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 2003:
Dresden Paddle Steamer Kurort Rathen
In Germany, just south of Dresden is the area called Saxon Switzerland where the Rive Elbe flows through stunning scenery between tree lined banks and rocky crags linking charming little
November 2003:
Paddle Steamer Competition
This month and for a change – a quiz!! Which paddle steamer engine is this? Click or touch below to reveal a clue or the answer. In the draw (which
October 2003:
Portsmouth Paddle Steamer Whippingham
In 1930 two huge sisters, the paddle steamers Whippingham (pictured above) and Southsea, were built by Fairfield of Glasgow for the Southern Railway’s Portsmouth services. The railway had come in
September 2003:
Paddle Steamer Killingholme
The paddle steamer Killingholme (pictured above) and her sister the Brocklesby, both built in 1912 for the Great Central Railway ferry service across the River Humber between Hull and New
August 2003:
Paddle Steamer Cardiff Queen Sailing on the Sussex Coast in 1952/53
Built in 1947 for service on the Bristol Channel, P & A Campbell’s paddle steamer Cardiff Queen (pictured above) spent the summers of 1952 and 1953 on the company’s Sussex
June 2003:
Paddle Steamer Premier 1846 – 1938
The paddle steamer Premier was built in 1846 by Denny of Dumbarton for the Dumbarton Steam Boat Company for their services on the Clyde . As built, she was 133ft
May 2003:
Lake Geneva Swiss Navigation Day 27th April 2003
A beautiful day on a beautiful lake on a beautiful paddle steamer. Aboard the Diesel-electric paddler Italie, of 1908, approaching St Prex en route from Lausanne to Geneva. At Geneva
April 2003:
Paddle Steamer Products of War
At Christmas in 1924, the year in which Kingswear Castle was built, the great British novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy, (pictured above) wrote: Peace upon earth!” was said. We sing
March 2003:
Some Burmese Paddle Steamers
It is suprising how history sometimes jumps out of the page and a forgotten link with the past is found to be still in the present. I had read the
February 2003:
Paddle Steamer Swanage Queen ex Sussex Queen ex Freshwater (1927 – 1962)
Whilst sailing aboard the British Railways’ 152ft long paddle steamer Freshwater from Yarmouth to Lymington in the summer of 1959, Professor Alan Robinson heard that the ship was to be
January 2003:
Rhine Paddle Steamer Goethe
Pictured leaving Cologne on a Christmas Cruise in mid December 2002, the German paddle steamer Goethe was built in 1913 by Gebr Sachsenberg for the secondary Rhine steamer services. In
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