Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
1924 - 2024
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle returned to service on completion of Phase 2 of her major rebuild on 15th June 2026.
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.
Please note that whilst Kingswear Castle runs one hour harbour cruises from Dartmouth on a regular basis she does not run every day. To check if she is running on a specific date please ring 01803 555 872.
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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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
As the last British paddle steamer of her type Kingswear Castle continues to provide pleasure and delight to present and future generations more than 100 years after she first entered service.
Following major rebuilds during 2003 and 2006 we are continuing to raise funds to secure her future for the next twenty-five years
Click the button below to find out how you can help.
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.
8th October 2026:
Ships Monthly
To mark 60 years of Ships Monthly, the October edition includes a special feature looking back over 60 years of paddle steamers, in Britain and elsewhere, since 1966. Like all
3rd October 2026:
Happy Birthday Waverley
On Friday 2nd October 2026 Paddle Steamer Waverley celebrated a phenomenal 80 years since she was first launched. This anniversary is particularly significant given how few steam ships have ever
26th September 2026:
New Royal Daffodil
Built in Liverpool, the new publicly owned ferry, Royal Daffodill, made her debut in service on the Mersey on Saturday 26th September 2026. At a cost of £26 million, she
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.
10th October 1922:
Portsmouth/Ryde
On Tuesday 10th October 1922 there were 13 round trips by paddle steamer scheduled to run between Portsmouth and Ryde. First away from Portsmouth with the run put on specially
9th October 1961:
Bristol Queen
Monday 9th October 1961 unexpectedly turned out to be the last day of the season for Bristol Queen. This was not originally planned as she had already competed her scheduled
8th October 1969:
Eppleton Hall (Part 1 of 11)
On Wednesday 8th October 1967 the former Tyne paddle tug Eppleton Hall was off the coast of Portugal making her way southward for Lisbon. She had been saved from the
7th October 1938:
Glen Gower
Glen Gower was about five nautical miles seaward of Ilfracombe at 5am on the morning of Friday 7th October 1938 on her way back to Bristol from Brighton. It had
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 2026:
Embassy at Weymouth (Updated 4th October)
Embassy is mostly remembered for her two decades after WW2 based at Poole each summer running excursions from Bournemouth to Swanage and the Isle of Wight. However that is not
September 2026:
Malcolm Cockell
Malcolm Cockell is one of that small number of people who made a real and substantial difference to Kingswear Castle. After withdrawal from service on the River Dart in 1965
August 2026:
Paddle Box Freeing Ports
Some paddle steamers, like Stadt Wehlen and others based at Dresden, were built with flat‑sided and decorated paddle boxes without venting through freeing ports because the Elbe offers no conditions
July 2026:
60 Years Since Embassy
Sixty years have now passed since Embassy left Weymouth for the last time, yet she remains one of those ships whose presence lingers long after the vessel herself has gone.
