Dartmouth 250921 3818
Dartmouth visit, 25 September 2021.
This is the 'PS Kingswear Castle', built in 1924 in Dartmouth for cruises in and around the Dart Estuary. One of three sister ships, it was constructed by Philip & Sons of Dartmouth, and used the engines out of a 1904 vessel of the same name, the hulk of which is still in the river. Here this beautiful vessel is berthed at the Dartmouth pontoon.
After service to the US Navy during World War 2, ferrying staff and materials around the River Dart, it resumed its cruise duties until withdrawal in 1965. Two years later it passed into the ownership of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society who, after many trials and tribulations, took it back onto the water in 1985. Based at Chatham Historic Dockyard she cruised around the area until in December 2012 a return was made to the River Dart, where it remains today, chartered to the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company.
The 130 HP engine was built by Cox of Falmouth and the vessel is now unique in the UK as a coal-fired paddle steamer.
Dartmouth 250921 3818
Dartmouth visit, 25 September 2021.
This is the 'PS Kingswear Castle', built in 1924 in Dartmouth for cruises in and around the Dart Estuary. One of three sister ships, it was constructed by Philip & Sons of Dartmouth, and used the engines out of a 1904 vessel of the same name, the hulk of which is still in the river. Here this beautiful vessel is berthed at the Dartmouth pontoon.
After service to the US Navy during World War 2, ferrying staff and materials around the River Dart, it resumed its cruise duties until withdrawal in 1965. Two years later it passed into the ownership of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society who, after many trials and tribulations, took it back onto the water in 1985. Based at Chatham Historic Dockyard she cruised around the area until in December 2012 a return was made to the River Dart, where it remains today, chartered to the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company.
The 130 HP engine was built by Cox of Falmouth and the vessel is now unique in the UK as a coal-fired paddle steamer.