On Thursday 15th November 1962 Sandown left Weymouth for Portsmouth under her own steam after completion of overhaul work on her engine and boiler by Cosens & Co. She had arrived in Weymouth from Portsmouth on Monday 15th October so the work had taken about a month to complete.
Bristol Queen had arrived in Weymouth on 13th November for similar work to be undertaken on her engine and boiler so for a couple of glorious days Weymouth had sported no less than four paddle steamers in her harbour at the same time Sandown, Bristol Queen, Consul and Embassy.
Sandown was dry-docked at Southampton as usual in the spring of 1963 to get her ready for yet another season running on the Portsmouth, Southsea and Ryde ferry service. Look closely in the picture and you will see her bow rudder which was thought essential for operation in Portsmouth Harbour as it enabled the steamers to back off from the Harbour station and swing easily in the harbour or occasionally to steam all the way out of Portsmouth Harbour astern and not turn until off Southsea’s Clarence Pier.
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 15th November 2020.
