Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
1924 - 2024
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle has finished her 2025 season. She will return in 2026 for her 102nd year of service.
Kingswear Castle is operated on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company.
Click on the button below to visit the operator’s website for timetable and ticketing information.
History of
Kingswear Castle
Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.
Purchased by volunteers in 1967 who painstakingly restored her to operating condition over ten years, entering service on the Medway and the Thames in 1985.
In 2012 she returned home to the Dart.
Support
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild. We are continuing to fund raise for the second phase.
Find out how you can help with this to secure her future for the next twenty five years.
For information and enquiries regarding tickets, timetables and sailing updates please visit the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company website www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk or call 01803 555 872.
2nd September 2025:
Waverley at Torquay
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year. But she did make it to Dartmouth to meet KC on Saturday 30th
1st September 2025:
KC Meets Waverley 2025
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year with fresh to strong winds causing many cancellations. However she did make it
28th August 2025:
Waverley Calls at Dundee
In a “first ever” move Waverley is re-positioning from the Firth of Clyde to the South Coast by circumnavigating much of Great Britain. In this mammoth voyage which will see
John Megoran recalls the heyday and decline paddle steamers, particularly the Weymouth based paddle steamers that he grew up with. He did not know then that he would go on to help restore, manage and be principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years.
30th September 1965:
Sandown and Ryde
On Thursday 30th September 1965 the Portsmouth/Ryde paddle steamers Sandown and Ryde were both tucked up for the winter in Newhaven Harbour. Sandown had been the first to cast off
29th September 1964:
Jeanie Deans
On Tuesday 29th September 1964, Jeanie Deans made her last movement under her own steam of the season leaving Craigendoran on the morning tide for her lay up berth in
28th September 1945:
Empress
Just three weeks after the surrender of Japan brought the Second World war to a close, Cosens’s paddle steamer Empress set off from Weymouth for the Medway on 26th September
27th September 1963:
Embassy
Embassy’s last trips of the 1963 season were scheduled for Thursday 26th September for a departure from Poole Quay at 9am for Bournemouth from where she was due to leave
The latest threefour of 0 paddle steamer orientated articles produced monthly by John Megoran, author, manager and principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on both the Medway and Thames as well as the River Dart.
October 2025:
Collecting
The conductor Richard Bonynge, who has just celebrated his 95th birthday, confesses that he sees his passion for collecting as a disease. His Chalet Monet in Les Avants above Montreux
September 2025:
KC’s Log September/October 1985
2025 is the 40 anniversary of KC’s first season back in service in 1985. Based at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, which had opened for the first time as a “Living
August 2025:
Whippingham at Bournemouth
In 1930 the Southern Railway commissioned two very large paddle steamers, Whippingham and Southsea, for their Portsmouth based services. At 244ft LOA and 825 GRT they were a huge step
July 2025:
KC’s Log July 1985
In her first season back in service in July 1985 KC ran on 26 operating days from her base at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. This included a visit to Gravesend,
