MAID OF THE LOCH was built by A&J Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow. She is by far the largest steamer to ever sail on the loch, so was erected at their yard on the Clyde, dismantled, and transported to Loch Lomond. She was re-assembled on the slipway at Balloch, launched on 5th March 1953, and entered service on 25th May that same year (also Queen Elizabeth II Coronation year and the year the Royal Yacht Britannia was launched.)
MAID OF THE LOCH – some vital statistics
Length: 191 feet [58.2m]
Breadth: 28.1 feet [8.6m]
Tonnage: 555 gross
Engines: Steam, compound diagonal
Speed: 13.75 knots [25.5 km/h]
Passengers: 1000
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HISTORY
All previous steamers were either steamed up the River Leven or towed up the river to the loch, from the Clyde. On one memorable occasion, schoolchildren from Bonhill were given the day off school to board one of the steamers so that they could weigh her down sufficiently to pass under Bonhill Bridge!
