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 2018:
Paddle Steamer Britannia Scrapped December 1956
Britannia was the third of a trio of sisters including Westward Ho! (1894-1946) and Cambria (1895-1946), built for P & A Campbell as their services expanded on the back of
November 2018:
Paddle Steamer Stadt Luzern Withdrawn for Rebuild
Stadt Luzern alongside at Fluelen on Lake Lucerne at 2pm on Sunday 21st October, 2018 her last day in service before being withdrawn for a major rebuild which is expected
October 2018:
Paddle Steamer Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle was built in 1934 off the same plans, and launched on the same day, as her identical sister Tattershall Castle by Hartlepool shipbuilder William Gray & Company on
September 2018:
Lake Neuchatel Paddle Steamer Neuchatel
Built in 1912 by Escher Wyss of Zurich, Neuchatel sailed on the three connected Swiss Lakes Neuchatel, Biel and Murten until 1972 when she was withdrawn and started a new
August 2018:
Ammersee Paddler Diessen
The paddler Diessen alongside at Stegen on the Ammersee about forty minutes from Munich.
July 2018:
Ammersee Paddler Herrsching
Built as recently as 2002 the Herrsching on the Ammersee, close to Munich, represents the ultimate design of the passenger excursion paddle steamer and is the model for which, if
June 2018:
Paddle Steamer Princess Elizabeth Peaks July 1947
In 1947 Red Funnel were short of their best excursion steamers with both Balmoral and Lorna Doone (pictured above) having been returned from war service in such poor condition that
May 2018:
Paddle Steamers Empress and Albion Collide 1901
E C B Thornton recounts in his excellent book South Coast Pleasure Steamers (which has been my constant companion since it was given to me by my parents as a
April 2018:
Forty Three British Paddle Steamers Withdrawn 1955 – 1981
In the aftermath of the Second World War, paddle steamers in Britain initially did rather well, with four new ones built between 1946 and 1953, including Bristol Queen, and about
March 2018:
Paddle Steamer Jupiter Withdrawn 1958
As the 1950s wore on and cars for wide spread personal use were on the up, it became clear that the winds of change would blow the Clyde paddle steamers
February 2018:
P & A Campbell Call in the Receiver 1958
Sixty years ago, 1958 was an absolutely terrible season for P & A Campbell’s Bristol Channel paddle steamer services. The company was already in deep financial trouble trying to continue
January 2018:
PSPS Members Visit PS Embassy Spring 1967
In the spring of 1967 a small group of PSPS Wessex Branch members visited the paddle steamer Embassy in the Backwater at Weymouth shortly before she was towed away to
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