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PS Jeanie Deans

Above : Classic view at Rothesay around 1960 from an original slide purchased by Peter Rolf and reproduced with thanks
Launched on April 7th, 1931 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co at Govan, Glasgow
 Dimensions : 250'6" x 30'1"
Engines : Three-crank diagonal triple expansion 26, 41.5 and 66 in x 60 in stroke
635 Gross Registered Tons (as built) - 814 (in final condition)
LNER remained with paddle vessels due to draft restrictions at Craigendoran
Three-crank engine introduced for first time on a Clyde steamer, with impressive speed resulting
Appearance changed in 1932 with longer, differential funnels and forward deckhouse
Extensively refitted after war service, including new deckhouses, and tonnage increased to 814
Although no longer as quick, she remained a passenger favourite on cruises from Craigendoran.
Converted to oil during the winter of 1956/7. Radar fitted in 1960.
Withdrawn after the 1964 season
Sold in 1965 to an enthusiast entrepreneur for further cruising and sailed to the River Thames in England
Renamed "Queen of the South" by Don Rose's Coastal Steam Packet Company Ltd 
The inaugural 1966 season was plagued by boiler trouble
New investors put the ship into drydock for passenger facilities upgrade, a boiler re-tubing and the fitting of a bow rudder
The 1967 was also marred by boiler trouble and paddle wheel damage and few sailings were possile
Left the Thames in December 1967 for breaking up at Antwerp, Belgium
Above : Leaving Craigendoran in 1959. Photo by Gillon Ferguson
Above : Approaching Rothesay in 1959. Photo by Gillon Ferguson
Above :  At Rothesay by Jimmy Reid, kindly supplied by Ronnie McLeod
Above : Jeanie Deans in her later years on the Clyde. Photo by Alexander Bain (courtesy of Donald Bain)
Above: Jeanie Deans at Dunoon in 1964 - Photo by Ian Stewart
Above: Leaving Dunoon for Rothesay, with the Gantocks Rocks in the background (Ian Stewart)
Above : Further off from Dunoon, with paddle steamer Waverley appropaching from Rothesay (Ian Stewart)
Above : Another meeting with Waverley - this time in Rothesay Bay (Ian Stewart)
Above : Jeanie Deans superstructure detail (Ian Stewart) - seen at Gourock 
Above : When Don Rose bought Jeanie Deans, it was hoped that the elderly vessel would be as much of a success on the Thames as she had been on the Clyde. Paddle steamers had disappeared from the capital city and its mighty river, but not so long ago as for them to be forgotten. There had continued to be a significant excursion ship service with palatial motor vessels, but that business was now unprofitable and the Thames was left without any services, but still a significant amount of demand.  Could the Queen of the South revive a paddle steamer tradition and make it work financially ?  Tom Lee took this photo in London in May 1966

Above : Queen of the South's time on the Thames was plagued by mechanical breakdowns. She made it to Southend this time in August 1966. Photo by kind courtesy of Tom Lee. Photo taken by Cyril Perrier

Above : In the Pool of London in 1967. Photo by kind courtesy of Gillon Ferguson

JEANIE DEANS IN POST CARD VIEWS
Above : As built, in her first season, 1931. Black hull with dark red boot topping, brown panelling on the sponsons with black vents. White upperworks with teak effect deckhouse above the aft companionway. Red white and black banded funnels. Post card view - Clyde River Steamer Club
Above : In 1932 the funnels were extended and of differential size in an attempt to reduce the amount of soot falling on the promenade deck. A forward deck saloom was also added. Postcard from the Istvan Radi collection 

In 1936, the LNER adopted a new colour scheme, a less intricate design, with grey hulls with white upper-works and deckhouses which lasted until World War II. The traditional funnel colours remained unchanged

Above: Valentine's Post card posted from Dunoon in April 1938 kindly supplied by Michael Brown from his collection

Above : A Judges photo of Jeanie Deans at Arrochar issued as a post card kindly supplied by Michael Brown from his collection
She was considerably altered during her post-war refit, most notably with deckhouses fore and aft, an enclosed teak faced wheelhouse and new funnels.
The post-war colours of the LNER were worn for the 1946 and 1947 seasons only, but were welcomed by Clyde purists as they closely resembled the pre-1936 livery, including cream upperworks and gold lining around the hull a few inches below the upperworks. More noticeably different were the sponson housings which were white and no longer brown, but brown paint between the windows of the restaurant aft, giving her an unusuall appearance and a unique one for her fleet.  
Above : Immediately post-war after her refit at Inglis' Pointhouse yard and in LNER colours. Courtesy of the Peter Rolf collection.
Above: In 1948, ownership passed to the BTC, but her livery initially remained unchanged except for the yellow and black funnels. Post card view
Above: After full integration into the CSP fleet, she was to have her deckhouses painted white and her vents painted silver with light blue innards, to match her new stable-mates, but Jeanie (and other ex-LNER paddlers) retained black paddle boxes. The gold lining on the hull was an early casualty to standardisation (and cost saving). Post card view.
She was withdrawn from service immediately before the introduction of the CSP's new livery of "monastral blue" hulls and lion rampant funnel emblems
Jeanie Deans is named in honour of the central character in Sir Walter Scott's novel Heart of Midlothian. Jeanie's story is based on the real life story of one Helen Walker 
.
Bibliography
Jeanie Deans : Clydebuilt Pioneer of Paddle Steamer Preservation
By Fraser G MacHaffie
Published in 2021 by Waverley Excursions Ltd
ISBN 9781916875227
The definitive history of Jeanie Deans
Jeanie Deans 1931-1967 An Illustrated Biography
By Fraser G MacHaffie
Published in 1977 by Jeanie Deans Publications
Detailed story of this favourite steamer in pamphlet form
Classic Scottish Paddle Steamers
Alan J S Paterson
Published in 1982 by David & Charles (Publishers) Ltd, Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon, UK
ISBN 0-7153-8335-3
Clyde story told through extended histories of twelve representative steamers including Jeanie Deans
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Clyde Steamers of the 1930s
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