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.
Loire Princesse.
Loire Princesse on the second day of her maiden voyage along the River Loire.
Monarch.
Monarch in the process of demolition in the scrapyard at Cork.
Ryde and Sandown alongside the pontoon off the Harbour Station at Portsmouth.
Ryde on the grid at Newhaven for underwater survey.
Gracie Fields as built.
Launch of the Gracie Fields.
Consul entering Poole Harbour.
Consul opens the season at Bournemouth on Good Friday.
Jupiter.
Jupiter leaves the Clyde under tow for the scrapyard in Dublin.
Glen Usk.
Glen Usk opens the season running on the Cardiff/Penarth/Barry/Weston ferry service.
Bristol Queen, 1946.
Launch of Bristol Queen.
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.
First Monarch with bridge re-located.
National strike of coal miners causes coal shortage for steamers.
Princess Elizabeth boiler 1967.
Boiler and engine of Princess Elizabeth found in lockup just outside Basingstoke.
Embassy A/S Bournemouth Pier, 1964.
Cosens appoints Cdr Johnston as their new Bournemouth manager.
Duchess of Cornwall.
Duchess of Cornwall’s operational career comes to an end.
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.
Embassy pictured in 1947.
Easter 1948 at Bournemouth.
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.
Walton Belle which became Essex Queen and finally Pride of Devon.
Pride of Devon in the scrapyard at Grays in Essex.
Caledonia.
Caledonia damaged at Rothesay.
Eppleton Hall.
Eppleton Hall arrives in San Francisco.
Arran.
The Clyde’s new car ferry Arran carries her 2,000th passenger and causes a change of roster for the paddle steamers.
Bristol Queen.
Bristol Queen had rounded Lands End under tow and was on her way to the breaker’s yard in Belgium.
Diesel electric paddler Farringford.
Farringford was launched on Friday 21st March 1947.
Monarch in the scrapyard at Cork March 1961.
Dorset Echo reports progress on the demolition of Monarch in the scrapyard in Cork.
Work progressing on renewing Kingswear Castle’s starboard sponson.
London & Home Counties Branch of the PSPS formed.
Waverley.
Waverley running on the winter ferry service
Consul on Cosens's Weymouth slipway.
Consul up the slipway at Weymouth.
Brading & Southsea in Denny's yard Dumbarton
Brading and Southsea in the fitting out basin at Denny’s Clyde shipyard.
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.
Golden Eagle.
Golden Eagle brings German prisoners of war back to England.
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