Monarch pictured in drydock at Southampton 5th May 1953.
5th May 1953 Monarch
Monarch in dry-dock at Southampton 5th May 1953.
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.
4th July 1968 Ryde
Ryde ran a special cruise from Southsea to meet round the world yachtsman Alec Rose in 1968.
Plus ça Change?
Read this letter from P & A Campbell management to PW 1968.
More Paddle Steamers Please
If the Swiss can do it why can’t we?
13th June 2018 Herrsching
A trip on the Ammersee aboard Europe’s latest paddler Herrsching built as recently as 2002.
11th June 2018 Diessen
A trip on the paddler Diessen on the Ammersee near Munich.
13th July 1947 Princess Elizabeth
Most often associated with the Southampton to Cowes ferry and pottering about in the Solent, the Lizzie hit excursion peaks just after the Second World War.
Last Clyde Season of the ‘Jeanie Deans’
Fifty summers ago, in 1964, there were still four paddle steamers operating on the Clyde, the Jeanie Deans, Waverley, Caledonia and Talisman.