MV Argyle Sailing Disrupted

Emergency services were called to the ferry terminal at Wemyss bay this afternoon when a turbocharger failed aboard the Calmac ferry MV Argyle.

Smoke was seen coming from the engine room but everything was dealt with by the vessel's crew.

The resulting delay caused some inconvenience to passengers.

The Royal Scotsman tour passengers missed their train as it departed from Gourock at 18:00 as per it's schedule.

They were later reunited with their fellow passengers later that evening.

The tugs Battler and Bruiser towed the MV Argyle to the James Watt Dock In Greenock for repair work.

 Passing the Greenock Ocean Terminal Inbound

Approaching the James Watt Dock

Entering James Watt Dock

Berthing after Tow

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Sunday Travels

An early start for a Sunday morning to catch the anchor handler 'UOS Liberty' as she departed the Greenock Ocean Terminal.

Then headed on down towards Largs to get a few shots of the 'Cape Elise' - a bulk carrier that had suffered some mechanical problems and was adrift in the Atlantic prior to being escorted to the anchorage off Bute for repairs.

Heading back to Greenock I stopped off at Wemyss Bay for a few shots around the pier and railway station.

Then carried on back up the coast to get a bite to eat at home.

Then back down to Greenock to catch the 'SD Victoria' as she arrived at Greenock.

Then home again for some editing and another bite to eat before heading to the 'Electric Glen' for some night shots.

 'UOS Liberty' Bound for Bute Anchorage

 'Cape Elise' and 'Kestrel' Anchored Off Bute

Snowy Arran Hills 

 Busy Anchorage

 'MV Argyle' Approaching Wemyss Bay Pier

'MV Argyle' Docks at Wemyss Bay

Wemyss Bay Station

'SD Victoria' Approaches Greenock

'SD Victoria' Passes East India Harbour

 'SD Victoria'

'SD Victoria' Bound for Great Harbour

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Skelmorlie Royal Observer Corp (ROC) Post

The ROC monitoring post at Skelmorlie was built as part of an extensive network of posts designed to confirm and report the effects of a nuclear attack in the region.

A host of volunteers served in the Royal Observer Corps until it's stand-down in 1991.

Fifteen feet below the ground these highly trained volunteers waited for the message we all hoped would never come. This was part of the nuclear threat we experienced in those days.

 Access to the post is by way of a vertical ladder fixed to the wall of the entrance shaft.

Once you have descended the ladder you enter the world of yesterday, with apparatus designed to detect and measure the effects of any nuclear blast should there have been an attack.

I personally serviced the communications within these posts prior to the exercises - mostly these were held over a weekend.

The posts were designed to be protected from a blast and were self sufficient.

Thankfully - for now at least - these days are behind us.

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Views from Weymss Bay

I was determined to catch the sunset a bit better than I did last night.

Alas, it was not to be tonight - so still chasing the light.

View from Wemyss Bay
 

View from Wemyss Bay
 

Wemyss Bay Rocks

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.

Mostly Wemyss Bay

Decided as it was a good day that I'd pop down to Wemyss Bay for some images as the sun set this evening.

Stopped off at Victoria Harbour in Greenock to grab a quick 'record' shot of the 'MV Rover' as she has been painted white. I understand this is to do with her summer excursions up the Clyde to Glasgow.

 'MV Rover' Sporting Her New White Paintwork 

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Then carried on down to Wemyss Bay and a few with slow shutter speeds to soften the water and give a smooth appearance.

After the sun set it was up the road and home for dinner.

 View from Wemyss Bay

View from Wemyss Bay
 

View from Wemyss Bay

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.

The Royal Scotsman Tour

A Royal Scotsman tour arrived in Wemyss Bay today.

Not a cheap excursion this, but nice to see the diesel locos at work on this line.

 Flying Scotsman - Class 57 - Number 57001 - 12 June 2011

 Flying Scotsman - Class 57 - Number 57001 - 12 June 2011

 Flying Scotsman Carriage Interior - 12 June 2011

 Flying Scotsman - Class 57 - Number 57001 - 12 June 2011

 Flying Scotsman -  Diesel, Electric, Class 37/5 - Number 37676 - 12 June 2011

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.