clyde puffer postcards

Puffers were sturdy steam coasters 66 feet long and could carry 100 tons of cargo.The dimensions were dictated by the 70 foot locks on the Forth and Clyde canal where originally most were built and operated from the 1860s.They had low bulwarks and no wheelhouse.
Sea going puffers were built from about 1910 and many like today's three sailed through the Crinan Canal as a shortcut to the islands of the Inner Hebrides often carrying coal from Ayrshire and barley and barrels for island distilleries returning with whisky slate stone fine sand and timber.
The main card shows the 1940s Kaffir on the canal at Ardrishaig
first extra is 1940s Glen Rosa on the canal at Bellanoch
second extra is 1934 Invercloy exiting the canal at Crinan