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The first steamer service between Scrabster and Stromness sailed in 1854 and was operated by the Treasurey. It was many years before the "Ola" quay (as it became known) would be built. Eventually the Pacific & Oriental Steam Shipping Company would run the now famous St Ola across the Pentland Firth to Orkney.
This page has come from images snatched from over an hours' worth of super 8mm movie film shot in 1974/75 over the transition between the old and new eras of the passenger and vehicle service.
Above left: One of life rings aboard the St Ola II. Above right: The St Ola II bearthed at the "Ola Quay" this pier now has the Ice Factory on it's outer end and has been lengthened and widened.
In her day she was a large vessel as local shipping went. Shown here (above) up close as a member of the crew climbs aboard.
Preparations for each sailing were lengthy. The turn-around between trips was a full four hours and the crossing in fair weather took around 2.5 hours.
The crew member (above left) wears a white hat as he is deaf. This enables the other crew to see where his is should any hazard arise. Above right the ship's name on the bow.
Above the crew prepare the lifting of vehicles from the cargo hold, None of that Ro-Ro nonsense here!
Above left: The old era sails away to Stromness in a gail. She was well known for her sea roll (fish could be seen through the portholes on either side and they were still in the water). Above right: The new era St Ola arrives.
Above: Docking trials for the new Ro-Ro ferry at the new "St Ola Quay. She is still called simply "St Ola" but was renamed St Ola II although she is actually St Ola III in numerical terms. We'll continue to refer to her here as St Ola III.
Open wide and say, "My that's a big hold you've got there". Well she dwarfed the St Ola II but she wasn't really so big. Locals look on at this exciting new ship.
Above left: Side by side two Ola's as the old passes on her way into port. It gives you an idea of the size difference. Above right: Aboard St Ola II the captain watches as they pull out of port passed the end of the incomplete new ro-ro pier.
Heading out across the Pentland Firth to Orkney. The Firth is one of the worlds' most dangerous stretches of water. Above right: Looking back to the bridge of the old lady.
Above left: Looking to the stern of St Ola II on the trip north. Above right: St Ola III docked at Stromness with the sun rising over Hoy on the day of her maiden voyage in January 1975.
Above left: St Ola III at Stromness looking quite huge from this angle. Above right: Out of service St Ola II steps aside at the neighbouring quay in Stromness.
Above left: The ship's bell aboard St Ola III. Above right: Fairwell St Ola II. She would see further service with the Northern Lighthouse Board before eventually going to the breakers. A sad end for a much loved ship that served Caithness and Orkney so well.
Above left: Rounding out of Stromness on the maiden voyage, St Ola III steams into Scapa Flow and then out into the North Atlantic. Above right: A beautiful calm day for her first full passenger sailing as she turns to port to head south to Scrabster.
Above left: The west side of Hoy and in the distance the Old Man Of Hoy stares out to the North Atlantic. Above right: Aboard the St Ola III on the top deck during the crossing.
Now I forget the man's name but I will be reminded by the films' owner. Anyways, he is one of the captains aboard the St Ola III and didn't like having his photo taken so this is a very rare shot indeed. Note the lifeboat shed in the background in this scene at Scrabster. It's now gone and the road to the Queen Elizabeth quay now extends along that section of cliff. The Queen Elizabeth quay services the current ferry service to Orkney, the Hamnavoe which is operated by Northlink Ferries. The quay also sees cruise liners visiting the port.
The St Ola II served between the 1950s and and 1975 having followed the original St Ola which started it's career on the route when Queen Victoria was well fixed to her throne (!). The first Ola did about 75 years on the firth. St Ola III served into the start of the 1990s when it was replaced with a larger but older 2nd hand vessel. Eventually P&O lost the route and Northlink Ferries took over and ended the reign of the St Ola, which had become affectionately known as the Queen Of The Firth.
The Hamnavoe is a beautiful modern ship and very comfortable too.
Watch out for the feature length film, "THE QUEEN OF THE FIRTH" coming from Picture House Films.
Our thanks to Jim Calder for the use of his films.
