Kingswear Castle came off the slipway and was pushed back to the Dartmouth Pontoon by the Kingswear Princess, moored alongside, where she is pictured on Monday 26th April.
Water was taken on. The boiler was filled and the first warming fire of the season lit with work continuing during the week to get everything ready for steaming trials early next week.
Amongst all the other refit work this winter special attention has been paid to the circulating pump which has had a major overhaul including the fitting of new piston rods.
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