Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle is operated on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company.
Kingswear Castle will not be sailing during 2022 while she undergoes a year-long major rebuild. She will return to service in 2023.
Meantime you can still enjoy summer sails on the River Dart by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company.
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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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
It is now more than thirty-five years since we returned Kingswear Castle to service. A year-long major rebuild commenced in winter 2021 that will see her return to service again in 2023.
Find out more about the rebuild and how you can help secure her future for the next thirty-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.
3rd November 2022:
KC On Times Radio
Tune in to Times Radio on Friday 4th November from 8.30pm for a feature about KC on the Michael Portillo Show.
11th November 2022:
KC 1969/70 Update
To add to the excellent pictures of KC under steam on the River Medina taken by then schoolboy Derek Gawn on 4th May 1969 (see below) here are some more
30th October 2022:
KC Rebuild Update
The work is coming on well and by the time KC goes back into service for the 2023 season all of the work will have been completed from the boiler
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.
29th November 1935:
Talisman
On Friday 29th November 1935 Talisman was, as usual that winter, scheduled to run the LNER ferry services connecting the north bank of the Clyde at Craigendoran to the Holy Loch,
28th November 1951:
Lorna Doone
On Wednesday 28th November 1951 Lorna Doone was slipped at Southampton for survey. She had been built as HMS Atherstone in 1916 as one of thirty-two paddle steamers specially commissioned during
27th November 1903:
Cleethorpes
Around the low water on Friday 27th November 1903 a diver was sent down alongside the railway pier at New Holland to try to retrieve the port gangway door which
26th November 1903:
Barry Railway Company
On Thursday 26th November 1903 the Barry Railway Company sent out a press release announcing their intention to run passenger steamers on the Bristol Channel. This was taken up by
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.
November 2022:
Stafford Ellerman’s Uncle Lewis
The late Stafford Ellerman left meticulous records of his extensive travels both in this country and abroad. In this he followed the example his Uncle Lewis Wood. He was a
October 2022:
End of the 1960 Season
In 1960 there were still some paddle steamers running ferry services in the UK throughout the year including those on the Tay, Firth of Forth, Humber, Woolwich and between Lymington
September 2022:
How They Do It on Lake Geneva
A paddle steamer manager will have a multiplicity of things on their mind to keep the show on the road and deliver an enjoyable and reliable product for their passengers.
August 2022:
Consul’s 1960 Season
Consul started her 1960 season on Saturday June 4th by running a shuttle service to Portland Navy Days from the Weymouth Pleasure Pier with departures on the hour every hour
