Monthly paddle steamer articles written by John Megoran, author, manager and principal captain of Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on the Medway and the Thames as well as the River Dart.
You can read more of John’s paddle steamer reminiscences in his regular Megoran’s Musings features on the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society website here.
Choose a year to see more Pictures of the Month:
May 2022:
Brighton Trips 1910
In late May and early June of 1910 P & A Campbell’s steamer trips from the Sussex Coast piers at Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings were in the hands of their
April 2022:
North Wales 1938
In the summer season of 1938 either the St Tudno or the St Seiriol was due away from the Liverpool Landing Stage at 10.45am every day up to September 26th
March 2022:
Sussex Coast 1957
With fierce competition from Cosens and what became Red Funnel, P & A Campbell moved their south coast operating base from Southampton to the Sussex Coast shortly after the start
February 2022:
Lake Geneva Paddler Italie
This winter the Lake Geneva paddler Italie is rostered to be in service operating a lunch cruise every Sunday in January, February, March and on up to 10th April leaving
January 2022:
Cosens Sailings 1962
1962 was the last season in which Cosens operated two paddle steamers. Embassy was based at Poole and ran between Swanage, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. Consul was based
December 2021:
PS Gallia December 1912
The huge industrial developments in Britain, Europe and America in the nineteenth century, and particularly from the 1850s onwards, spawned money on a scale never seen before. Europe was awash
November 2021:
Swiss Paddle Steamers 2021
Sunday 17th October was the last day in service for the season of Stadt Luzern and Uri on Lake Lucerne and it was a busy day with fine weather bringing
October 2021:
Glen Gower 1954
1954 was P & A Campbell’s centenary season celebrating 100 years since their first steamer Express sailed on the Clyde. And whilst this was true it was not until 1887
September 2021:
Day Trips from Bournemouth 1953
The 1953 season at Bournemouth opened in mid May with Monarch. She was joined by Embassy on Whit Sunday 24th May with Consul making her first appearance of the season
August 2021:
Bournemouth Queen August 1956
Built in 1908 for what became Red Funnel, Bournemouth Queen spent most of her peacetime summers running excursions from Bournemouth and Swanage up to 1950. After that she spent the
July 2021:
Brighton Sailings 1948
Before the Second World War P & A Campbell had generally provided three, and occasionally four, paddle steamers to run their services on the Sussex Coast from the piers at
June 2021:
Paddle Steamer Crested Eagle
Founded in the 18th century White’s Shipyard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight expanded substantially under the management of John Samuel White in the 19th century and in the
potm-footer