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GRAY'S ENGINE
72 THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER
was one of the with his " Aglaia," to adopt
first,
iron as the material for shipbuilding on the
Clyde, and to his genius we are indebted for
other vital improvements. To him is due the
credit of producing the surface condenser not
the surface condenser of to-day, but its reverse,
and among his other inventions were patent
floats, the steeple engine, so long in use on the
river, and the haystack boiler.
The writer has been informed that the idea
of the steeple engine occurred to Napier about
midnight. He was in bed, but he instantly got
up, and cleared his dining-room of furniture
and carpet, that he might draw his plans in
chalk on the floor. He sent a servant post
haste for David Tod, and when the latter
hastened to the house, thinking his friend was
ill, he was met with the remark, " Man, I'm
gled tae see ye, Davie I thocht I wis
!
gaun'
tae los' it." A
pattern-maker, who was an
expert draughtsman, was sent for, and the
plans were completed there and then.
The earliest recorded steeple engine was that
fitted on board the sea-going steamer "Clyde"
in 1832, belonging to G. & J. Burns, but the
first fitted on board a river steamer was that of
the "St. Mungo" in 1836.
Previous to the year 1838 the engines on
board the river steamers were for the most part
of the side-lever type, with flue boilers. The
"
first tubular boiler was fitted into the Luna,"
built by Jas. & Wm. Napier in 1837. She
was a long narrow crank boat, but very
INVENTIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS 73
"
running on the river was on board the Vivid,"
which is now in the scrap heap. The haystack
boiler, however, is still with us, and is favoured
by some owners on account of its large grate
and heating surface and its minimum of weight.
74 THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER
But to return to the steamers themselves.
"
The Hero," by Denny in 1832, and
built
'LUNA'
" "
Superb," the Flambeau," and the "Warrior/'
'
ISLE OF BUTE '
KOTHESAY
THE TOTUMS.
"
Contented wi' Maggie, how blythe ha'e I been !
"
It's very hot, upon my life !
"
We'll never get to town to-day
"
Upon the morning Railway !
Thomson.
Consulting Engineer Joseph Lockie ; Acting P^ngineer
John Edward Errington Secretary Mark Huish
; ;
Law
Agents Gabriel Hamilton Lang, and James Turner.
Agent at Glasgow Station Andrew Thomson.
,, Paisley George Penfold.
Port-Glasgow Station Wm. Auld.
,, Greenock Alexr. Paul.
RAILWAY AND STEAMER 87
1
LADY BRISBANE'
'LADY KELBURNE
RAILWAY AND STEAMER 89
'
EMPEROR '
page 54 that in May, 1829, one of the packets sailed from Rothe-
say to Greenock every Sunday morning with mails this was
:
the first instance of Sunday sailing, but it was not openly for
passengers.
90 THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER
"
was afterwards re-named the Aquilla," and
"
left the river. The Invincible," turned out
by the same builders in the following year for
M'Kellar's Millport trade, was sole! to foreign
owners.
At this period was built the earliest of what
" "
may be termed the freak steamers which
from time to time have appeared on the
Clyde.
"
The of Beauty," built by Thomas
Queen
Wingate 1844, and engined by Robert
in
'CRAIGNISH CASTLE
"
Wednesday, 22nd February, 1854. The
"
pilot came on board, and the tug William
'
MONARCH '
"
Wallace towed her to an anchorage in Gare-
loch to adjust her compasses. Left Rothesay
Bay for Hobart Town, Tasmania, schooner
rig, on the 4th March, 1854, under the com-
mand of T. M'Kinnon. Arrived at Hobart
Town, 1 2th July, 1854."
This extract was furnished by the Harbour
Master at Hobart, who also informed me that
the machinery was removed in 1899, and was
94 THE CLYDE PASSENGER STEAMER
running a saw-mill at the Huon River, Tasmania.
These particular engines, therefore, had a
somewhat varied and eventful career.
The " Edinburgh Castle," built by Smith &
Rodger in 1844, sailed originally between
Glasgow and Kilmun. She is now named
the ''Glengarry," and plies to the present
day on the Caledonian Canal.
'
BREADALBANE '