PS WAVERLEY, the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, is backing Railway 200, the national celebration of the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. Carrying the year-long celebration event’s logo on its website and publications, Waverley Excursions Ltd is reminding passengers that the ship was built in 1947 by the London & North Eastern Railway, and is every inch a railway boat.
“We are part of the celebrations,” said general manager, Paul Semple. “Waverley is as much part of railway heritage as it is of maritime history, and it’s doubly apt to be part of Railway 200, as we’re also marking our 50th anniversary of the boat in preservation. As part of Railway 200, we’re reminding passengers that we’re offering sailings to connect with heritage lines, including the Brecon Mountain Railway, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, the West Somerset Railway, Lynton & Barnstaple, Dartmouth Steam Railway and the Swanage Steam Railway. You’ll find the details in our timetables.”
Meanwhile, a review of the 2024 sailing season has shown it to have been one of the most successful to date, with 159,572 passengers carried over 125 operating days, and bringing in total revenues of just over £4.8m, when catering and sales are included. One of the highlights was sailing alongside PS Kingswear Castle on the River Dart, offering steam fans and visitors to the area the unique chance to ride on a steam railway, the Dartmouth Steam Railway, and on two paddle steamers on one day.
Fuel and crew costs accounted for £1.4 million, but, after paying all other bills, enough was generated to ensure that the paddler can undergo its winter maintenance and annual dry-docking to be fit to sail again on May 16 from her Glasgow berth. Winter refit work has included installing new burners on the vessel’s boilers at a cost of £300,000, laying 200 metres of replacement wooden decking, repairing the outer walls of the passenger shelter and repurposing the former lower dining saloon as crew and storage quarters.
Paul Semple said: “We will be offering new destinations and calling at new piers throughout the 2025 season, and we’re delighted to receive local authority support in the shape of Medway Council which is rebuilding Rochester Pier with a landing platform so we can call there. We also plan to offer sailings from Belfast for the first time. The key to continuing to attract passengers to Waverley in her 50th year in preservation is to offer a quality experience, and, crucially, to keep the timetable fresh with new events and destinations. Full details of our sailings on the Clyde, to the Western Isles, on the North Coast of Wales, the South Coast, Isle of Wight and the Thames, are on our website, www.waverelyexcursions.co.uk and we’ll be delighted to welcome you aboard.”
