October 2007:
Lake Geneva Paddle Steamer La Suisse
The beautiful Lake Geneva paddle steamer La Suisse is scheduled to be withdrawn at the end of this season for a major rebuild. Built by Sulzer Brothers of Winterthur almost
September 2007:
UK Paddle Steamers Withdrawn 1947, 1957 & 1967
Sixty years ago, 1947 was quite a buoyant year for UK paddle steamers. Although a number had returned from the war in such poor condition that they ended up being
August 2007:
Last Trips of the Bournemouth Queen August 1957
Bournemouth Queen sailing down Southampton Water sometime after the Second World War and before 1954 when she acquired a main mast. There is a nice puff of health giving smoke
July 2007:
Paddle Steamer Trip from Bournemouth in 1947
Sixty summers ago, in 1947, paddle steamer services were beginning to re-establish themselves after the war. The following account, by the journalist Harry Hamilton, gives a fascinating insight into the
June 2007:
Paddle Steamer Lookouts
Compared with ships today there is not a lot of kit on the bridge of P & A Campbell’s Glen Usk (pictured above): an engine room and docking telegraph on
May 2007:
What Happened on a Poole Paddle Boat in 1959
The Bournemouth Evening Echo for Thursday September 10th 1959 records a sorry tale of a mixed up school girl who had run away from her home in Manchester and sought
April 2007:
Lake Lucerne Paddle Steamer Rigi
The Paddle Steamer Rigi, pictured above at Lucerne in her early days on the lake, was built by Ditchburn and Mare of Greenwich with engines by John Penn and Son,
March 2007:
Portsmouth Paddle Steamer Ryde
Where there is much optimism on Loch Lomond about a future return to service of the Maid of the Loch there is little but gloom about the paddle steamer Ryde
February 2007:
Loch Lomond Paddle Steamer Maid of the Loch
Built in 1953 by A & J Inglis for service on Loch Lomond, the beautiful paddle steamer Maid of the Loch (pictured top at Inversnaid) is fortunately still with us
January 2007:
Paddle Steamers in Fog
The picture above gives a good impression of the disorienting effect of looking out into fog and not seeing what you expect to see! Just before Christmas a certain level
December 2006:
Paddle Steamers at Lyme Regis
Tucked away on the south coast between Portland and Exmouth is the delightful little seaside town of Lyme Regis made famous worldwide as the setting for the film “The French
November 2006:
Paddle Steamers Out of Season
This entertaining article from the early 1950s gives something of the flavour of paddle steamers in their winter rest. The paddler with much fevered activity on deck is Red Funnel’s
October 2006:
The Four British Paddlers Withdrawn in 1966
After the Second World War around sixty ferry and excursion paddle steamers were operational on the rivers, estuaries and coast of the UK. Although five were built for service after
September 2006:
Last Sailings of the Paddle Steamer Embassy in 1966
The paddle steamer Embassy, pictured alongside Bournemouth Pier in the early 1960s, made her last public sailings forty years ago in September 1966. Although Embassy had been used on Cosens’
August 2006:
Lake Geneva Paddle Steamer Savoie
This summer the Lake Geneva paddle steamer Savoie, built in 1914 by Sulzer, has returned to service after a major rebuild including the installation of a new boiler. Here she
July 2006:
John S Richardson Recalls (Part 2 of 2)
I mentioned in my last selection (Part 1 here) that we very seldom went on a GSN ship but my favourite was the magnificent Crested Eagle. Compared with the Queen
June 2006:
Paddle Steamer Queen of the South In 1966
Knowing my interest in paddle steamers and, as a friend of the family, Captain Stanley Woods (pictured on the bridge of the Princess Elizabeth in 1965) kept my fifteen year
May 2006:
Lake Lucerne Paddle Steamer Schiller
The beautiful Lake Lucerne paddle steamer Schiller celebrates her one hundredth birthday this summer. Ordered from Sulzer in 1904 Schiller made her first official sailing on the lake on 17th
April 2006:
Party Night Aboard the Sir William Wallace in 1956
Many excursion paddle steamers ran evening cruises, sometimes with music and many were hired out for private functions. But of all the paddlers still operational in the 1950s, perhaps one
March 2006:
John S Richardson Recalls (Part 1 of 2)
Long standing PSPS member John S Richardson (pictured above with Capt Leonard Horsham aboard the Medway Queen) has sailed aboard paddle steamers for most of his life. This month he
