The Fleet

The steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla came in various shapes and sizes. Amongst the biggest were the grand Main Line paddle steamers like the Mindoon built by Denny of Dumbarton in 1885 and 310ft in length.

This style of steamer generally had no bridge, the captain conning his ship from a position towards the bow on the main (lower) deck where the wheel was sited with the extended veranda above the captain's head reserved to give the best views of the river scenery to the first class passengers taking tea on deck.