At half the cost of a current railtour and 10 times the enjoyment the PS Waverley was bashed out of Tower Pier at 0930 on 121026. This preserved 1946 Glasgow built paddle steamer can accommodate 740 passengers and was fully booked for much of the day.
Because of the tight turning circle a bonus “nb” winning tug “Haven Supporter” hauled us away from Tower Pier before allowing Waverley unassisted to pass under the fully open Tower Bridge to much cheering and hooting from all aboard and the and land lubbers on the famous bridge itself.
We steamed East passing Canary Wharf, Greenwich and the Flood barrier at Woolwich. The sun continued to shine as we passed under Dartford Bridge to dock at Gravesend after 2 hours of cruising. Here more punters joined to enjoy passing the huge container ships at London Gateway before arrival at the far end of Southend Pier.
Another big change of passengers then we steamed East into the choppier Thames Estuary to pass close to the iconic WWII Anti Aircraft battery complex’s within forts at Red Sand and Shivering Sands. Shivering Sands was once host to “City Radio” Pirate Radio. The lead DJ’s Tom Edward’s ashes were spread from the Waverley to near the Shivering Sands Fort and a blue plague in his memory added a fort leg, all very moving..
We then returned East and into the cold, keen wind and out came the woolly hats for us seadogs on the top deck! A return to Southend then across to Gravesend. Returning East we overtook the “Fast Sim” of Antwerp origins, cue much hooting and waving from both the “Fast Sim” and Waverley. I had planned to bail at Gravesend for 2 x 465’s back to Victoria but instead opted to stay on for the light displays as it was now getting dark.
The river takes on a different character at night from the lights of Greenwich and Canary Wharf to hooting party boats. Passing under the fully open floodlit Tower Bridge again to much cheering from all, a brilliant day was over, thank you PS Waverley and crew.
The Waverley returns home to Scotland this coming week for Winter dry docking but she will be back down South in September/October 2027…
Famous backdrop, Waverly at Tower Pier prior to departure
The tug Haven Supporter helps to turn Waverley past HMS Belfast on departure
To much cheering the Waverley steams under the open Tower Bridge
London gateway, a few containers aboard here!
The Southend pier railway was out to play
The impressive bulk of the Grande Sierra Leona East of Southend
Shivering Sand’s forts once home to anti aircraft guns and then pirate radio
The end!
