Ships and Harbours Photos

If I remember the story correctly, this Clyde steamer was originally named Queen Mary, but when Cunard ordered the John Brown shipyard hull no. 534 and wanted to name their new liner Queen Mary, the owners agreed to change the name to the TS Queen Mary II, allowing the new liner on launching in 1934 to be named the Queen Mary.

Added by Peter Langsdale on 27 January 2008.

Peter (above) is absolutely right, the vessel QM II served with the Caledonian Steamship Company on the River Clyde, I saw her most days when I served in the "Cowal" of said company.

Added by Robert Hogarth on 01 February 2008.

This ship is now docked in London.

Added by Ryan Thompson on 06 March 2009.

Queen mary ii, fondly referred to within the company as queen mary aye aye had a single squat funnel and looked nothing like that in the photograph above

Added by Robert Hogarth on 09 March 2009.

Robert: You're right, it did - for a while. It now has two funnels again, like in the photo.

Added by Ryan Thompson on 10 March 2009.

Ryan, Thanks for the update, do you know to what purpose she serves now in London. your info much appreciated. thanks, Robert Hogarth

Added by Robert Hogarth on 10 March 2009.

According to wikipedia ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TS_Queen_Mary ) ...

Waverley survived and prospered, but with the shift to diesel car ferries and cost pressures the TS Queen Mary was retired after a last evening showboat cruise from Largs to Rothesay on 27 September 1977. She was then laid up in the East India Harbour, Greenock. At some time in the 1980s the ship was bought by Bass Leisure Retail and taken south to London to become a floating pub/restaurant. She underwent a £2.5m refurbishment in 1997 and is currently moored at Victoria Embankment. Facilities include two bars and two function rooms. The top deck of the ship is used as an open air venue with bar facilities.

The future of the TS Queen Mary is unknown as of December 2007. The owners, Mitchells and Butlers are considering their options. The ship may undergo a complete refurbishment in 2008, and according to staff on board, may be floated to a dry dock in France, for the work to be carried out. There has been no date set, as yet, for this work.

Added by Ryan Thompson on 12 March 2009.

tHANKS rYAN, MUCH APPRECIATED...

Added by Robert Hogarth on 14 March 2009.

To all concerned, the ship is now disused and is up for sale at a cost of an asking price of £154,00. There seems to be a party that is interested to see if they can get the money together, and possibly get her back on the Clyde, but it is looking doubtful. The interested party is looking for donations, and if you "Google" T.S. Queen Mary, then you will come across the name of the interested party, and also the name of the broker who is dealing with the sale, including many photos of how she looks inside and out, at present. Bill Shearer.

Added by Bill Shearer on 02 May 2009.

I hope it doesn't degenerate into an SS United States type situation. :|

Added by Ryan Thompson on 03 May 2009.

Also, It would be great to see her converted back to passenger service, but it probably wouldn't happen until after the economy recovers, i.e. at least another couple years. She still has her cabins, right? They didn't gut everything to create convention/business meeting rooms, did they?

Added by Ryan Thompson on 04 May 2009.

The location looks very much like Gourock. This is a fairly early photograph of her before she gained the after mast

Added by Paul Strathdee on 03 December 2009.

Hi there, further to my earlier comment regarding the queen mary. She has now been sold to a French company who is planning to refurbish her and turn her into a hotel/restaurant. She was cut from her moorings on the Thames a few weeks ago, and was towed to Tilbury, from there she will go to La Rochelle in France where the refurb will take place. There are some fantastic photos on line of the boat being towed through London, past some of the famous landmarks, especially tower bridge, as it had to be raised. Unfortunately she had her funnels removed and so looked quite sad. Will be interesting to see how she eventually ends up.

Added by Bill Shearer on 04 December 2009.

It may be of some interest to readers as to how the conflict of names between the 2 "Queen Mary"s arose. The Turbine steamer "Queen Mary", yard number 1262, was launched from William Denny Bros. Leven yard on 30th.March, 1933 for Williamson-Buchanan. She was named, as had been also TS "King Edward" and TS "Queen Alexandra", by permission of the King. Brown's had on their stocks the great Cunarder, number 534. The Chairman of Cunard and the Managing Director of John Brown's were granted an audience with King George V when they said that they wished to name their new ship after England's greatest Queen. The King replied " I am sure that my wife will be delighted"! Lloyd's not permitting 2 vessels with the same name, there was clearly some difficulty. Sir Maurice Denny said that Captain Williamson, on being approached to release his steamer's name,
said that it was not his concern. Eventually agreement was reached, though the precise nature of the "encouragement" was not published, so our ship became "Queen Mary 11". Now, of course, Cunard have gained what they really sought with the "Queen Victoria", following earlier tradition of "ia" endings as "Lusitania", "Mauretania" and others.
I echo the wishes of others that the current plans are successful. Otherwise, she having lost her engines replacements would be very expensive and turbines driving propellers are not as photogenic as steam paddlers. Thank Heaven for "Waverley". Long may she prosper.
Hope this is of some interest. Robin Denny.


Added by R.D.L.Denny on 31 December 2010.

Nice to see such a famous name still around. I wish your yard along with many others on the Clyde were also still here.

Added by Paul Strathdee on 31 December 2010.

Bill -- Is the ship moving to France permanently or is it just there for the refurbish?

Added by Ryan Thompson on 03 January 2011.

Thankyou for your kind and generous comment.
The closure of our yard was devastating for Dumbarton and the scars seem to be still apparent. It was keenly felt by my family who had been part of Dumbarton for 600years. But "Sir Walter Scott" still sails Loch Katrine. I believe "Eugenie Eugenides" (ex Sunbeam 11) still trains Greek sailors out of Piraeus and, of course, "Second Snark". We have some marvellous memories. Robin Denny.


Added by R.D.L.Denny on 03 January 2011.

I've enjoyed quite a few sails on the Snark. Must look out some more Denny built ship photos.

Added by Paul Strathdee on 04 January 2011.

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