After almost 40 years of silence the iconic Maid of the Loch roared back into life yesterday afternoon.
The 1950s paddle steamer took the next step on its return to sailing along the Bonnie Banks as a new boiler was started up for the first time - marking an emotional moment for all those who are working to return her to full working order.
After raising over £1 million towards the cost of a full refit the Maid has now been restored to much of her early glory, however the biggest transformation lies in the engine room where pipework and boiler feed pumps identical to the originals have been installed.
However the Maid’s journey so far has been far from an easy one, as she’s faced a number of setbacks along the way.
The most notable of these came in January, when she broke free and slipped back into the water as workers attempted to haul her ashore.
That didn’t cause lasting damage, with the firing up of the steamer’s beating heart a proud moment for Loch Lomond Steamship Company chairman John Beveridge.
He said: “We are thrilled to have our Patron Lord Smith of Kelvin fire up the engines for the first time in nearly four decades and to celebrate the completion of our wonderful £1.1 million refit.
“We are still some way from achieving our aim of her sailing again but are more determined than ever to succeed. Our fundraising efforts will continue, and, in the meantime, visitors can come and see the Maid in her former glory and enjoy the spectacle of seeing the ship in steam once again.”
Built at the Glasgow Shipyard of A&J Inglis in 1953, the Maid of the Loch was launched into Loch Lomond’s waters for the first time in March of that year - becoming the largest paddle steamer to sail on the Loch.
In her day she was one of the most prestigious vessels in the country with the Queen even taking a trip Doon the Watter down in 1971, however the popularity of paddle steamers plummeted and she was decommissioned in 1981, falling into serious disrepair before being purchased by Dumbarton District Council in 1992.
A group of ambitious volunteers then took over work in 1996, and have raised more than £2 million to help restore her to her former glory.
The firing up of the new boiler therefore represents a significant step towards their end goal of getting her sailing again.
One of the charity’s biggest supporters has been Lord Smith of Kelvin, who had the honour of firing up her engines for the first time since 1981.
He said: “The Loch Lomond Steamship Company has worked tirelessly to save and maintain this beautiful ship, and everyone involved deserves huge congratulations for what they have managed to achieve.
“I know there have been many disappointments along the way but to now have a real live attraction and newly refurbished rooms is a real achievement.
“Equally important is the legacy which this ship can offer. Keeping traditional skills alive, training and employing future generations, and attracting inward investment to the area.
“Scotland needs icons like the Maid of the Loch, and I share the charity’s hopes that we will eventually see this wonderful ship sailing again.”
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