Loch Line

The "Loch Line" of Glasgow was a group of ill-fated colonial clippers that belonged to Messrs William Aitken and James Lilburn. Together, they operated a line of sailing ships between the United Kingdom and Australia between 1867 and 1911.Fayle, Charles (2006). [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=7usEiq3pniYC&pg=PA259&lpg=PA259&dq=loch+line+ships&source=web&ots=KvF5g5siqO&sig=EBmoj1-kShxIY0kA1DnIjz1zphY&hl=en "A Short History of the World's Shipping Industry"] . Routledge. ISBN 0415286190. [http://worldcat.org/oclc/77081659 OCLC: 77081659] .] The Loch Line (2007). [http://www.thelochlong.info/Aitkenlilburn.htm "Aitken and Lilburn - The Loch Line of Glasgow"] . Retrieved on 21 September 2008.]

History

In the late 1860s, Messrs Aitken and Lilburn formed the Glasgow Shipping Company with six 1,250 ton iron sailing clippers.Lubbock, Basil (1921). [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=9GV5or-W9OUC&pg=RA1-PA219&lpg=RA1-PA219&dq=loch+line&source=web&ots=ERuB_dOmzF&sig=Ymn3O0wIV0cNV8xxizyO4iIL7Wo&hl=en "The colonial clippers"] . Glasgow, J. Brown & Son (Glasgow) Ltd. [http://worldcat.org/oclc/1750412 OCLC: 1750412] .] In 1873 a second company, the General Shipping Company, was formed with a different group of investors, but again managed by Aitken and Lilburn. Originally, the Glasgow Shipping Company was intended to serve Adelaide and Melbourne and the General Shipping Company to serve Sydney, but over time the two companies merged and were only distinguished for shareholding purposes.Glasgow Shipping Co. (2006). [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/loch.htm "The Ships List"] . Retrieved online 25 March 2008.] The merged companies rapidly grew and became commonly and officially known as the "Loch Line". The "Loch Line" fleet grew to 25 ships.

At first, it had been intended to name the ships after clans, but the Clan Line registered the name first. As a consequence, the decision was made to name the fleet after Lochs in Scotland. A keen yachtsman, and one-time Commodore of the Royal Northern Yacht Club, James Lilburn was a man who thoroughly understood ships, but loved them for their own sake. It was under such owners that sailors considered themselves lucky to serve.

The usual route was to load general cargo and passengers at Glasgow and then sail to Adelaide. They then sailed onto Melbourne or Sydney where they loaded wool or grain, generally for London. The company never changed to steamships but persisted with sail, and from 1900 consistently ran at a financial loss. Passengers generally preferred the speed and comfort of steamers and as a consequence, freight rates dropped. The ships usually managed one round voyage to Australia per year, and half of this time was unprofitably spent in port, loading, unloading or waiting for cargos. Experimental homeward voyages via San Francisco, South Africa and New Caledonia also proved unprofitable, and the service finally closed in 1911. The remaining five ships were sold."The New York Times" (1911). [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9804E0DD1E3EE033A25754C0A9639C946096D6CF "Wrecks that mark the seven seas from Glasgow to Australia"] . Retrieved online 25 March 2008.]

Reputation

The "Loch Line" had a reputation of misfortune, as it lost several vessels. Seventeen vessels bearing the "Loch" name sank in accidents, disappeared, were wrecked or torpedoed in oceans and ports around the globe. Of the 25 ships in the "Loch Line" fleet, only five remained and were sold off when the company finally closed in 1911.The Loch Line (2007). [http://www.thelochlong.info/Aitkenlilburn.htm "Aitken and Lilburn - The Loch Line of Glasgow"] . Retrieved on 21 September 2008.]

Fleet

ee also

*Australian National Maritime Museum
*Scottish Maritime Museum

References

External links

* [http://www.thelochlong.info/gscflag.htm Loch Line Company Flag]