The last excursions of the summer season 1932 for the Southern Railway Portsmouth based paddlers Whippingham (pictured) and Southsea were on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th September.
On the Sunday there was a double run from Portsmouth Harbour down the east coast of the Isle of Wight to Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor leaving Portsmouth at 11am and calling at Southsea’s Clarence and South Parade piers getting back to Portsmouth at 2.10pm in time to set off for another round trip leaving Portsmouth at 2.45pm getting back at 6.50pm.
On Monday there was the option of a day trip to Sandown and Shanklin leaving Portsmouth at 9.45am or a trip to Southampton leaving at 11.30am, and again calling at Clarence and South parade Piers, for Southampton Docks for ‘Inspection of the Gigantic White Star Liner Olympic (46,439 tons)’.
Kingswear Castle returned to service in 2023 after the first part of a major rebuild which is designed to set her up for the next 25 years running on the River Dart. The Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust is now fund raising for the second phase of the rebuild. You can read more about the rebuilds and how you can help if you can here.
John Megoran
