Tod & Macgregor Firsts

• First ship to be launched whilst under steam (1835) – Plata
• The first iron ship to be launched on the River Clyde (1836) – Vale of Leven
• The largest iron boat built in Glasgow, at 127ft length of keel, (1836) – Royal Tar
• By far the quickest sailing steamer on the Clyde (1837) – Rothesay Castle
• The first ship to be made from sheet iron (1837) – Vesta
• The largest iron vessels built in this country (1839) – Royal Sovereign & Royal George
• The largest iron steamer yet built on the Clyde (1842) – Pacha
• The fastest on the Clyde (1845) - Windsor Castle
• The first Ocean going iron screw ship (1850) – City of Glasgow
• First steamer to carry steerage passengers (1850) – City of Glasgow
• First sheds to be used to work overnight and in all weathers. ‘Meadowside Ship Palaces’
• First screw steamers ordered for any mail services (1852) – Madras & Bombay.
• Record for a day’s run of 390 miles (1855) – City of Baltimore
• Glasgow harbour's first graving dock, or dry dock, (1858)
• Won the Blue Riband Westbound (1866) – City of Paris
• Won the Blue Riband Westbound (1869) – City of Brussels
• First Eastward Trans-Atlantic passage of less than 8 days (1869) – City of Brussels
• First undisputed screw "Blue Riband" holder. (9 November 1871) – City of Brussels