Saturday 12th June was the first day of the 1948 season for Cardiff Queen, her second year in service. She set off from Bristol at 9.30am under the command of Capt J A Harris bound for Clevedon, Cardiff, Barry Pier and on down Channel to Ilfracombe. Scheduled departure time from Ilfracombe was 6pm with her due back at Barry Pier at 8pm, Cardiff at 8.35pm and Clevedon at 9.25pm for Bristol.
Unfortunately on the outward journey down the Avon she ran onto the shore at the Horseshoe Bend but fortunately it was a rising tide so she got off again and continued on her trip with only slight damage to the edge of one of the floats on her starboard paddle wheel.
This was the second time she had run ashore at this notoriously difficult tight turn having done the same thing on Sunday 27th July 1947. Again it was a rising tide so she soon floated off.
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
This article was first published on 12th June 2021.
