Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
1924 - 2024
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle will celebrate her 100th anniversary year with sailings between mid June and September 2024.
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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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 2024:
KC Meets Waverley
A big thank you to all at the River Dart Steam Railway and River Boat Company and Waverley for helping to make this meeting of the two paddle steamers such
11th August 2024:
100th Birthday Flags
Two 100th birthday flags representing KC’s two previous commercial lives one on the River Dart, the other on the Rivers Medway and Thames. From 1924 up to 1965 KC flew
16th March 2024:
Online Tickets Now Available
Several special trips have been organised during 2024 to raise funds for the Kingswear Castle Rebuild Appeal during KC’s Centenary Season. All proceeds of these sailings go directly to the
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.
11th September 1932:
Southsea or Whippingham
On Sunday 11th September 1932 one or other of the Southsea or Whippingham was rostered to leave Portsmouth at 11am, Clarence Pier Southsea at 11.15am and South Parade Pier at
10th September 1960:
PSPS Charter Consul
Only a year or so after being formed the PSPS chartered Cosens’s Consul for a 2 hour “Special Steamboat Shuffle” departing Weymouth at 7.30pm on Saturday 10th September 1960 to
10th September 1962:
Consul
1962 was not a good summer for weather. Mr Lloyd-Worth, who had the contract for providing the catering aboard Consul alongside his other role as a publican in Easton on
10th September 1937:
Eastbourne
On Friday 10th September 1937 there were nine trip options offered from Eastbourne Pier by two paddle steamers. In 1936 P & A Campbell had based four paddle steamers on
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.
September 2024:
Manning a Swiss Paddle Steamer
How are the Swiss paddle steamers manned and what is the route to becoming a captain? Each lake operates its own training scheme and structure but all require basically the
August 2024:
A Bournemouth Idyll
A lovely shot of Monarch alongside Bournemouth Pier. We know that Cosens bought her in time for the 1951 season and by 1954 she had acquired a crane on the
July 2024:
The Weymouth Paddle Steamer War
In 1964 just as overseas travel became a viable option for many, and widespread car ownership opened up opportunities previously only within the province of the better off, Weymouth suddenly
June 2024:
Boilers
Why did some paddle steamer boilers last longer than others? How come some elderly paddle steamers with careers way beyond their design lives took the same boiler with which they
