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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
Firth
of Forth
Excursion services were operated primarily by
Galloway Saloon Steam Packet Co, which eventually became controlled
by the North British Railway. The company can trace its roots back to
Matthew Galloway who was the driving force of the company for almost
all of its existence. Galloway's father John was probably the first
achnowledged ship owner to offer excursions although paddle steamer
services on the Forth can be traced back to 1814, only two years after
Henry Bell introduced the Comet to the Clyde. It was Bell who brought
the Stirling Castle to sail from the eponomous city. This name was to
be associated with Firth of Forth sailings until 1907. As with many
ship operating areas, numerous individual owners offered services, but
it was Galloway's company which was to win out and dominate.
The
excursion steamers era effectively ended in 1914 when the Forth was
declared a controlled area for military purposes at the outbreak of
World I, but business had not been lucrative and the North British
railway had given priority to its land-based services in any event.
Pure excursion services were not a money maker and with two old
paddlers remaining from their fleet in 1918, they were sold off to the
Admiralty and the business wound up.
Prior
to the
opening of the Forth Road Bridge in the 1960s, car ferries crossed
the Forth estuary, between North and South Queensferry. Latterly,
these were operated by Wm. Denny & Bros, of Dumbarton
shipbuilding fame.
John Kidd / Galloway Saloon
Steam Packet Co
Grangemouth & Forth Towing
Co
Redcliffe Shipping Co
Stanley Butler Shipping Co
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