Loch Line Facts for Kids

The Loch Line was a group of clipper ships from Glasgow, Scotland. These ships were managed by two men, William Aitken and James Lilburn. They sailed between the United Kingdom and Australia from 1867 to 1911.

History of the Loch Line
A Reputation for Misfortune
Notable Ships and Their Fates
Images for kids
See also

History of the Loch Line

In the late 1860s, Aitken and Lilburn started the Glasgow Shipping Company. They had six large iron sailing ships, each weighing about 1,200 tons. Later, in 1873, they formed a second company called the General Shipping Company. This new company had different investors but was still managed by Aitken and Lilburn.

At first, the Glasgow Shipping Company sent ships to Adelaide and Melbourne in Australia. The General Shipping Company sent ships to Sydney. Over time, the two companies joined together. They became widely known as the Loch Line. The Loch Line fleet grew to include 25 ships.

The owners first wanted to name their ships after Scottish clans. However, another company, the Clan Line, had already registered that name. So, they decided to name their ships after the many beautiful lochs (lakes) in Scotland. James Lilburn, one of the owners, loved ships and was a skilled yachtsman. Sailors felt lucky to work for such owners.

The ships usually started their journey in Glasgow. They would load general goods and passengers. Then, they sailed to Adelaide. From there, they continued to Melbourne or Sydney. In Australia, they would load wool or grain. This cargo was usually taken back to London.

The company never switched to steamships. They kept using sailing ships. After 1900, the company often lost money. Passengers started to prefer the faster and more comfortable steamers. Also, the cost of shipping goods dropped. The ships usually made one round trip to Australia each year. About half of this time was spent waiting in port. This meant they were not earning money. Some experimental trips to San Francisco, South Africa, and New Caledonia also did not make money. The company finally closed in 1911. The last six ships were sold.

A Reputation for Misfortune

The Loch Line became known for having bad luck. Many of its ships were lost. Seventeen ships with "Loch" in their name sank in accidents. Some disappeared, others were wrecked, or even torpedoed. These losses happened in oceans and ports all over the world. Out of the 25 ships in the Loch Line fleet, only five were left when the company closed in 1911.

Notable Ships and Their Fates

Many ships of the Loch Line faced difficult ends. Here are a few examples:

The Loch Ard was a three-masted ship. It was built in 1873. On June 1, 1878, it was wrecked near Curdies Inlet in Australia. Only two out of 54 people on board survived.
The Loch Broom was a four-masted barque. It was sold in 1912 and renamed Songdal. A German submarine sank it in 1917 while it was carrying maize to London.
The Loch Carron was another four-masted barque. In 1904, it crashed into another ship, causing a lot of damage. It was sold in 1912 and later sank in a collision in 1915.
The Loch Earn was a three-masted ship. In November 1873, it collided with a French steamer called Ville du Havre in the North Atlantic. The Loch Earn sank, but all 85 people on board were saved. However, 226 people died on the French ship.
The Loch Fyne was a three-masted ship. It sailed from Lyttelton, New Zealand, in May 1883 with wheat. It went missing and was never seen again. All 42 people on board were lost.
The Loch Laggan was an iron ship built in 1872. It disappeared in November 1875. It was last seen in the South Atlantic. All 38 crew members were lost.
The Loch Lomond was a three-masted ship. In 1908, it sailed from Newcastle, Australia, with coal. It was damaged in a storm and ran aground off Cape Maria Van Diemen in New Zealand. All 19 crew members died.
The Loch Long sailed from New Caledonia in April 1903 with nickel ore. It went missing with all 24 crew members. Wreckage was later found on the Chatham Islands.
The Loch Maree sailed from Geelong, Australia, in October 1881 with a valuable cargo of wool. It was expected in London but never arrived. Wreckage believed to be from the Loch Maree was found near a large iceberg.
The Loch Moidart was a four-masted barque. In January 1890, it was wrecked and capsized in the Netherlands. Only two out of 32 crew members survived.
The Loch Ness was a three-masted ship. It was sold in 1908 to be used as a coal hulk. In 1914, the Australian Government took it over. It was sunk in 1926 during target practice by a navy ship.
The Loch Shiel was a three-masted ship. In January 1894, it ran aground near Milford Haven in a storm. All 33 people on board were heroically rescued by a lifeboat.
The Loch Sloy was a three-masted ship. On April 24, 1899, it was wrecked off Kangaroo Island in Australia. Five passengers and 25 crew members drowned. Only three people survived.
The Loch Sunart was a three-masted ship. In January 1879, it hit a reef off Ballywalter and sank. All 45 passengers and 32 crew members got to shore safely.
The Loch Torridon was a four-masted barque. In December 1914, it was badly damaged in a hurricane. The crew had to abandon it in January 1915, but they were rescued by another ship.
The Loch Vennachar was a three-masted ship. In November 1901, it was hit and sunk by another ship while anchored. It was later repaired. In June 1905, it sailed from Glasgow and disappeared in September 1905. All 27 people on board were lost. Its wreck was found in 1976 off Kangaroo Island.