The Falls Line [1] was a Scottish shipping line in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The line operated ships of two companies; Wright, Breakenridge & Co. (from 1878 up to 1892) and Wright and Graham & Co. (from 1892). Both companies' ships used the same flag. [2] [3] The Falls Line does not appear to have operated ships after 1914, although some of the company's ships continued in operation for other owners.
The Falls Line's offices were at 111 Union Street, Glasgow, Scotland.
The Falls Line's ships were distinguished by all being named after Scottish river falls.
The Falls Line sailing vessels that were originally operated by Wright, Breakenridge & Co. were:
There was also another sailing vessel that was only ever operated by Wright, Graham & Co.
All were similar four-masted, iron-hulled, sailing vessels, and all were built by Russell & Co. Most were full-rigged ships, but three of the vessels were rigged as barques; Falls of Halladale , Falls of Garry, and Falls of Ettrick.
These steamships—also named for Scottish river falls—operated under the Falls Line flag managed by Wright, Graham & Co..
With only one exception, all the Falls Line ships—both sail and steam—were wrecked, lost without trace, or sank, either during or after the time that the ships were under the Falls Line's flag.
German or Austrian submarine attacks, during World War I, resulted in the sinking of five of the ships (three steamers and two sailing ships); UC-17 sank Falls of Afton; UB-57 sank Benito (ex-Falls of Nith); U-14 sank Teakwood (ex-Falls of Moness); [22] UB-47 sank Shinsan Maru (ex-Falls of Keltie); and UC-45 sank Teie (ex-Falls of Dee).
The Falls of Clyde, the oldest of the Falls Line ships, was and still is the sole survivor, although its future remained uncertain in 2023.
