Builders: T B Seath & Co Rutherglen 1888
Propulsion type: Paddle, single diagonal, later compound diagonal
Owners: North British Steam Packet Co, North British Railway Company, London & North Eastern Railway, British Transport Commission.
Service dates: 1888 - 1949
Tonnage: Net 87 Gross 224
Comments:
This picture was chosen and supplied by Thomas Peter Turner (Tom), aged 9 and comes from the W E Groom collection. Tom is W E Groom's Great, Great Grandson.
Lucy Ashton was an attractive, small steamer, who gave service for over sixty years. Capable of a respectable 16 knots after reboilering in 1902, she underwent further refurbishment in 1906 when her saloons were enlarged and a tearoom provided. She was originally lit throughout by oil lamps. She sailed on a number of routes, including Greenock to Helensburgh, Craigendoran to Gareloch and various excursion and relief work. In 1899 she was available for sale, but despite several enquiries and at least one bid, the sale did not transpire. She did not see war service in the Great War but sailed in the upper Firth along with Dandie Dinmont. After a period when her boiler was giving concern, she was reboilered in 1922. Immediately prior to the Second World War she was laid up in Bowling Harbour and her future looked bleak. She was, however reprieved for the duration and was altered by being painted grey and the addition of a concrete wheelhouse (for protection in an air attack). She survived the war and sailed again on the Clyde and enjoyed a baking summer in 1947. She sailed throughout 1948 , her Diamond Jubilee year, and her celebration cruise was hosted bythe Clyde River Steamer Club, which is still in existence. She made her final run in February 1949, from Dunoon to Craigendoran and with her passing the Clyde lost a very much loved friend.