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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
PS Jupiter (1937)
Above : Jupiter by James Dobie (by kind courtesy of Gordon Provan)
Launched on April 9th, 1937 by
Fairfield Engineering & Shipbuilding Co, Glasgow
Triple expansion 3 cylinder diagonal steam engines, 25, 39 and 61 in
x 60 in stroke
Dimensions : 223'6" x 30'1"
642 Gross Registered
Tons
Followed 1930s CSP paddler
design with concealed paddle boxes, but with twin funnels
Designed for railway connection runs with cargo space amidships and
no passenger observation deck above the deck saloons
Early mishaps included ramming Millport pier, hitting yachts off
Hunter's quay and grounding near Brodick
Served during World War II as minesweeper HMS Scawfell at Milford
Haven and Dover
Used as escort ship in the North Sea and an anti-aircraft defence
vessel on the Thames
Attended the Normandy landings in 1944
Returned to Clyde service in February 1946, the first war "returnee"
to do so
Operated initially the Holy Loch route and later mainly on railway connection services from
Gourock to Dunoon (1952) and Wemyss Bay to Rothesay (1953-4)
Usually the reserve steamer once the so called "ABC" car ferries were
introduced in 1954 but was available as relief steamer at peak traffic times
Jupiter
became associated with an afternoon Wemyss Bay to Rothesay leg via
Largs, Millport and round Bute to provide an additional cruise
opportunity
Other cruise duties included a regular but poorly-patronised Sunday excursion
from Glasgow to Lochgoilhead
Converted to oil fuel in 1956/7
Surprisingly laid up in 1957 after only 20 weeks' service, but her
speed and fuel consumption counted against her as the CSP sought the
economies of rationalisation
Sold out of the fleet in May 1960,
leaving the Clyde in April 1961 for scrapping in
Dublin after a plan for her to be used in Northern Ireland fell through.
Above : Jupiter at Bridge Wharf, Glasgow in 1957. Photo by kind courtesy of Gillon Ferguson
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