Loire Princesse on the second day of her maiden voyage along the River Loire.
11th April 2015 Loire Princesse
Loire Princesse.
John Megoran recalls the heyday and decline paddle steamers, particularly the Weymouth based paddle steamers that he grew up with, hoping that one day he would captain a paddle steamer.
He did realise his ambition – and more – restoring, managing and as principal captain of PS Kingswear Castle for nearly 30 years on both the Medway and Thames.
John has written several books about paddle and pleasure steamers that may be found here.
10th April 1961 Monarch
Monarch.
Monarch in the process of demolition in the scrapyard at Cork.
9th April 1964 Ryde
Ryde and Sandown alongside the pontoon off the Harbour Station at Portsmouth.
Ryde on the grid at Newhaven for underwater survey.
8th April 1936 Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields as built.
Launch of the Gracie Fields.
7th April 1950 Consul
Consul entering Poole Harbour.
Consul opens the season at Bournemouth on Good Friday.
6th April 1961 Jupiter
Jupiter.
Jupiter leaves the Clyde under tow for the scrapyard in Dublin.
5th April 1950 Glen Usk
Glen Usk.
Glen Usk opens the season running on the Cardiff/Penarth/Barry/Weston ferry service.
4th April 1946 Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen, 1946.
Launch of Bristol Queen.
3rd April 1941 Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone passing Cowes.
The Admiralty announced that Lorna Doone made direct hits with her guns on two of the three German Dornier Bombers which had been attacking her.
2nd April 1921 Coal Strike Stops Steamers
First Monarch with bridge re-located.
National strike of coal miners causes coal shortage for steamers.
1st April 2021 PE: April Fool!
Princess Elizabeth boiler 1967.
Boiler and engine of Princess Elizabeth found in lockup just outside Basingstoke.
31st March 1957 Cdr Johnston DSC RN (Rtd)
Embassy A/S Bournemouth Pier, 1964.
Cosens appoints Cdr Johnston as their new Bournemouth manager.
30th March 1949 Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Cornwall.
Duchess of Cornwall’s operational career comes to an end.
29th March 1955 Cosens’s AGM
Cosens's Consul, Monarch and Embassy laid up for the winter at Weymouth Harbour around 1954.
Cosens held their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 29th March 1955 in the company’s board room in the office at Weymouth.
28th March 1948 Embassy
Embassy pictured in 1947.
Easter 1948 at Bournemouth.
27th March 1960 Princess Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth A/S at Northam, 27th March 1960 with the Red Funnel tug Neptune.
Princess Elizabeth being refitted at Southampton by her new owners Torbay Steamers Ltd.
26th March 1951 Pride of Devon
Walton Belle which became Essex Queen and finally Pride of Devon.
Pride of Devon in the scrapyard at Grays in Essex.
25th March 1967 Caledonia
Caledonia.
Caledonia damaged at Rothesay.
24th March 1970 Eppleton Hall
Eppleton Hall.
Eppleton Hall arrives in San Francisco.
23rd March 1954 Arran
Arran.
The Clyde’s new car ferry Arran carries her 2,000th passenger and causes a change of roster for the paddle steamers.
22nd March 1968 Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen.
Bristol Queen had rounded Lands End under tow and was on her way to the breaker’s yard in Belgium.
21st March 1947 Farringford
Diesel electric paddler Farringford.
Farringford was launched on Friday 21st March 1947.
20th March 1961 Monarch
Monarch in the scrapyard at Cork March 1961.
Dorset Echo reports progress on the demolition of Monarch in the scrapyard in Cork.
19th March 2001 Kingswear Castle
Work progressing on renewing Kingswear Castle’s starboard sponson.
18th March 1961 London & Home Counties Branch
London & Home Counties Branch of the PSPS formed.
17th March 1950 Waverley
Waverley.
Waverley running on the winter ferry service
16th March 1959 Consul
Consul on Cosens's Weymouth slipway.
Consul up the slipway at Weymouth.
15th March 1948 Brading and Southsea
Brading & Southsea in Denny's yard Dumbarton
Brading and Southsea in the fitting out basin at Denny’s Clyde shipyard.
14th March 1974 Wingfield Castle
Wingfield Castle A/S New Holland with her white Sealink double arrow on the funnel painted over with red.
Wingfield Castle made her last voyage in steam on Thursday 14th March 1974.
13th March 1915 Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle.
Golden Eagle brings German prisoners of war back to England.