A CLYDE-BUILT steamer, which carried thousands of Glaswegians "doon the watter", has been put up for sale.
A CLYDE-BUILT steamer, which carried thousands of Glaswegians "doon the watter", has been put up for sale.
The Queen Mary, which was built by William Denny of Dumbarton, was launched in March 1933.
She sailed the Clyde for 44 years and was finally retired in September 1977.
A few years later the steamer was given a new lease of life when she was bought by Bass Leisure Retail and taken to London, where she became a floating pub and restaurant.
However, the old lady now has to leave her current mooring at Victoria Embankment opposite the world-famous Savoy Hotel.
She's been put up for sale at almost £155,000.
The boat is being marketed by Richard Lane, of Capital Boats, who said the response had been "overwhelming".
He added: "Our website had 5000 hits within 36 hours of advertising the vessel.
"I have had calls from around the world including Texas, France and Greece from people saying they love this ship.
"I've had a fantastic, overwhelming response to this vessel.
"Vessels of this age and pedigree are a very important part of maritime history and to have a vessel like the Queen Mary in your harbour is a very attractive proposition.
"It has massive tourist potential and will generate a lot of visitors.
"I've not had this amount of interest in any other vessel and must admit I've been taken aback."
In her heyday, the 871-ton Queen Mary carried 2086 passengers and was the largest engine-driven excursion boat on the Clyde.
She operated from Glasgow Bridge Wharf down the river to Dunoon, Rothesay, Largs and Millport.
In 1935 she changed her name to the Queen Mary II at the request of the Cunard White Star Line.
It wanted to name its new vessel, which was being built on the Clyde by John Brown shipyard, after Queen Mary, who was to launch it.
The Queen Mary II reverted to her original name when the famous passenger liner was turned into a floating museum, hotel and conference centre at Long Beach, California.
The Clyde steamer, which was originally powered by three turbines, was regarded as one of the finest of her type and was the last to survive in operation.
She's now the last remaining ship of her class in the UK and possibly anywhere in the world.
Fans of the steamer have urged Culture and Sport Glasgow to secure the future of the Queen Mary by buying her to add to the collection of the new Riverside Museum.
A spokesman for the organisation said: "The new Riverside Museum will celebrate the Clyde's engineering and maritime traditions and the Queen Mary's story is a part of that heritage.
"Many Glaswegians have fond memories of going doon the watter' on the steamer.
"But as with every request of this nature, it will be evaluated by our conservation and curatorial team on its own merits."
