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 2020:
Cosens’s Captain Haines
Captain Haines aboard Embassy cutting the cake with Mrs Mary Cox, wife of Bernard Cox one of the founding members of the PSPS, to celebrate the ship’s Golden Jubilee in
November 2020:
Paddle Steamer Jeanie Deans November 1965
Don Rose had bought the Jeanie Deans. He had persuaded Captain Stanley Woods, master of Princess Elizabeth in the 1965 season, to take command. He had asked two of the
October 2020:
Last Trips of the Season from Bournemouth October 1947
Thursday 23rd October was the last day of the season at Bournemouth in 1947 and was operated by Red Funnel’s Bournemouth Queen which had run the services for this last
September 2020:
Paddle Steamer Royal Eagle 1950
On Sunday 10th September 1950 Royal Eagle had originally been scheduled to make the last trip of the season from Tower Pier (8.30am) to Greenwich (9am), Southend (11.30am) and Clacton
August 2020:
Paddle Steamer Consul 1962
1962 was the last season that Cosens based a paddle steamer at Weymouth and, as usual, this was their Consul. I was eleven in 1962 and pretty much obsessed by
July 2020:
Talisman Aground at Arrochar
In those days Waverley’s Class IV Passenger Certificate on “Partially Smooth Waters”, as then defined by the Board of Trade, was for 1,500 passengers. Talisman’s was for 822. Thursday 3rd
June 2020:
Weymouth’s Seven Miles Paddle Steamer Trips
Weymouth was one of the first seaside towns in the UK to turn itself into a holiday destination and resort. In the mid 18th century Bath entrepreneur Ralph Allen spotted
May 2020:
Paddle Steamer Lorna Doone at Bournemouth May 1949
Before the war Red Funnel’s paddle steamer Balmoral had regularly sailed from Southampton and Bournemouth to Cherbourg but she was returned after war service in such poor condition as to
April 2020:
Launch of Paddle Steamer Bristol Queen April 1946
The paddle steamer Bristol Queen was launched at 2.30pm on Thursday 4th April 1946 at the Bristol yard of Charles Hill & Sons by the Lady Mayoress of Bristol, Mrs
March 2020:
Humber Paddle Steamer Service Resumed 6th March 1972
On 9th January 1972 the National Union of Mineworkers called a strike which closed all the UK coal mines in an ongoing pay dispute with the Conservative Government under Prime
February 2020:
Paddle Steamer Flamer February 1836
On 9th February 1836 the Jersey Argus printed a letter from a passenger recounting his recent experience of sailing on the steam packet paddle steamer Flamer on a voyage between
January 2020:
Paddle Steamer Embassy December 1949
It was very unusual for any excursion paddle steamer to be in steam in December. Unless connected with some ferry service they mostly sailed only in summer in a period
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