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 2010:
Paddle Steamers Withdrawn
There is sad news from Lake Geneva. Vevey was withdrawn from service at the end of September and, as yet, finance for her proposed refurbishment and re-engining has not been
November 2010:
Paddle Steamer Breakdown
What is particularly surprising about this paddle steamer breakdown, which occurred off the Needles in 1935, is the ship. The Whippingham was not some old, clapped out and perhaps poorly
October 2010:
Paddle Steamer Barred After “Bad Weather” Trip
In 1960, Cdr Edmund Rhodes bought the paddle steamer Princess Elizabeth from Red Funnel of Southampton and put her into service running coastal trips from Torquay to the River Dart,
September 2010:
Paddle Steamer Captains at Bournemouth in 1920
Kingswear Castle season ticket holder and retired P & O ferry captain, Mike Ledger, has come across these fascinating pictures taken by, and of, his family on paddle steamers at
August 2010:
Paddle Steamers Trips from Weymouth August 1960
The first week in August 1960 was a busy one for Cosens’ little Consul as she packed in a wide variety of trips from her base at Weymouth. Here she
July 2010:
Paddle Steamers at Dunkirk
It is now seventy years since the retreating British army was evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk in late May and early June 1940. This massive operation was made possible
June 2010:
Paddle Steamer Wheel & Deckhouses
One of my tip top favourite places anywhere in the world is Lausanne-Ouchy. It has a harbour stuffed full of paddle steamers. It faces south onto Lake Geneva and across
May 2010:
Paddle Steamer Wingfield Castle
The paddle steamer Wingfield Castle (pictured above leaving Hull) was built in 1934 by William Gray & Co of Hartlepool for the railway passenger and car ferry service on the
April 2010:
Paddle Steamer Captain Looks to Buy His Own Boat
Capt Harry Defrates (pictured above) joined Cosens of Weymouth after the Second World War and sailed as master of several of their paddle steamers including the Embassy, Victoria, Monarch and
March 2010:
Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel Talisman for Sale
Talisman is described as using 0.75 tons of Diesel per hour on full power and 0.6 tons per hour “economical”. Her bunkers are said to be for 25 tons so
February 2010:
Paddle Steamer Monarch at Weymouth
Before the 1951 season Cosens & Co bought the Portsmouth to Ryde railway paddle steamer Shanklin as a replacement for their veteran twin funnelled Monarch of 1888 which had been
January 2010:
Paddle Steamer Shipyard at Lucerne
The shipyard at Lucerne has a busy life maintaining in tip top condition the large fleet of passenger vessels on the lake as well as undertaking outside commissions. It also
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