Maid Of The Loch Facebook Page

[millfield153a]

Schön für dich!

[tramscape]

As a tramway enthusiast, German was essential learning for me at school ...... and it certainly comes in handy when it comes to paddle steamers too !

[kylemore]

Even the BBC are in on it !

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...Yi5dpQG0wQlME8

Scottish Government nice - HLF nasty

Edit : I see that a couple of "waste of money" comments have appeared on the LLSC FB page.

If the BBC are saying the Scottish Government is nice it'll be through gritted teeth I assure you!

[kylemore]

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were sailing aboard the Lake Lucerne paddler, Stadt Luzern. On the return trip back to Lucerne, I was amazed to see her Captain, a good friend, Kuno Stein, standing by the engine room, microphone in hand, giving an excellent commentary on the engine, how it worked etc.
There must have been at least 50 or 60 listening intently.........and they were not enthusiasts! Only problem was.......it was all in German!
Wouldn’t it just be marvellous to replicate this on the Clyde? Real education.......from the horse’s, sorry Captain’s mouth!

Excellent example and we can go one further and also give the talk in German if Tramscape will oblige!


Of course not everybody is happy standing up in front of large groups and talking, much is dependent on the attitude of the individuals involved.

[tramscape]

Excellent example and we can go one further and also give the talk in German if Tramscape will oblige!


Of course not everybody is happy standing up in front of large groups and talking, much is dependent on the attitude of the individuals involved.

I suspect that UK charity status and HLF funding does not stretch to the requirement to educate Germans !

[kylemore]

I suspect that UK charity status and HLF funding does not stretch to the requirement to educate Germans !

Schade!

[tramscape]

Interesting that there is no mention of actually buying a proper boiler at the moment

From what we were told it is actually relatively inexpensive and after all the crowdfunder, which raised a fair chunk of the money needed recruited money on the basis that it was to fund the new boiler

I can see the logic of not doing so, if the rented shore-side unit is not too expensive

[George Ted]

Maid of the Loch' to be hauled out of Loch Lomond next week

THE historic Maid of the Loch paddle steamer will be hauled out of the waters of Loch Lomond next week for the first full survey of the ship's hull in almost 40 years. https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co...9l17Wt6tTiZ6iM

[tramscape]

Whilst we gear up for reports from Balloch (and anywhere else), I thought I would take a look at how the SG's Regeneration Capital Fund, which allocated £ 950 k to the Maid, described the project. It makes interesting reading. Note - the grant was from an existing fund and gained in a competetitive process resembling that of the HLF

The project, led by the local charity (Loch Lomond Steamship Company) will restore the
“Maid of the Loch”, the historic and last UK-built paddle steamer. It will become a fully
operational steamship and community asset, providing a range of cruising and events
experiences all year round, what will have a positive impact on the local economy. The aim is
for the project to be used as a catalyst for economic regeneration and community
development in West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) area. A key outcome will be the
creation of a dedicated learning space on board to provide the on-going unique learning and
educational programmes for schools and visitors of all ages. Works will also include the
provision of a new lift to provide access for those with mobility issues and additional support
needs. A range of skills and training opportunities will be offered for crew and shore staff.
Community facilities will be available for events on board the vessel and within passenger
facilities on the pier. The project will, with advice/support from WDC target the disadvantaged
communities for the new jobs, training opportunities and learning experiences. This will
benefit not only the immediately surrounding areas of Balloch, Haldane and the Vale of
Leven, but also the other adjacent SIMD areas in the five remaining WDC wards. In addition,
connectivity will be a key part of the Maid’s offer as, for the first time in over 30 years, she will
connect six small loch-side rural communities. The project has the ability to deliver
sustainable regeneration outcomes in an area badly affected by socio-economic issues, to
create a positive change to learning and work, provide a mechanism to address inequality
and create an asset that can sustain itself financially.

[millfield153a]

’she will connect six small loch-side rural communities’.

Balloch, Balmaha, Luss, Rowardennan, Tarbert and Ardlui, presumably: which of these piers could MotL call at without work being done to them - and what investigations do we know about into the cost of restoring the rest? And do we know for certain that the Business Plan envisages reintroduction of this sort of ‘up and down the Loch service’?

[tramscape]

I think Luss is OK and Inversnaid probably, without too much investment ..... but as for the rest ????

I really don't see that this linking of all six is realistic even if minimal investment had been needed

As we discussed a year or two back ... that had there been thriving resorts, resort hotels, loads of activities etc at these places then there might have been an opportunity

Connecting these "communities" as they are doesn't make much sense to me !

I don't see how that will contribute to reducing social "inequality" .... which seems to be the main reason for supporting the project

[tramscape]

She's on the move now. Pictures appearing on facebook .... and live video

Quite interesting eavesdropping on the conversations going on!!!

[George Ted]

Maid now going up the slip. Click pic for video

[George Ted]

Facebook Post

Unfortunately an incident has happened with what we believe to be the carriage and the ship is now back in the water. We will now secure her back to the pier to assess the situation. Thanks for your support today, updates will be provided once we know more.

[kylemore]

Thanks for the video - hopefully nothing serious as regards the "incident".

[youngac]

Today’s events were very hard to watch given the huge amount of anticipation and preparation that went into the slipping. Thankfully no one was hurt and the ship appears to be fine, but the incident looked potentially dangerous and there was genuine concern for safety when she flew back into the Loch. The carriage of the slipway seems to be what caused the issue and presumably some sort of investigation will need to be carried out to establish what happened, what got damaged and the cost of repair.

Maid of the Loch has been through many setbacks in her life, but I know the determination of the volunteers to continue with the restoration will remain strong.

[tramscape]

It's now on the front page of the BBC News (UK wide) website : "Workers Flee as ship slips back into water"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-sco...ack-into-water

I hope that this does not cause the paddle steamer cause with the general public to receive a setback. It does not look very professional using what seems to be a flimsy carriage to hold all that tension on the rope

[tramscape]

Ah .....yes

It made it on to Reporting Scotland tonight ... and John Beveridge had to face the cameras

You could see the sadness in Sally Magnusson's eyes as she had to introduce the story .....

[George Ted]

[rannoch]

Seemingly it wasn't the carriage that caused the problem, it was the wire pulling the carriage that snapped at the point at which it was connected to the carriage. The carriage is now lying somewhere on the bed of the loch.

[youngac]

Seemingly it wasn't the carriage that caused the problem, it was the wire pulling the carriage that snapped at the point at which it was connected to the carriage. The carriage is now lying somewhere on the bed of the loch.

Looked as though a significant portion of the carriage disintegrated on its way down the slip. Pieces of it could be seen floating to the surface soon after the steamer made her unplanned return to the Loch. Hopefully they can recover the remainder of the carriage and have it repaired as soon as possible.

[kylemore]

Looked as though a significant portion of the carriage disintegrated on its way down the slip. Pieces of it could be seen floating to the surface soon after the steamer made her unplanned return to the Loch. Hopefully they can recover the remainder of the carriage and have it repaired as soon as possible.

Thank goodness it survived long enough to keep the Maid upright until she regained buoyancy, looks like a lucky escape to me, for ship and personnel.

Time for a re-design of a much more robust cradle and winching apparatus?

[fv24]

There's a very clear picture on the Sunday Post website article showing broken wood at the end of the carriage.

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/operat...fter-incident/

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[tramscape]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...-west-46836754

[kylemore]

The response after the initial shock seems to be proportionate and calm.

No doubt there will be a (hopefully) small delay while this is investigated and appropriate changes made to the apparatus and or operational procedure.

[somewhatfoolish]

Looked as though a significant portion of the carriage disintegrated on its way down the slip. Pieces of it could be seen floating to the surface soon after the steamer made her unplanned return to the Loch. Hopefully they can recover the remainder of the carriage and have it repaired as soon as possible.

It's not unusual for dunnage to come loose when a vessel rises off a carriage even in controlled launches, things move around and clamps loosen, especially wedges etc. Having said that, it's clear from the Press Association picture that the carriage has suffered failure of several of the wooden beams; while making the new carriage of wood was faithful to the rotting original that was disposed of along with the Countess Fiona, perhaps a move to steel construction is in order.

[rannoch]

[QUOTE=somewhatfoolish;16482]It's not unusual for dunnage to come loose when a vessel rises off a carriage even in controlled launches

Can you please explain the meaning of "dunnage"?

[somewhatfoolish]

The wedges and packing pieces that fit between the hull and the carriage, traditionally always made of wood; there would be a slipping book kept by the foreman of the yard with detailed measurements, sketches etc for how the carriage was to be set up for each different vessel, although if it was a new vessel to the yard or no hull outline drawing was available educated guessing was involved.

[youngac]

This video shows that the cradle has been recovered and though damaged it is mostly intact.

[youngac]

The charity has been frequently updating its social media feeds with plenty of photos of the restoration of rooms onboard the Maid appearing on Facebook, Twitter etc.

This is social media done correctly. I hope the operators of a certain sea going paddler on the Clyde notice this.

[tramscape]

In the past, the WEL page has really not been one for the "nutter" with regards to the ship itself - this has been left to the PSPS page plus various enthusiast groups on Facebook to do the job

Maybe there will be more integration between the WEL page and the (excellent) PSPS page in future

There is a fine balance on a "commercial" page between marketing the service which is of importance to generating custom and clogging it up with things specifically for enthusiasts

I'm not sure there is much of a story to tell about Waverley. The annual renovations etc are not as exciting as the restorations of such as Queen Mary and the Maid

[youngac]

It’s sad to think that had the slipping operation not went wrong, Maid of the Loch would probably have just returned to the Loch as planned but with her hulk repaired and possibly resplendent in a new coat of paint.

Does anyone know if another attempt at slipping will be attempted in the near distant future? Would hate to think that the entire operation will be abandoned.

[tramscape]

I would expect it to be much later in the year as an investigation is under way and that needs to be completed before they can think about another go

They have just now placed the orders for pipework for the boiler/engine to be manufactured, so they are pressing ahead with other tasks

[rannoch]

According to information received at the recent PSPS meeting in Glasgow, there will be another attempt to slip the vessel in the autumn.
In the meantime she is closed down for the winter.