Retired Weymouth Harbourmaster and former Port of London Authority Director Peter Mole and Dave Richardson, who has spent forty years involved with steam trains in South Africa, took a “Steam and Cruise” excursion on Wednesday 6th September. Setting off from Paignton on the 10am steam train to Kingswear they then crossed on the ferry to Dartmouth in time to catch Kingswear Castle’s 11am Harbour Cruise. Then after a fish and chips lunch in Dartmouth it was back on the ferry to Kingswear in time for the 2.45pm steam train to return them to Paignton.
Peter Mole said “I very much enjoyed the trip. It was a real treat to be able to travel on a steam train and such a beautifully restored paddle steamer both on the same day.”
Kingswear Castle is generally rostered, circumstances permitting, every day except Friday to take the Harbour Cruises from Dartmouth at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30om and 3.15pom as part of the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company’s “Steam and Cruise” experience.
For more details of these trips click here.
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
