puffers at work

the puffer was a sturdy steam driven coaster 66 feet long which could carry 100 tons of cargo and deliver it with her own four crew and gear at harbours and beaches throughout the west of Scotland's islands, sea lochs and remote villages.....they operated mainly from 1860 to 1960....
the main photo is of the 1904 built "Roman" unloading coal at the old pier at Invercloy  Brodick on Isle of Arran using its steam driven crane
the extras show 1903 built "Halcyon" and 1930 built "Glencloy 11" at the same stone pier used instead of Brodick ferry pier because the dues were half the price.!!
1942 built "Spartan" is beached at Martyr's Bay, Iona unloading coal into a variety of carts pulled by tractors.....skippers had "beach books" to allow them safe navigation onto beaches when no suitable pier existed
"Spartan" can be seen outside Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, Ayrshire now cut open to allow visitors to walk inside the hull.