David MacBrayne - Page 4: 1940-1972

This one of a series of pages devoted to postcards of David MacBrayne Ltd, who ran a network of services throughout the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The firm subsequently combined with the Caledonian Steam Packet Co (the Clyde area operators of British Railways) to form the nationalised Caledonian-MacBrayne. Since 1928, David MacBrayne (1928) Ltd had been jointly owned by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) (passing to the British Transport Commission (BTC) in 1948) and Coast Lines.
Ships on this Page:-
Clansman (1964-1984)
Claymore (1955-1976)
Columba (1964-1988)
Hebrides (1964-1991)
Loch Arkaig (1960-1980)
Loch Seaforth (1947-1973)
Lochnell (1947- )
Iona (1970- )

David MacBrayne Pages:-
David MacBrayne - Header Page
David MacBrayne - Page 3 - 1915-1939
David MacBrayne - Page 4 - 1940-1972 - This Page!

Associated Pages:-
Hebridean Island Cruises
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
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References:-


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powered by FreeFind David MacBrayne Page 4: 1940-1969 Loch Seaforth (1947-1973) Services:- Stornoway Mail Service (Mallaig-Kyle of Lochalsh-Stornoway (Lewis)).
1126 tons, 241 ft long.
Loch Seaforth was the largest MacBrayne vessel until the arrival of the car ferries. She operated the Stornoway Mail Service from Mallaig until displaced by the rebuilt car ferry Clansman, on a shorter Ullapool-Stornoway route. Loch Seaforth then replaced the Claymore on the Inner Isles Mail Service from Oban. This was short-lived after hitting a rock between Coll and Tiree on 22nd March 1973. The ship was abandonned, but the crew later re-boarded her and she was towed to Tiree. She then sank at the pier, preventing any service to the island until salvaged and moved on May 14th. Loch Seaforth was then scrapped at Troon, being replaced by the re-activated Claymore. Valentine's postcard B879 of Loch Seaforth at Mallaig.
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Postcard of Loch Seaforth passing Skye.
J.Arthur Dixon postcard (serial 4059) of Loch Seaforth at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Simplon Postcards serial number 3.2 of Loch Seaforth.
Photo: Terry Boyle, Mallaig in 1967.
Lochnell (1947- ) Photographic postcard of Lochnell.
Claymore (1955-1976) Services:- Oban-Inner Isles Mail Service (to Isles of Mull, Call, Tiree, Barra and South Uist)
1024 tons, 192 ft long, 500 passengers.
The Claymore was the last traditional MacBrynes ship to be built, all subsequent major units being car ferries. She was replaced by the larger and faster Loch Seaforth on the Inner Isles service, but was soon returned to service following the loss of the latter at Tiree in 1973. Claymore was sold for further Greek service in 1976 as City of Hydra.


Photographic postcard (serial FB.60/5) of Claymore.
J.Arthur Dixon postcard (no serial number) of Claymore at castlebay, Isle of Barra.
Simplon Postcards (serial 3.1) of Claymore at winter lay-up in Greenock in winter 1974.
The ship behind is the King George V, which was withdrawn earlier that year. Claymore was retained in ownership
(along with various cargo-only vessels) by David MacBrayne when the car ferries were transferred to
Caledonian-MacBrayne in 1973. Hence she never carried the lions as seen on KGV's funnels.
Photo: David Pennock.
Photograph of Claymore
City of Hydra (ex-Claymore) at Aegina, Greece, 22 June 1983
Photo: © 1983 Tony Garner
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Loch Arkaig (1960) Services:- Mallaig-Inner Isles Mail Service (Rhum, Eigg, Muck and Canna).
230 tons, 113 ft long.
Loch Arkaig was a conversion of a 1942, wooden-hulled minesweeper, completed in 1960. She ran the Inner Isles Mail Service, plus excursions, until 1979 when she sank at Mallaig just prior to being replaced by a new vessel. She was subsequently raised and continued in Spanish service until sinking again in 1985. Real Photographs postcard of Loch Arkaig.
Clansman (1964) Services:- Mallaig-Armadale (Isle of Skye)
2104 tons, 235 ft long, 600 passengers.
One of three car ferries owned by the Secretary of State for Scotland (her sisters being the Columba and Hebrides) and managed by MacBraynes. All use side-loading hoists to load their cars, since no West Highland piers had linkspans at this time. Clansman was later converted to a drive-through car ferry. Valentine postcard (serial XT.64R) of Clansman.
Columba (1964) Services:- Oban-Craignure(Isle of Mull)-Lochaline
2104 tons, 235 ft long, 600 passengers.
One of three car ferries owned by the Secretary of State for Scotland (her sisters being the Clansman and Hebrides) and managed by MacBraynes. All use side-loading hoists to load their cars, since no West Highland piers had linkspans at this time. Columba remains in service from Oban as the luxury cruise ship Hebridean Princess, with Hebridean Island Cruises. Dennis postcard (serial S.T.5417) of Columba.
Dennis postcard (serial S.T.5417) of Columba.
Varition of card above.
J.Arthur Dixon postcard (serial 4800) of Columba off Oban.
Valentine postcard (serial XT.68R) of Columba.
Hebrides (1964) Services:- Uig(Skye)-Lochmaddy(Benbecula)-Tarbert(Harris)
2104 tons, 235 ft long, 600 passengers.
One of three car ferries owned by the Secretary of State for Scotland (her sisters being the Clansman and Columba) and managed by MacBraynes. All use side-loading hoists to load their cars, since no West Highland piers had linkspans at this time. Hebrides was sold in 1985, and operated from Torquay to the Channel Isles as Devoniun before sale for Mediterranean service. W.S.Thomson postcard (serial AP5/895) of Hebrides.
J.Arthur Dixon postcard (serial 4915) of Hebrides at Uig, Isle of Skye.
Simplon Postcards (serial 3.3) of Hebrides, in Calmac colours, leaving Tarbert (Harris) in summer 1975.
Photo: David Pennock.
Photograph of Hebrides.
Hebrides as the Devoniun of Torbay Seaways
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Iona (1970- ) Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
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