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 Key
Dates
1945: Keel laid on 27th December at the A. &
J. Inglis yard, Pointhouse, Glasgow.
1946:
Waverley launched by Lady Matthews on 2nd October.
1947: Waverley
enters service on Monday 16th June for a cruise up Loch
Goil and Loch Long to Lochgoilhead and Arrochar.
1948: Waverley
abandons her attractive LNER livery as she transfers to
the new British Transport Commission.
 1951:
Waverley transferred to the Caledonian Steam Packet
Company Limited.
1953:
The previously lovely 'scumbled' deck houses were painted
white and the ventilators silver in Caledonian style.
1957:
Waverley's boiler converted from coal to oil burning.
1959:
Paddle boxes were painted white.
1960:
Radar fitted to Waverley.
1970:
Waverley passes from railway onwership for the first time
as she becomes part of the Scottish Transport Group.
1970:
Waverley officially becomes the 'last sea-going paddle
steamer in Europe' with the withdrawal of the Caledonia.
1972:
Paddle boxes painted black.
 1972:
Waverley celebrates her 25th Anniversary with a special
cruise and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque aboard
the steamer.
1973:
Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. was formed from the Caledonian
Steam Packet Company and David MacBrayne Ltd.. A new colour
scheme of red funnels with black tops with yellow discs
and red lions was introduced.1973:
Waverley withdrawn from service and offered for Preservation.
1973:
Waverley offered to the Paddle Steamer Preservation
Society for £1 on 22nd November!
1974:
On 8th August, Waverley was handed over by Calmac
to the Waverley Steam Navigation Company.
1975:
Captain David Neill appointed as master of Waverley.
1975:
Waverley's first cruise on Thursday 22nd May under
WSN ownership. Waverley was based for 4 days a week
at Ayr and for 3 at Glasgow.
1977:
Waverley sailed away from the Firth of Clyde for
the first time. On 28 April Waverley sailed for Liverpool
for a series of sailings to participate in the Centenary
celebrations of Llandudno Pier.
1977:
Waverley almost lost as she bacame impaled on the
Gantock rocks off of Dunoon.
1978:
Waverley visited London, the Thames and South coast
for the first time for a highly successful programme of
cruises in April. Waverley passes Lans End for the first
time on 16th April.
1979:
Waverley made new calls at Torquay and Plymouth as
well as a porgramme of cruises in the Bristol Channel.
1979:
During the season, 230,000 passengers sail on Waverley,
nearly double the 1975 figure. Of these, 66,000 had sailed
on her during her visit south.
 1980:
Captain John Cameron, Waverley's first Master
and the commander of her illustious predecessor joined Waverley
for a commemorative cruise to mark the 40th Anniversary
of the Dunkirk evacuation.
1981:
Waverley made history as she became the first coastal
steamer to sail round Britain offering excursions at various
ports on her way round.
1981:
Waverley undertakes cruises from Hull, Newcastle
and South Shields as well as calls at Scarborough and Middlesbrough.
1981:
Waverley makes her first visit to the Western Isles.
1982:
Waverley makes her first visit to the sacred island
of Iona on 24th April.
 1984:
The first official meeting took place between Waverley
and Kingswear Castle on the River Medway on Sunday 16th
September.
1986:
Waverley finds a consort - the Balmoral.
1985:
Waverley pays her first visit to a foreign country
with a visit to Eire for several days of cruising. The Irish
tricolour was flown as a courtesy flag. She undertakes cruises
to Dublin, Dun Loaghaire, Wicklow and Arklow.
1986:
Waverley undertakes a further series of cruises in
Eire to Rosslare, Waterford, Cork, Youghal and Kinsale.
1990:
In May, Waverley undertakes a series of cruises towards
the french coast to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of
the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.
1994:
Waverley participates in the Spithead Fleet Review
to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings.
Other ships that took part include the Britannia,
Queen Elizabeth 2, Canberra, USS George
Washington and the US liberty ship Jeremiah O'Brien.
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