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Built in 1924 for service on the River Dart in Devon between Dartmouth and Totnes, Kingswear Castle was withdrawn in 1965.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.
22nd February 2025:
Paddling on Lake Geneva Feb/March 2025
The diesel electric paddlers Italie and Vevey have both been very active this winter and this is set to continue into March with one or other, and sometimes both, continuing
26th December 2024:
New Role For PS Gallia 2025
For the 2025 season the SGV have announced a new role for their paddle steamer Gallia. She will be offering an exclusive four hour cruise on Lake Lucerne every day
24th December 2024:
Three New Captains for CGN
Three new paddle steamer captains for the CGN on Lake Geneva, Mrs. Sophie Aymon, as well as Mr. Dominique Jaunin and Mr. Rémy Gerber were sworn in on Wednesday, March
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.
18th March 1961:
London & Home Counties Branch
On Saturday 18th March 1961 the London & Home Counties Branch of the PSPS held its first meeting. A committee was elected chaired by Bill Prynne. who I got to
17th March 1950:
Waverley
Given her subsequent career trajectory it is easy to think of Waverley as having been built primarily as an excursion paddle steamer which of course to some extent she was.
16th March 1959:
Consul
On Monday 16th March 1959 Consul was up on Cosens’s own slipway in Weymouth for underwater survey and hull painting. She had been towed from her layup berth in Weymouth just
15th March 1948:
Brading and Southsea
On Monday 15th March 1948 Brading and Southsea were in the fitting out basin at the Denny shipyard at Dumbarton on the Clyde having been launched the previous Thursday 11th March.
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.
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
February 2025:
Emperor of India 1922
P & A Campbell did not resume sailings on the Sussex Coast until 1923 so, seeing a gap in the market, two other organisations fielded one steamer each in 1922
January 2025:
Capt John Davey of Exmouth
Capt John Davey was born in Shaldon just down the road from Exmouth in 1844. He went to sea when he was eleven serving on various ships including Lord Raglan
December 2024:
St Trillo
In February 1963 P & A Campbell bought the St Trillo and the goodwill of the business which went with her in North Wales where primarily she had run short
