Kingswear Castle Britain's last steam powered river paddle steamer
1924 - 2024
Sail on
Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle has finished her 2024 season. She will return for her 101st year in the Spring of 2025.
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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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.
12th June 2025:
NHS-UK Flagship 2025 Sir Walter Scott
On the evening of Saturday 7th June 130 guests, including local dignitaries and many others who have supported the ship in recent years, were aboard for the presentation of the
1st June 2025:
Paddle Steamer Difficulties Lake Geneva – Update 7th June
To add to the CGN’s paddle steamer woes on Lake Geneva this summer on Tuesday 3rd June a crack was discovered in one of the HP cylinder mounts on La
19th March 2024:
KC 2025 Fundraising Cruises
Three special trips have been organised during 2025 to raise funds for Phase 2 of the Kingswear Castle Rebuild Appeal. All proceeds of these sailings go directly to the appeal.
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.
19th June 1935:
Royal Eagle
On Wednesday 19th June 1935 Royal Eagle was scheduled to sail from London Tower Pier at 9.20am down the Thames with calls at Greenwich, North Woolwich, Tilbury, Southend and Margate
18th June 1960:
Monarch
On Saturday 18th June 1960 Monarch departed from her usual Saturday schedule in June on the Swanage service to run a special trip to view the Royal Yacht Britannia with
17th June 1956:
Bournemouth Queen
On Sunday 17th June 1956 Red Funnel’s paddle steamer Bournemouth Queen ran down and sliced in half a sailing dinghy off Fawley in Southampton Water on her scheduled run on
16th June 1953:
Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen arrived back in Southampton at 1.10am on Tuesday 16th June 1953 after spending the previous day on charter for the Spithead Naval Review to Thomas Cook which included
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.
June 2025:
Weymouth Paddle Steamers 1934
After the First World War several major infrastructure projects were completed around Weymouth Harbour including damming the River Wey with Westham Bridge, much infilling of, and new harbour walls for,
May 2025:
Red Funnel 1936/39
The steamer notice from July 5th to September 27th 1936 for Red Funnel’s “Daily Steam Packet Service from Southampton to Cowes, Ryde and Southsea” lists the paddle steamers taking sailings
April 2025:
Yarmouth Pier IOW
Before Yarmouth Pier was opened in 1876 paddle steamers called inside Yarmouth Harbour on various Solent connections from Lymington, Southampton, Cowes and Portsmouth with the Solent Steamship Company becoming the
March 2025:
Audrey
Capt Shippick’s Audrey has a significant place in Medway and Thames excursion steamer history in providing one of the earliest links in the chain of expansion which culminated in the
