipbuilder, shipbuilding company. History The shipbuilding interests of the Denny family date back to William Denny (born 1779), for whom ships a ...

, Dumbarton for Turbine Steamers Ltd, to replace a previous ''Queen Alexandra'' of 1902, which had been extensively damaged by fire. The new Queen was designed for the long distance cruises. Her first public sailing was on 23 May 1912 to

Campbeltown Campbeltown (; or ) is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre Peninsula. Campbeltown became an important centre for Scotch whisky, and a busy fishing port. The 2018 populatio ...

. Fast and manoeuvrable, she soon became a popular boat. In 1935, her owners Turbine Steamers Ltd were sold to David MacBrayne Ltd and the turbine steamers and ''Queen Alexandra'' transferred to the

Western Isles The Outer Hebrides ( ) or Western Isles ( , or ), sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island (), is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. It is the longest archipelago in the British Isles. The islands form part ...

. ''Queen Alexandra'' went for refit at Lamont's shipyard, where she was transformed. This was all in preparation for her new role on the "Royal Route". Her similarity to Cunard's ''Queen Mary'' earned her the nickname "MacBrayne's little Cunarder". Withdrawn after 48 years of sterling service in September 1958, she was towed to Smith & Houston's shipyard in

Port Glasgow Port Glasgow (, ) is the second-largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19,426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16,617 persons. The most recent census in 2011 s ...

on 23 December 1958 and was scrapped.

Layout

''Queen Alexandra'' was the longest turbine steamer ever built for service on the Clyde and remains the only three funnelled steamer ever to have served on the Clyde. Initially open, her promenade deck was enclosed, providing shelter. In 1935, her upper deck was extended aft, a third funnel fitted and a new smoke room, called the Clachan Bar installed. She was repainted in MacBrayne colours and renamed ''Saint Columba''. In 1937, she became the first Clyde steamer to be converted permanently to oil fuel.

Service

''Queen Alexandra'' operated long distance cruises to

and

Inveraray Inveraray ( or ; meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Located on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, Inveraray is a former royal burgh and known affectionately as "The Capital of Argyll." It is the ...

, departing Glasgow’s Bridge Wharf at 7.11.

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
Service

She was requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troop transport ship in 1915, and operated in the

English Channel The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...

between England and France ferrying soldiers and war materials to supply the Western Front. During her war service she rammed and sank the

German Imperial Navy The Imperial German Navy or the ''Kaiserliche Marine'' (Imperial Navy) was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly f ...

U-boat U-boats are Submarine#Military, naval submarines operated by Germany, including during the World War I, First and Second World Wars. The term is an Anglicization#Loanwords, anglicized form of the German word , a shortening of (), though the G ...

'' UC-78'' off of the French coast at

Cherbourg Cherbourg is a former Communes of France, commune and Subprefectures in France, subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French departments of France, department of Manche. It was merged into the com ...

on 9 May 1918.Entry on the site U.Boat.net for the war career of the U-boat UC-78 http://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=uc+78

Return to cruising

At the end of the war she was released by the Admiralty and returned to the River Clyde in 1919 and resumed her long distance cruises, most often to Inveraray. After her extensive 1935 refit, she replaced the legendary paddle steamer on the "Royal Route" from Glasgow to

. She gave sterling service on this route from 1935 until the outbreak of war in 1939.

World War II Service

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, she was again requisitioned by the Admiralty and, possibly in view of her age, served as an accommodation ship in Greenock's East India Harbour.

Final years

She was the last Clyde steamer to be returned to peacetime duties, resuming her service from Glasgow to Ardrishaig from 1947 until 1958.

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen Alexandra, TS Clyde steamers 1912 ships

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...

TS Queen Alexandra