Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS WEBSITE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE AT : http://paddlesteamers.freehostia.com

Unfortunately the website became too large for its original internet location and had to be moved
This mainly text-only version represents the website as it was up until 1st July 2009 and does not include any more recent information or updates.
It includes some photographs which were included in earlier versions of this website. For the latest information and all the photos, click on the link above

PS Kingswear Castle (1924)
Operating Area : River Medway, United Kingdom
Kingswear Castle on the Medway in 1988, seen from PS Waverley
Built in 1924 by Philip & Son, Dartmouth
Received the 2 cylinder compound diagonal engines of an earlier PS Kingswear Castle (1904-1923)
Engineers of the 12" and 25" x 24" cylinders - Cox & Co, Falmouth, England
Overall length 113'8" - beam 17'6" (28'0" across paddle boxes) - draught 3'0"
Ran a service with three other paddlers from Totnes to Dartmouth in the inter-war period
Served as a stores ship and tender to the US Navy during World War II
Was part of a three-vessel service after the war
Withdrawn after the 1961 season for reboilering, retaining coal fuel, and attention to the hull
Returned to service in 1964, but with her two consorts withdrawn in favour of replacement motor vessels
Finally withdrawn after the 1965 season as running costs continued to mount
Laid up in Old Mill Creek, she was bought by the PSPS in 1967
Moved in August 1967 to an available beth on the River Medina, Isle of Wight, alongside PS Medway Queen.
In steam twice in 1969, but otherwise deteriorating at her berth
Moved to Rochester on the River Medway in June 1971
Preservation then restoration work undertaken at a tidal berth by a small band of volunteers
Successfully steamed "in-situ" in 1982
Returned to operational steam on 4/11/1983 and obtained her insurance certificate
Operated for 20 days in 1984 with a volunteer crew and a 12 passenger limit venturing as far as Gravesend.
First meeting with PS Waverley on 16/9/84 on Chatham Reach
Passenger Certificates were obtained to allow commercial operation in the 1985 season.
1985-date: Continued expansion of operation and improvement of facilities under guidance of Captain John Megoran.
Kingswear Castle was the last of a long line of small paddlers cruising the river Dart in south-west England a beautiful river flowing from the famous Dartmoor National Park via Totnes and Dartmouth to the sea at Kingswear and the castle after which she takes her name. After withdrawal in 1965, she was bought by the UK's Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, a major step at the time for a small band of enthusiasts intent on saving a vanishing breed of vessels.

With few resources except the hard work and enthusiasm of volunteers, it was not until 1984 that the coal-fired paddler reappeared for commercial sailings. This was on the River Medway, to where she had been moved in 1971, due to the availability of a suitable berth closer to where PSPS volunteers were living. Additionally, the long history of paddle steamer activity and a reasonably large local population meant that the Medway was a suitable place for ultimate passenger operation.

KC is now going stong, available for passenger cruises and charters, and the highlight of the year is the annual Paddle Parade with PS Waverley when her big "cousin" visits the area.

Along with Waverley, the preservation of the "KC" is an inspiring story of the persistence of dedicated enthusiasts with meagre resources to overcome massive hurdles to bring paddlers back to commercial viability.
Bibliography
Kingswear Castle - Britain's Last Coal-Fired Paddle Steamer
By J.B. Millar
Published in various editions by Kingswear Castle Excursions Ltd / PSPS
The KC story
Internet Links
PS Kingswear Castle
Return to :
Paddle Steamer List
PSPS
River Dart
River Thames - Historical
British Paddle Steamer Index