Renfrew Ferry

[ghiribizzo]

- and the 'Renfrew' Ferry had a proper wooden 'bridge' not the little cabins at either end that can be just seen in the pic.

[glasgowken]

I well remember looking into the engine room, the crew seemed very proud of it.
Anyone got a photo of the engine ?

[retired tiger]

I well remember looking into the engine room, the crew seemed very proud of it.
Anyone got a photo of the engine ?

Must have been when Dan MacPhail was doing his stint on it

[stranger]

What is all that extra framework structure ? That's what confused me

is this the same ferry that was used as a venue in the early 90's
moored on the opposite side of the river from the tuxedo princess?

[yoker brian]

Follow Up :-

This is from material written around 1989/90 and found in the Mitchell's Glasgow Room

"What became of the disused ferries? - By good fortune both have been saved from the breakers yard. When the fourth and final steam ferry was replaced in 1952 by the diesel electric it was maintained as a standby right up until it's successors withdrawl on 1st June 1984, before that it was widened for service in 1962 as Erskine's ferry. Renfrew District Council purchased from the Clyde Port Authority for £500 restoring it with MSC resources and £75,000 from the common good fund; preserving it and making extensive conversions including a glass roof.

It was established as a small maritime museum during the Glasgow International Garden Festival in 1988 and proving a crowd gatherer. Since then it has lain mothballed in the Puddoch or Pudzeoch awaiting the arrival of a multi million pound Braehead waterway development when once again the public will be able to stroll it's decks. Doubtlessly it will be feature prominently in Renfrew Royal Burgh's 600 anniversary in 1997."

"An equally dramatic transition came over the last chain operated ferry. Bought by Ronald Scott of Euroyachts in 1985 from the Clyde Port Authority it now bobs sedately on the Clyde at Windmillcroft Quay in Tradeston for all the world like a floating conservatory. PArt from its finely crafted arched canopy of glass it now earns it's living as a theatre complex with bar and kitchen that can cater for 500 people, although the certificate allows 800 to be carried.

Exhibitions, fashion shows, promotions even weddings have been held on board. During Mr Bill Burdett Coutts directorship of Mayfest it was perhaps the most unusual concert venue with three events per night quiet normal. Mr Scott announced at the end of 1990 that the vessel was for sale and that it may end up in Liverpool or Dublin, however the ferry was still a popular entertainment venue in 1993. The bar is run by local publican Colin Beattie whilst the conversion was made by Yoker firm Gray & Dick, who also made an excellent job on the ferry owned by Renfrew District"

In 2004 - the ferry underwent an extensive refurbishment and was relocated a few hundred yards away on the Broomielaw on the north bank of the clyde in the shadow of Kingston Bridge.

Perhaps this could become a HG project if anyone else fancies lending a hand researching the various ferries that once served the city and her riverside population.?

[e2wufos1]

Does anyone have a photo of this or one of the other ferries in it's class when it was floating or tell me if this is the ferry in question?

Jim

[/img]

Photo taken from
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/river_ferries.asp

[AMcD]

is this the same ferry that was used as a venue in the early 90's
moored on the opposite side of the river from the tuxedo princess?

Na. That's a different ferry, which has now moved to the tuxedo princess mooring.



Quite confusing though. The material brian quoted says the ferry was used during the Garden Festival, yet you can see what looks like it getting fitted out at the govan graving docks in this picture from the Clydesdale Bank Tower.



Do they mean this ferry, viewed from the other side of the tower?

[e2wufos1]

Or is it possibly this one?




Photo taken from
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/river_ferries.asp

[yoker brian]

I think the ferry being fitted out at the govan graving docks in AMcD's second pic is the Renfrew Ferry (diesel electric engined - chain hauled) which is now moored on the Broomielaw.

With the one moored near the Bells Bridge is the one which was until a few months ago the one which was half submerged at Renfrew was the old Erskine (Steam engined - chain hauled) ferry

[yoker brian]

Or is it possibly this one?




Photo taken from
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/river_ferries.asp

NO - that is the finnieston ferry which operated from Mavisbank Quay to Lancefield Quay

[glasgowken]

Follow Up :-

This is from material written around 1989/90 and found in the Mitchell's Glasgow Room

"What became of the disused ferries? - By good fortune both have been saved from the breakers yard. When the fourth and final steam ferry was replaced in 1952 by the diesel electric it was maintained as a standby right up until it's successors withdrawl on 1st June 1984, before that it was widened for service in 1962 as Erskine's ferry. Renfrew District Council purchased from the Clyde Port Authority for £500 restoring it with MSC resources and £75,000 from the common good fund; preserving it and making extensive conversions including a glass roof.

It was established as a small maritime museum during the Glasgow International Garden Festival in 1988 and proving a crowd gatherer. Since then it has lain mothballed in the Puddoch or Pudzeoch awaiting the arrival of a multi million pound Braehead waterway development when once again the public will be able to stroll it's decks. Doubtlessly it will be feature prominently in Renfrew Royal Burgh's 600 anniversary in 1997."

"An equally dramatic transition came over the last chain operated ferry. Bought by Ronald Scott of Euroyachts in 1985 from the Clyde Port Authority it now bobs sedately on the Clyde at Windmillcroft Quay in Tradeston for all the world like a floating conservatory. PArt from its finely crafted arched canopy of glass it now earns it's living as a theatre complex with bar and kitchen that can cater for 500 people, although the certificate allows 800 to be carried.

Exhibitions, fashion shows, promotions even weddings have been held on board. During Mr Bill Burdett Coutts directorship of Mayfest it was perhaps the most unusual concert venue with three events per night quiet normal. Mr Scott announced at the end of 1990 that the vessel was for sale and that it may end up in Liverpool or Dublin, however the ferry was still a popular entertainment venue in 1993. The bar is run by local publican Colin Beattie whilst the conversion was made by Yoker firm Gray & Dick, who also made an excellent job on the ferry owned by Renfrew District"

In 2004 - the ferry underwent an extensive refurbishment and was relocated a few hundred yards away on the Broomielaw on the north bank of the clyde in the shadow of Kingston Bridge.

Perhaps this could become a HG project if anyone else fancies lending a hand researching the various ferries that once served the city and her riverside population.?

Excelent info. Thinking back I do remember the Erskine Ferry still in one piece, moored on the south bank, next the the Renfrew Ferry.
Bloody shame it wasn't preserved, especially after all that cash was spent by Renfrew District Council.

[ghiribizzo]

The Finnieston ferry (with moveable deck) lay moored for years in the Clyde just round the corner upstream rather than 'in' the Pudzeoch where the 'spare' ferry for the Renfrew crossing was kept.
In many ways it was technically impressive I suppose as it's deck adjusted to the tide level.
Was it simply scrapped?

[Vinegar Tom]

I was down that way lastweek and looks like It's gone along with most of the basin. The quay wall has been rebuilt and a new fence is in place.

This rather shit quality pic. shows how it looked about 18 months ago. Wonder where all the boats went?



Feb 2005

The view has changed a bit at Ferry Road


I love the sign on the gates - how did that survive?

[glasgowken]

Someone should grab that sign and preserve it (or give it to me ). It's only going to get swept away in the rubble.

[Vinegar Tom]

I thought about it , but there is no way to remove it without damaging it severely. Agreed though , it will probably end up in a land fill pretty soon.