Queen Mary II

Welcome to the internet's leading source of Queen Mary information and photographs
part of the Clyde Turbine Steamers website from paddlesteamers.info - the internet's leading website for side-wheel paddle steamers

Kenny Whyte's Collection
Many thanks to renowned steamer and ferry photographer Kenny for allowing these photos to be used on this website

Above : A busy Queen Mary II at Rothesay on the day of the Bute Games

QM approaching Dunoon calmac K Whyte.jpg

Above : Queen Mary approaching Dunoon pier.

A sign of changing times : Queen Mary lies at Gourock pier in her new Caledonian-MacBrayne livery whilsy car ferry Glen Sannox passes by. The newer ship is still in the colours of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company - but the new Caledonian-MacBrayne operation was dedicated to improving its point-to-point vehicle ferry services and had little time for its passenger excursion programme - nice to have, but in reality seen as a declining market and an increasing financial burden.

Queen Mary at the Wires berth at Gouroch ahead of MV Maid of Cumbrae. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenneth Whyte

Queen Mary seen off Gourock. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenneth Whyte

QM and Waverley - Dunoon 1977 K Whyte.jpg

In 1977, PS Waverley ran aground on the Gantocks rocks off Dunoon. Here she is seen at Dunoon's Coal Pier awaiting inspectionand attention. Queen Mary is seen in the background on her normal service. Waverley was out of action for six weeks and this financial disaster almost ended her life in operational preservation. Queen Mary could take up the slack and continue to provide cruise opportunities for Clydesiders and its visitors. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenneth Whyte.

Wemyss Bay pier caught fire on March 1st 1977, thought to have been started in a workman's cabin as the pier was being upgraded for a new ro-ro ferry link to Rothesay. Queen Mary, in her final season, operated relief sailings from Wemyss Bay and a new era in services to Bute then began with the arrival of purpose-built MV Saturn.

Queen Mary approaching Troon - by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte

Above : At Rothesay with Glen Sannox

Above : Awaiting departure at Gourock

Above : At Troon (?)

In drydock at the Clyde Dock Engineering Ltd Govan complex. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's turbine steamer Manxman is seen in the background

Above : Winter lay-up alongside King George V

Above : Modern seating was installed in the forward promenade deck lounge when Queen Mary was extensively refurbished in the early 70s

Above : At Kilcreggan

Above : At Dunoon

Above : At Wemyss Bay

Above : A busy upper deck

Above : At Gourock

Above : passing the car ferry MV Bute at Wemyss Bay

Above : At Rothesay

Above : At Largs

Above : Queen Mary leaves Largs

Above : Queen Mary is seen from PS Waverley

Above : At Ardrossan Winton Pier on an Arran relief run

Above : At Inveraray

Above : Cal-Mac boats in the East India Harbour Greenock. In the foreground, two small car ferries for short crossings. Alongside Queen Mary is MV Keppel, bought from the Thames' Tilbury-Gravesend crossing to serve largs and Millport on the demise of DEPV Talisman, but after 1977, the company's main passenger-only ship and used unsuccessfully to try and maintain a traditional excursion schedule

Queen Mary and Glen Sannox nose-to-nose

A busy day for Queen Mary

Spartan - but under cover : Queen Mary's promenade deck

Competition - although there was an agreement not to compete directly : Paddle Steamer Waverley and Queen Mary at Anderston Quay

Promenade deck aft - leaving Dunoon

Way down the Firth ..... at Ayr

At Troon in 1974. In the left background lies TS Duchess of Hamilton in the process of being dismantled

A winter's day at Greenock with Queen Mary tied up alongside Cal-Mac car ferry Suilven

Alongside another Cal-Mac car ferry - MV Caledonia (ex Stena Baltica) which inaugurated drive-through services to Arran in 1970. She is in the East India Harbour, Greenock. In the background is the Custom House, Greenock, and one of James Lamont two dry docks which were at the western side of the dock. These were filled in in 2010 to make space for the Beacon Arts Centre.

The 1970s could still see enormous crowds for passenger services

At Largs and featuring the Cumbrae Slip ferry MV Morvern

At Wemyss Bay

Above : Seen heading down the Clyde from Glasgow, viewed from Erskine Bridge

Above : seen from Erskine Bridge

Above : at Troon

Above : At Millport

Return to

Queen Mary : Cal-Mac Years