This is the PS Waverley. She is the last ocean going paddle steamer in the world and a true marvel of steam engineering. The engine room is an engineers wet dream! The noise and heat while enormous pistons are driving away at high speed is something to behold! She is really fast when she gets going!
3 days after taking this pic I was onboard for a lovely cruise around the scottish island I was on. When she accelerated to go into the closed dock on return her engine seized and she couldn't reverse the engines. We rammed the concrete pier head on at some speed and it threw the 180 or so passengers (who didn't get any warning) about ten-twenty feet forward off their feet and into capstans, funnels, bulkheads etc. 24 people were injured including my mum though thankfully most were cuts bruises and the odd broken bone. The ship is back in service though and if you ever get the chance to sail on her I highly recommend it! I would go on her again!
