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 2004:
Danube Paddle Tug Ruthof / Ersekcsanad
Tucked away in the delightful German town of Regensburg midway between Nuremberg and Munich is the wonderful paddle tug Ruthof / Ersekcsanad now open as a museum ship. Ruthof was
November 2004:
Brian Waters’ Paddle Steamer Monarch
After Kingswear Castle returned to service in 1985, Brian Waters, one of the key volunteers who had played such an important role in restoring her, decided that he would like
October 2004:
Kingswear Castle on the River Dart in the Early 1960s
With a huge passenger capacity of around five hundred each, the Dart paddle steamers Kingswear Castle, (pictured above at Dartmouth in the early 1960s), Compton Castle and Totnes Castle could,
September 2004:
The Withdrawal of the Firth of Forth Paddle Ferries September 1964
Forty years ago, in September 1964, the new Forth road bridge opened and, inevitably, the four paddle driven ferries which had maintained the crossing between North and the South Queensferry,
August 2004:
The 1964 Weymouth Paddle Steamer War
Forty years ago this summer, in an era when routes were being closed and paddle steamers were making off for the breakers with ever increasing frequency, Weymouth suddenly found itself
July 2004:
The Wreck of the Paddle Steamer Duchess of Devonshire in August 1934
The Duchess of Devonshire (pictured above unloading at Oddicombe Beach before the First World War) was built in 1892 for the Devon Dock Pier and Steamship Co services from Exmouth
June 2004:
The Early Use of Radar on Excursion Paddle Steamers
One of the earliest navigational wonders to harness the power of electricity was radar. Developed during the period 1935 to 1940 in various countries as a military instrument for detecting
May 2004:
Bangladesh Paddle Steamer Chinsura
Pictured at Chalna in 1968 by Mike Ledger the paddle steamer Chinsura steams along the Pussur River in Bangladesh. Chinsura was one of six pretty much identical paddlers built for
April 2004:
Lake Zurich Shipyard Open Day 20th March 2004
This winter the Lake Zurich paddle steamer Stadt Zurich, built in 1909, has undergone a major refurbishment in the covered dock in the shipyard at Wollishofen on the south west
March 2004:
Bournemouth Steamer Trips August 1899
How to spend a week at Bournemouth in August 1899 on a variety of paddle steamer trips to admire various military installations. On Tuesday you could have paddled along the
February 2004:
Independent Paddle Wheels
It is a very commonly held view which I have heard very many people express over very many years, that paddle steamers were not permitted to use independently operating paddle
January 2004:
Notes from the Directors’ Reports for Cosens & Company Ltd.
Capt Cosens started running paddle steamers from Weymouth in 1848. On 10th June 1876 Cosens and Company was incorporated as a limited company. The notes below, taken from the Directors’
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