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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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 September 2026:
KC to Totnes
On Tuesday 8th September KC ran a special trip from Dartmouth at 3.30pm for Totnes 5.15pm with passengers mostly for the round trip back to Dartmouth but with some getting
15th June 2026:
KC Returns to Service
KC returned to service in sparkling form on Monday 15th June 2026 after completion of Phase 2 of her major rebuild. The first part in 2023/24 included renewing all the
18th April 2026:
Stadt Luzern Starts Season
The first steamship trip of the season on Lake Lucerne was taken by Stadt Luzern on Saturday 18th April sailing away from Lucerne at 11.12 to Fluelen 14.00 and back
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 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
9th September 2022:
New Model of Consul
Brian Waters has built a new model of the Consul a paddle steamer I remember very well as an ever present part of my childhood. There she was laid up
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 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.
June 2026:
Capt Arthur Escudier
Among the Weymouth Channel Island officers of the post‑war years, Capt Escudier was not one of the loud ones. He was one of the steady and highly competent ones —
