Paddle Steamer Resources by
Tramscape
T.S.
King Edward
Built in 1901 by Wm Denny
and Bros. at Dumbarton
Engines : 3 direct drive steam turbines by Parsons Marine Steam
Turbine Co of Newcastle
Dimensions : 250.5 ft x 30.1 ft
551 Gross Registered Tonnes
A
truly revolutionary vessel - the world’s first passenger steamer
driven by turbines.
Owned by the Turbine Steamer Syndicate (later Turbine Steamers Ltd)
originally as an experimental venture
Speed and economy made turbine propulsion an instant success
Her speed was very useful on her regular long run to Campbeltown from
Fairlie
Her speed also allowed Inveraray to be opened up as a regular cruise
destination
Sailed as a troopship on the English Channel between 1915 and 1919
and also visited the While Sea in the Russian arctic.
After the war she was restored to the Cambeltown route, starting from
Greenock and Gourock
From 1927 ran from Glasgow to Rothesay, offering cruises from the
Bute resort
Remained on the Clyde during World War II undertaking tendering
duties
In 1946 she was back on the Rothesay route, remaining until her sale
in June 1952
Four days after her sale she arrived at shipbreakers at Troon
One of her turbines was preserved at the Kelvingrove Museum in
Glasgow.
Bibliography
King
Edward
By Leo Vogt
Published in 1992 by the Clyde River Steamer Club
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