Hello Everybody frae Greenock, River Clyde, Scotland!
Settle doon and let me tell you a wee story? (whos that yawning at the back???
![Smiley :)](https://theqe2story.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
)
Between 2000 and 2007 a waterbus service ran from Glasgow (Just under Central Station Bridge) down river to Braehead Shopping Centre (just across from the former Yarrows now BAE Systems shipyard at Scotstoun) - the business was started by ship owner and skipper Alex Gilmour using a 58ft vessel purchased from Dutch interests specifically for the venture which he renamed "Pride O The Clyde" (see last photo - from Glasgow Guide Website). Alex was a great guy and always supported the enthusiast when he could.
Once such occasion was this: Around 17 years ago there used to be a thriving Clyde Shipping Forum called Clydeshipping.co.uk of which I was a member.
We organised a wee trip down river one Saturday afternoon on 21st January 2002 - there was around 20 of us and Alex gave us a good price per head to do a trip down river from Glasgow turning about just around Dunglass Light (just around where the old oil terminal was near Dumbarton) - that was a far as PoTC could go so as to get back before completely losing the light at that time of the year.
It was a rather cold and dull day at times but the PoTC had ample covered accommodation should you need to escape the low temperatures outside!! All who attended had a great time and friends were made that day which have lasted the tests of time!!
I took some photos that day (naturally) and would like to share them on here as it gives an idea how the river looked back then compared to now (as those on the QE2 @ 50 charter saw back in September 2017)
The images are a tad fuzzy but remember this was almost 16yrs ago! (this will be across a couple of replies too in order to get all the pics in)
OK enough rambling - here goes!!
(1) Just off the berth and passing ps Waverley at her (then current) berth at Anderston Quay. She had re-entered service earlier in the summer of that year after completing Phase 1 of her Heritage Lottery rebuild - she would complete her 2002 season then under go Phase 2 of the project over winter 2002 / 2003. Phase 1 covered the after end repairs, replacement of her boilers and refurbishment (for the first time since 1946) of her main engine. The rest was completed in 2003 - oh and btw a very large proportion of her hull frames and plating are still original 1946 so it wasn't a total new hull or anything like that!
(2) Further down river now and passing the current BAE Systems' Govan shipyard formerly Fairfields - the old sign still a reminder of that bygone age...
(3) RFA vessel Waver Ruler fitting out at Govan - she is a fast fleet tanker and replenishment vessel - her sister Wave Knight was built at Barrow but fitting out was completed on the Clyde.
(4) Also fitting out was anchor handling vessel Stirling Islay - built for Stirling Shipping Company she was probably this yard's last commercial build - her sister Stirling Jura was being built by Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow at the same time.
(5) A little further down river and on the other bank we are passing the former Engine Works of Barclay Curle - the roof of this building opened to allow machinery to be lifted directly from the building into the ship fitting out by the hammerhead crane. This area is now used to collate scrap before loading it onto vessels who take it away to foreign interests.
(6) A view back to the Barclay Curle hammerhead crane.