1844 In their first year of operation, Denny Brothers built the screw steamer Water Witch, of 240 tons and 36 HP, designed for the Dublin and English trade; she was the first mercantile screw-steamer built on the Clyde.
1844 The New Lochlomond Steamboat Company was formed and purchased a recently built Clyde steamer, the Waterwitch. The Waterwitch was intended to sail year-round on the loch and to be able to carry cargo and livestock to serve the communities around the lochside.
The main proponents of the new company were Jean Donald, innkeeper of Dumbarton, John Bell, flesher of Dumbarton, Alexander Ritchie of Bonhill, and Michael Waddell, writer of Glasgow.
1845 New Lochlomond Steamboat Company negotiated a formal partnership with the other steamer on the loch, Lochlomond.
1852 the hull of the Waterwitch was found to be in poor repair and a new hull was built for the machinery of the old vessel which was now named Queen Victoria.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Loch Lomond Steamers [1]