LINKS with the Lower Clyde’s maritime heritage still afloat are becoming very rare which is why the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer is of significance.

I have previously mentioned that the engine of the Loch Lomond paddler, which campaigners hope to get sailing once again, was made by Rankin and Blackmore of Greenock.

What I have just become aware of is that her steering gear was produced by John Hastie of Greenock. Hastie steering gear was once highly regarded across the world by owners of vessels considerably larger than the Maid.

There is an interesting twist to the Maid’s gear.

The paddler was produced by A & J Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow, then reduced to numbered sections which were transported by rail to the loch for the vessel’s re-assembly at Balloch.

The date for this process and the paddler going into service was 1953. But the makers’ plate on the Hastie steering gear is dated 11 December 1944. It proves there is nothing new about recycling as Inglis clearly identified the benefits of using a piece of equipment originally built for a landing craft in 1944. The accompanying photograph, inset above left, shows the steering gear with the makers’ plate facing to the left. It is not possible to reproduce the plate’s lettering which includes a reference to the gear being made at the Kilblain Engine Works.

The Maid, which last sailed in 1981, is owned by the Loch Lomond Steamship Company.

The charity’s volunteers have carried out a considerable amount of restoration work but the fundraising campaign to get her back plying the waters of Loch Lomond still requires a substantial amount of money.

A new 36-page booklet about the Maid, which is tied up at Balloch, has just been published. It was written by LLSC director John Beveridge and Leslie Brown.

John said: “This is the biggest and best souvenir booklet we have produced.

“It is over 10 years since Leslie and I produced the previous version, and there has been a huge improvement in the ship over that time. The new booklet records that, and brings the Maid of the Loch story up to date.” The new publication costs £4.95 and is on sale on the Maid and in the Balloch Steam Slipway. The Maid of the Loch picture on the back cover of the booklet appears today.