David MacBrayne

DAVID MacBRAYNE, Steamship Owner, 119, Hope Street, Glasgow.

    When the time shall arrive for the annals of Scottish steamship enterprise to be penned and the due need of praise apportioned to the most deserving participators in that industry, no individual name will call forth better-deserved eulogy than that of Mr. David MacBrayne, the spirited and enterprising proprietor of the splendid fleet of steamers which ply between Glasgow and the Western Highlands of Scotland.

    Mr. MacBrayne commenced his fruitful business career just forty years ago in association with Messrs. David and Alexander Hutcheson. For many years — since 1878 — Mr. MacBrayne has solely guided the affairs of the concern. He has, during the entire period of his connection with business, laboured at the work of improving the means of reaching the various places of interest and importance approachable from the Clyde. The nooks and crannies of the Western Highlands are extremely magnificent, and their merits from the scenic point of view can hardly be over-estimated ; but it is almost certain that many of these exquisite beauties would never have been made familiar to the tourist had it not been for the splendid fleet of steamers which Mr. MacBrayne has rendered ubiquitous in these waters. Mr. MacBrayne has provided the means of transit on a scale of magnificence that is astounding to most people who fail to see in success the true measure of commercial merit.

    In 1864, the splendid steamer “Iona” was placed on the station, and for a long period ranked as the finest vessel of her class in existence. She measured 260 feet in length, and was supplied with engines of 180 horse power. Later, the “Columba” was built — a floating palace rather than a mere pleasure-steamer. The “Columba” has a total length of 316 feet, a breadth across paddle boxes of 50 feet, a depth of 9 feet 4 inches, and can attain a speed of 22 miles per hour. The principal vessels of this magnificent fleet at the present time include the “Fusileer”, 251 tons and 900 horse power ; the “Grenadier”, 371 tons and 1050 horse power ; the “Chevalier”, 292 tons and 845 horse power ; the “Pioneer”, 209 tons and 600 horse power ; the “Lochiel”, 211 tons and 410 horse power ; the “Glencoe”, 226 tons and 700 horse power, and several other notable vessels devoted exclusively to the passenger service, not to mention the magnificent fleet commissioned to convey both passengers and goods.

    “The Columba”, as is well known, plies during the summer months between Glasgow and Ardrishaig (Loch Fyne), via Kyles of Bute, calling at Rothesay, East Tarbert, and other intermediate ports, leaving Glasgow daily at 7 a.m., and having several important railway connections both for mail service and passengers, and returning from Ardrishaig daily about 1 p.m., in connection with the “Chevalier” or other steamer from Banavie, Fort William, and Oban, thus completing a daily journey of 180 miles.

    It is not part of the historian’s business to dilate in these pages upon the extraordinary grandeur and magnificence of the scenery traversed daily by Mr. Mac-Brayne’s floating palaces : suffice it to say that rugged cliffs and gorgeous watery expanse combine with ten thousand features of antiquarian, archaeological, and ecclesiastical interest to make a trip in these Western Highlands by Mr. MacBrayne’s routes a delightful experience, never to be obliterated from the mind of the tourist. Mr. MacBrayne, with characteristic enterprise, has published a handbook, elegantly illustrated in colours, pointing out some of the leading features of interest, and we would strongly recommend the intending tourist to carefully peruse this ably written manual preparatory to sharing in the view of the magnificent panorama disclosed to him who essays a trip on these splendid steamers.

    With respect to the accommodation afforded during the trip, we may be justified, perhaps, in here giving a brief description of the many facilities which the leading steamers of the fleet provide. Taking the “Columba” as an example, we note that the upper saloon is very luxuriously fitted up in the style of Pullman cars, and in the interior are reading tables, writing desks, and lounges. The windows are carried round at the stern, affording a fine view of the scenery behind. The breakfast and dining saloon, which is 8 feet high and well ventilated, has a series of separate circular tables, and meals are served at any time. The dining saloon for fore-cabin passengers, too, is remarkably light and airy. The ladies’ and gentlemen’s cabins are elegantly fitted up with toilet requisites, and there is a haircutting and shampooing establishment aboard under efficient control. Tourists who have travelled overnight can avail themselves of the luxury of a bath ; there are also cloak rooms for the deposit of passengers’ handbags ; bookstalls and fruit-stalls both for cabin and steerage passengers.

    Another great institution here is the Post Office, where letters, telegrams, etc., are received, stamped, sorted, and distributed at every calling-place along the route, for transmission to all parts. This affords an immense convenience to tourists, as well as to inhabitants along the route. No fewer than 95,000 letters have passed through this office in a month, over 450 telegrams have been handed in, and upwards of £70 received for stamps in the same space of time. The most sanguine expectations of the Post Office department being more than realized, has induced the Postmaster-General to add to the staff. Three Post Office officials travel with the “Columba”. Postal orders can be had, and those issued at any money-order office in the Kingdom cashed onboard the steamer.

    Of Mr. David MacBrayne, the guiding spirit of this splendid enterprise, it is almost superfluous to speak in these pages. He is a shrewd, courteous business man, a Justice of the Peace, and one of the best known and most highly esteemed personages moving in the impressive arena of Glasgow’s commercial life. But his chief glory, we consider, consists in his having succeeded in inaugurating a line of steamers which, regarded purely from the tourist point of view, is unrivalled in its attractions and in the wide variety it affords in the way of trips extending from a day to weeks in point of time, and from a few shillings to several pounds in point of expense. All classes have been judiciously catered for, and all classes unite in patronising the Line and spreading its fame, and thus Mr. MacBrayne reaps a magnificent reward in return for public benefits conferred and facilities created for the fullest appreciation of Scotia’s glorious Western Highlands.

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