What were the River Dart paddle steamers Compton Castle, Kingswear Castle and Totnes Castle doing on this day?
19th September 1959 River Dart Paddle Steamers
Kingswear Castle and Totnes Castle at Totnes.
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.
18th September 1964 Captain Defrates
Princess Elizabeth passing through Weymouth Town Bridge
Last trip of the 1964 season for Princess Elizabeth from the Weymouth Pleasure Pier through the Town Bridge to her winter lay-up berth in the Backwater.
17th September 1958 Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen.
Bristol Queen de-stored and prepared for her winter lay-up having finished her season the previous day.
16th September 1964 Cardiff Queen
Cardiff Queen.
Cardiff Queen’s Cardiff/Weston ferry service interrupted by the wind.
15th September 1934 Brighton Belle
Brighton Belle.
Brighton Belle disabled by a crack in her HP cylinder.
14th September 1932 Southsea & Whippingham
Southsea and Whippingham scheduled to run long afternoon cruises from Portsmouth and Southsea.
13th September 1959 Captain Phillip Rawle
Embassy alongside Swanage Pier in 1958 under the command of Captain Rawle.
Capt Philip St Barbe Rawle’s last Sunday in command of Embassy.
12th September 1964 Waverley
Waverley.
Waverley sails to Campbeltown.
11th September 1932 Southsea or Whippingham
What were these two paddle steamers scheduled to do on Sunday 11th September 1932?
10th September 1937 Eastbourne
P & A Campbells's Waverley.
Sailings from Eastbourne Pier on Friday 10th September 1937.
9th September 1950 Royal Eagle
Royal Eagle deck view.
Saturday 9th September 1950 should have been the penultimate day in service of Royal Eagle. But was it?
8th September 1963 Medway Queen
Medway Queen’s last day in service.
7th September 1960 Monarch
Cosens’s Monarch made her last trips of the season on Thursday 8th September 1960.
6th September 1937 Essex Queen & Queen of Southend
Walton Belle which became Essex Queen and finally Pride of Devon.
What were Queen of Southend and Essex Queen scheduled to do on Monday 6th September 1937?
5th September 1914 Monarch & Majestic
Monarch backing out of Weymouth.
Monarch advertised for a trip from Bournemouth to Swanage and Weymouth to see the troops.
4th September 1953 Consul, Embassy and Empress
Empress in Lulworth Cove sometime between 1947 and 1953.
Two different paddle steamers in Lulworth Cove and visits to a warship.
3rd September 1949 Ravenswood
Ravenswood at Cardiff.
Crew trouble aboard Ravenswood and other vessels.
2nd September 1939 Sussex Coast
Glen Gower leaving Newhaven.
With war about to be declared P & A Campbell cancelled all further Sussex Coast sailings and ordered Brighton Queen, Waverley and Glen Gower to return to the Bristol Channel.
1st September 1937 Victoria
Victoria at West Bay.
Victoria scheduled for a trip from Weymouth to West Bay, Lyme Regis and Seaton.
31st August 1958 Monarch
Monarch arriving at Bournemouth Pier.
Monarch’s Late Night New Orleans Jazz Cruise, “The River Boat Shuffle”, with Gerry Brown’s Jazzmen and the Kapota cancelled.
30th August 1950 Bristol Queen
Bristol Queen.
Combined steamer and rail trip on Bristol Queen from Cardiff to Plymouth.
29th August 1957 Bournemouth Queen
Bournemouth Queen.
Bournemouth Queen’s last day in service.
28th August 1967 Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle at Binfield on the River Medina, Isle of Wight.
On Monday 28th August 1967 Kingswear Castle arrived under tow at Binfield on the Isle of Wight on charter to the Ridett brothers who then owned Medway Queen.
27th August 1886, 1928, 1934 & 1935
Bilsdale.
An unlucky date for paddle steamers?
26th August 1937 Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire.
Duke of Devonshire offers two round trips Torquay/Sidmouth and an afternoon cruise to St Mary’s Bay.
25th August 1928 Royal Sovereign & London Belle
Royal Sovereign & London Belle scheduled to sail from London and Greenwich to Margate and Ramsgate on Sunday 26th August 1928.
24th August 1960 Princess Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth A/S Haldon Pier Torquay.
On Wednesday 24th August 1960 Princess Elizabeth’s trips from Torquay were cancelled.
23rd August 1925 Ravenswood
Ravenswood as she looked between the world wars.
Ravenswood’s last trip to Boulogne.
22nd August 1955 Britannia
Britannia.
Britannia scheduled for the long day trip from Bristol to Cardiff and Ilfracombe.
21st August 1965 Princess Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth on charter at Weymouth for scenes for the big screen movie Gordon of Khartoum starring Charlton Heston.