James Watt Dock

With the Tall Ships visit fast approaching, I took a trip down to the James Watt Dock last weekend to see how work is progressing.

Work around the main entrance looks to be almost completed and is a great improvement on the run down condition it had been in.

With little more than a week till the the visitors arrive, I'm hoping to have a look around tomorrow to see how the full site is looking.

Boudicca

Arriving on her second of three visits this year, Boudicca sailed into a bright sunny Greenock this morning.

Farewell Jupiter

With Calmac's car ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon being axed at the end of the month, I felt a little sadness at seeing Jupiter being towed away to be broken for scrap.

Luna A towing Jupiter, destination - a foreign scrapyard

Along with her sister ship, Juno, she was a regular sight on the Clyde from the mid seventies untill 2007 when she was retired from service.

Cars will now use the existing Western Ferries service from McInroy's Point to Hunter's Quay, while pedestrians will  continue to have a town to town passenger only service. This will be provided by Ali Cat, which is already a regular sight on the Clyde along with a larger ferry which is being brought in.

Ali Cat

One thing is for certain, the Clyde will look a little bit emptier without the well-loved black and white ferries proudly carrying their red lions on their funnels.

FAREWELL JUPITER!

PS Waverley

The world's last sea going paddle steamer, Waverley, has started her summer schedule on the Clyde. She departed from her base at Pacific Quay in Glasgow this morning for a trip to the Kyles of Bute and Tighnabruaich. Here she is stopping at Customhouse Quay, Greenock on her way back to Glasgow this evening.

The low sun has cast a strange orange glow on her normally bright red twin funnels.

PS Waverley approaching Greenock

Paddle Steamer Waverley

Alongside Customhouse Quay

Black Watch

Today saw the first visit to Greenock of Black Watch, one of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' ships. Giving 3 loud blasts of her horn she slipped her berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal at 8pm heading for Bangor on the next leg of her journey.

Black Watch departing from Greenock

Black Watch

Black Watch heading for Bangor

The Royal Scotsman

Rail travel doesn't get any better than a trip on The Royal Scotsman. With prices of around a thousand pounds a night, she is one of the orient express group of trains, taking those with enough money on 2 to 7 night tours around Scotland.

The Royal Scotsman approaching Wemyss Bay station

The name plate has been removed from the front of the engine, presumably to be moved to the loco at the other end for the next leg of her journey

This afternoon she arrived at Wemyss Bay station on day 3 of a 5 day Grand West Highland Journey. Passengers disembarked to take a short ferry ride to Bute for a day spent at Mount Stuart.

One of the 4 state cars

The observation car

Inside of the observation car

another inside view

I could only dream of even stepping onto the train but I caught her arriving at Wemyss Bay and had a look around after those with money had left for the ferry.

Open verandah on the observation car

James Watt Dock

Only 4 weeks to go till the Tall Ships 2011 race comes to Greenock. Looking at the official event website, it promises to be a spectacular weekend. I hope the weather is kind and we have a repeat of the success last time the tall ships visited.

Work is progessing well at the east end of the dock around the sugarhouse and the finger.

Panoramic view from beside the new roundabout

The area is still a building site and security are restricting access but hopefully it will be open to visitors soon.

The marina pontoons are already in use

PS Waverley

2 paddle steamers in the same day. Not bad!

PS Waverley, the last sea going paddle steamer in the world, left Garvel drydock yesterday after an extended visit. she was helped out of the drydock by Clyde Marine tugs Beaver Bay and Boojum Bay. She was taken to Customhouse Quay for some safety checks before heading for the Bristol Channel.

Beaver Bay towing Waverley backwards out of the drydock

Turning Waverley around for the short journey to Customhouse Quay

On the way to Customhouse Quay

Slowly approacing the quayside

Comet replica 5/6/11

After her 15 month renovation at Ferguson Shipbuilders, this fantastic replica of paddle steamer Comet made her return to Port Glasgow town centre. A good sized crowd came along to share in this memorable occasion.

Comet being lifted off the trailer.......

.....swinging round.....

.....and lowered into position.

Customhouse Quay

The Customhouse in Greenock was designed by the reknowned Edinburgh architect, William Burn in 1818. Almost 200 years later and still looking splendid, HM Customs & Revenue have decided that they no longer need the building and it is currently lying empty and unused.

It's good to see that it is still being floodlit at night, which shows that this fine building has not been abandoned. I hope that someone finds a new use for it soon as it is one of Greenock's key landmarks.

The sky was a lovely colour on Friday eveining with not a cloud in sight when I took these pictures.

Greenock Custom House

Customhouse Quay and clock tower

Missed the train

Steam loco 44871was scheduled to sit at Craigendoran junction yesterday evening from 17:34 till 19:12 on her way from Bury to Fort William.

True to form, I was running late ond pulled up at Craigendoran station at quarter past 6 just in time to see the train pulling away I just had time to grab one picture before she disappeared from view.

Black 5 No 44871 passing Craigendoran station on the high line

For more information regarding her restoration, here is a link to Riley & Son's website