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 2012:
Paddle Steamer Winter Refits 1962/63
Fifty years ago in the “Deep Freeze” winter of 1962/63, Cosens & Co of Weymouth boosted their refit work by securing contracts to do major overhauls on two paddle steamers
November 2012:
Paddle Steamer Food
Providing food and drink for the passengers was ever a part of paddle steamer operations although what was provided and how it was done naturally varied according to the route
October 2012:
Paddle Steamers at Weymouth in 1949
1949 was the apotheosis of post-war paddle steamer excursions from Weymouth with no less than four steamers based at the port in the peak weeks (from left to right in
September 2012:
Paddle Steamer Captain Rawle Retires
In September 1959 Capt Philip St Barbe Rawle, seen here wearing his Cosens’s hat with its distinctive badge with the house flag above the anchor, retired after a long career
August 2012:
Good News from Lake Geneva
Good news from Lake Geneva. Funding has now been raised to rebuild the Diesel electric paddler Vevey (pictured here a couple of years ago) and return her to service by
July 2012:
Caledonian Steam Packet Waverley Captains
Many paddle steamer masters stayed with their ships for very many years. For example, the Medway Queen had only two peace time masters, Capt Bob Hayman before the Second World
June 2012:
Lake Geneva Paddler Helvetie
Good news of sort from Lake Geneva. The Helvetie, which was withdrawn after the 2001 season and has since lain in a gradually deteriorating state in the harbour at Lausanne
April 2012:
Southampton to the Isle of Wight by Red Funnel Paddle Steamer 1930’s style
Today the ferry from Southampton to the Isle of Wight takes us only to Cowes. In the 1930s, when these pictures were taken, and indeed right up to 1968, there
March 2012:
Paddle Steamer Winters at Weymouth
PS Emperor of India in September 1950 laid up in the Backwater. On the promenade deck the varnished seats have been piled up and packed away under a tarpaulin to
February 2012:
Paddle Steamers on the Elbe
With no less than nine paddle steamers, the Saechsische Dampfschiffahrt Company at Dresden owns and operates the largest and oldest paddle steamer fleet anywhere in the world. Here are four
January 2012:
Paddle Steamers to Alderney
Alderney is the third largest of the Channel Islands although much smaller then either Guernsey or Jersey being only three miles long and about a mile wide. It has never
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