1st August 1936:
London to Shanklin via Brighton
On Saturday 1st August 1936 the Southern Railway and P & A Campbell offered a joint cheap afternoon excursion from London to the Isle of Wight by fast electric train
August 1966:
A Week in the Life of Balmoral
Yesterday we looked at what Balmoral was doing during a week in August 1956. Move on ten years to 1966 and we see a changed scene with Red Funnel’s excursion
31st July 1939:
Bournemouth
For any who loved paddle steamers, or getting afloat, Bournemouth offered a feast of paddle steamer activity in 1939. On this day Monday 31st July the original schedule was for
30th July 1962:
Consul
On Monday 30th July 1962 I took my Auntie Mary, my Dad’s sister, for the morning cruise on Consul leaving Weymouth at 10.30am due back 12.30pm. She had a passing
31st July 1963:
Embassy
On Wednesday 31st July 1963 Embassy left her overnight berth at Poole at 8.40am for Bournemouth Pier where she arrived at 9.40am in good time to load for her 10.30am
August 2023:
Competition for Cosens
Although paddle steamer operator Cosens & Co of Weymouth had a pretty near monopoly on excursions to sea from Weymouth, if you exclude the motor boat trips from the beach
29th July 2008:
Kingswear Castle
On Tuesday 29th July 2008 Kingswear Castle ran afternoon cruises and an early evening charter on the River Medway from her base at the Historic Dockyard at Chatham and from
28th-29th July 1962:
Consul
Consul’s crew had Saturdays off in the early part of the 1962 season but in the peak weeks from the middle of July they were rostered to run seven days
28th July 1960:
Princess Elizabeth
On Thursday 28th July 1960 Princess Elizabeth was scheduled to leave Torquay at 10am for a day trip to Plymouth due back at 8pm. I have the engine room log
27th July 1889:
Brodick Castle
On Thursday 27th July 1889 Brodick Castle was scheduled to sail from Swanage (9.30am), Bournemouth (10.30am) and Boscombe (10.40am) for Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, (11.45am), Cowes (12.45pm) and Portsmouth
26th July 1934:
Lorna Doone
On Thursday 26th July 1934 Lorna Doone was scheduled to run a day trip from Southampton at 9am around the Isle of Wight. She then called at Ryde (10.15am) before
25th July 2023:
KC Returns to Service
KC returned to service on Tuesday 25th July, after completing the first part of her major rebuild, taking the 11am Harbour Cruise from Dartmouth. For information about trips on KC
25th July 1959:
Humber Paddle Steamers
On Saturday 25th July 1959 one of the three Humber paddle steamers Lincoln Castle, Tattershall Castle or Wingfield Castle sailed down from Hull to the Royal Dock Basin at Grimsby
25th-27th July 1924:
The King’s Spithead Inspection
Looking back through the history of excursion paddle steamers we find that some summers were really good with endless sunshine and light airs. Others were terrible with loads of wind
24th July 1958:
Cardiff Queen
On Thursday 24th July 1958 Cardiff Queen was scheduled to sail from Swansea (8.45am), Mumbles (9.05am), Ilfracombe (10.50am), and Clovelly (12.10pm) to Lundy Island to land (1.15pm – 4.15pm) and
24th July 1964:
Jeanie Deans
On Friday 24th July 1964 the Clyde turbine steamer Queen Mary II was taken out of service with boiler trouble so her sailing “Down the River”, or as it was
23rd July 1935:
Killingholme
On Tuesday 23rd July 1935 Killingholme was scheduled to run a two hour afternoon cruise at 3pm from the Royal Dock Basin at Grimsby on the Humber to view the
22nd July 2023:
Keeping a Puffer Afloat
Ship and boat preservation is usually a battle. The elements are hostile, design life short and officialdom reluctant to support. This latest book looks at the preservation story over 40
22nd July 1912:
Killingholme
On Monday 22nd July 1912 Killingholme was on charter to take King George V, Queen Mary and the rest of the royal party to open Immingham Dock. Killingholme and her
22nd-29th July 1934:
A Week in the Life of Balmoral
Balmoral was Red Funnel’s largest, fastest and most commodious excursion paddle steamer. Built to counter competition from P & A Campbell at the turn of the century she was in