From 1953 until 1981 the Maid sailed daily during the summer months cruising the small islands to Luss on the west bank; then over to Rowardennan at the foot of Ben Lomond on the eastern shore; then over to the west side again and to Tarbet; a further crossing of the loch to Inversnaid on the eastern shore; and then on to Ardlui at the head of the loch. Not all piers remained open during her reign on the loch, and the Maid herself was withdrawn from service in 1981.
During her operating years, royalty came aboard. First, in 1953 Queen Salote of Tonga sailed on the paddler: then in 1965, HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip raised the Royal Standard for a cruise; and again, in 1971 The Queen, Prince Philip, and Princess Anne sailed on board.
Since 1981, the Maid had a variety of private owners until sold again in 1992 to Dumbarton Council. In 1995, the Loch Lomond Steamship Company was established and took ownership of the ship in 1996. In 2000, a European Union grant transformed the ship from a preservation project into a public visitor attraction. From 2001, the Maid has operated successfully in her new static role, but the charity wants to return her to full steam operation on the loch.
In 2005, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire Council and LLSC itself, the Balloch Steam Slipway Complex was rebuilt. The project was officially opened in November 2006 by HRH The Princess Royal, and is now open to the public for the first time in its 105 year history. It has the same opening times as the Maid, but in addition there are “In Steam” days planned for 2007. Please see our web page for these.
HISTORY 2
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