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:
December 2002:
Pierce Brosnan 007 aboard Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle
Pierce Brosnan has achieved huge international recognition with his big screen portrayal of a secret agent named Bond, James Bond. But he was a successful actor for many years before
November 2002:
Paddle Steamer Chief Engineer William George “Bill” Peake 1899 – 1962
1st November 2002 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Chief Engineer Bill Peake (pictured centre aged 30) aboard the paddle steamer Golden Eagle in July 1929 with, from
October 2002:
Lake Como Paddle Steamer Concordia
The Lake Como paddle steamer Concordia is pictured entering Como astern in early July 2002. Built in 1927 by Odero of Genoa and originally named XXVIII Ottobre to commemorate the
September 2002:
Cosens last regular sailings from Weymouth – September 1962
Cosens last regular sailings from Weymouth ended forty years ago in September 1962 with the withdrawal and sale of their delightful paddle steamer Consul. Consul landing passengers over the bow
August 2002:
Italian Paddler Bat Spaz
Seen here sitting on her moorings just outside Como in early July 2002, the Bat Spaz is probably one of Europe’s most unusual paddlers. Her main task is weed clearance
July 2002:
Paddle Steamer Captain H F “Harry” Defrates 1895 – 1984
Older members of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society will remember with great affection the popular post war South Coast paddle steamer Captain Harry Defrates pictured here on the bridge of
June 2002:
Lake Constance Paddle Steamer Hohentwiel
The paddle steamer Hohentwiel arriving at Sipplingen on Lake Constance on 12 May 2002. Hohentwiel was built in 1913 for the services from Friedrichshafen of the Koniglich Wurttembergische Dampfschiffahrt (Royal
May 2002:
Lake Annecy Paddle Steamers
About thirty miles south of Lake Geneva in the Haute-Savoie region of France is Lake Annecy on which paddle steamers once regularly ran between Annecy in the north and Doussard
April 2002:
Paddle Tug and Summer Excursion Steamer India at Weymouth
The India (pictured above) was built by Westwood and Baillie in 1876 as a sea-going paddle tug with two independent side lever engines, one for each paddle wheel, for Wm
March 2002:
Lake Geneva Paddler Helevtie
Storm clouds gather over the Lake Geneva paddler Helvetie berthed in the harbour at Lausanne. There was much optimism on the lake in 2001 with the re-introduction into service of
February 2002:
Last Paddle Steamer to Putney
On Sunday May 5 2002 Kingswear Castle is running an up river cruise on the Thames to Putney leaving the London Bridge City Pier at 11.30am, return 5pm. We believe
January 2002:
Paddle Steamer Lord Elgin
Lord Elgin (pictured alongside Poole Quay) was built for Galloway, Kidd and Watson of Leith in 1876 for their services on the Firth of Forth. In 1881 she moved to
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