5th October 1927: Waverley
Anyone remember “Early Closing Day”? And what sort of trip did P & A Campbell’s Waverley run to take advantage of it on Wednesday 5th October 1927? 5th October 1927: Waverley – Kingswear Castle
Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
Anyone remember “Early Closing Day”? And what sort of trip did P & A Campbell’s Waverley run to take advantage of it on Wednesday 5th October 1927? 5th October 1927: Waverley – Kingswear Castle
Gallia finished her summer season on Lake Lucerne on Sunday 20th September: a round trip from Lucerne (12.12pm) to Fluelen (3pm0 and back to Lucerne (5.47pm). Schiller’s last day in service was Sunday 27th September when she ran the same service: a round trip from Lucerne (12.12pm) to Fluelen (3pm0 and back to Lucerne (5.47pm)…
Read more
Duchess of Devonshire arrived in Exmouth on Saturday 4th October 1919 after having sailed round Lands End. Why had she done this? 4th October 1919: Duchess of Devonshire – Kingswear Castle
Waverley had a new captain for her visit to the Thames in 1997. Who was that? 3rd October 1997: Waverley – Kingswear Castle
Paddle Steamer Waverley is today, Friday 2nd October 2026, celebrating a phenomenal 80 years since she was first launched into the River Kelvin, Glasgow. This anniversary is particularly significant given how few steam ships have ever had a career that spanned eight decades. The World’s last seagoing paddle steamer made a spectacular passage through London’s…
Read more
PSPS Member no 1, the indefatigable Mrs Eileen Pritchard, organised a visit to the Portsmouth based Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service paddle tug Grinder on 2nd October 1965. Who was there and what unplanned bonus did the day deliver? 2nd October 1965: Paddle Tug Grinder – Kingswear Castle
In 1953 Cosens fielded three paddle steamers running from Bournemouth plus a fourth visiting regularly. Embassy was last to finish on Thursday 1st October. To check out the steamer notice for this day: 1st October 1953: Embassy – Kingswear Castle
The October Pictures of the Month are now up on the KC website and this time feature Embassy at Weymouth. She is mostly remembered for her sailings from Bournemouth to the Isle of Wight after the war and on up to 1966 but this is not what Cosens bought her for in 1937. So why…
Read more
After their first season in the new BR livery by 30th September 1965 both Sandown and Ryde had finished their summer programme at Portsmouth and were safely tucked up in Newhaven for the winter. 30th September 1965: Sandown and Ryde – Kingswear Castle
What was Clyde legend PS Jeanie Deans doing on Tuesday 29th September 1964 and why was that day so significant? 29th September 1964: Jeanie Deans – Kingswear Castle
On 28th September 1945 Cosens’ PS Empress arrived at Strood on the Medway to be transformed into a film star. What role? What film? 28th September 1945: Empress – Kingswear Castle
On Friday 27th September 1963 Embassy left Poole for Weymouth at 8am on a windy day and without passengers. Why did she do that? 27th September 1963: Embassy – Kingswear Castle
The new Mersey ferry Royal Daffodil made her debut in service today 26th September 2026. Designed to resemble a traditional Mersey ferry, she replaces Royal Iris: 26th September 2026: New Mersey Ferry – Kingswear Castle
P & A Campbell’s Britannia had been due to end her 1956 season after a farewell cruise from Bristol to Ilfracombe on Wednesday 19th September but was still running on 26th September. Why was that?: 26th September 1956: Britannia – Kingswear Castle
Waverley returned to the Thames yesterday for a short autumn season of excursions. To find out more: 25th September 2026: Waverley on the Thames – Kingswear Castle
After her finishing her 1965 season with Red Funnel at Southampton, Vecta sailed to the Bristol Channel to take up the roster with P & A Campbell starting on Friday 24th September with the Cardiff/Weston ferry. How did that pan out? 24th September 1965: Vecta – Kingswear Castle
1955 was the last year Cosens based two paddle steamers at Weymouth. The season went on until Friday 23rd September. If we had been around that day what exciting trip could we have taken aboard Consul to round the summer off? 23rd September 1955: Consul – Kingswear Castle
Waverley paid a rare visit to Newhaven on Tuesday 22nd September. Before she arrived on the scene, Newhaven had a long history as a base for paddle steamers. For some more pics and to find out more: 22nd September 2026: Paddle Steamers at Newhaven – Kingswear Castle
Forty one years ago on 21st September 1985 Kingswear Castle made her first visit to the harbour at Whitstable. To find out how this very long day trip panned out: 21st September 1985: Kingswear Castle – Kingswear Castle
At 4am on Saturday 20th September 1941, PS Portsdown left Portsmouth for the early morning mail run to Ryde with 21 service personnel and 8 civilians aboard as passengers. She never arrived. Why was that? 20th September 1941: Portsdown – Kingswear Castle
On Saturday 19th September 1959 you could have had the excitement of sailing on more than one paddle steamer on the River Dart: 19th September 1959: River Dart Paddle Steamers – Kingswear Castle
I don’t believe that there were any paddle steamers masters other than Capt H F Defrates of Weymouth who had a daughter in law who was an international film star and singer: 18th September 1964: Captain Defrates – Kingswear Castle
On Wednesday 17th September 1958 Bristol Queen had finished her summer season and was being de-stored. With P & A Campbell in deep financial difficulties it would 1961 before she would sail again: 17th September 1958: Bristol Queen – Kingswear Castle
On Wednesday 16th September 1964 there was a gale blowing in the Bristol Channel. Bristol Queen was stormbound in Swansea. Cardiff Queen tried to run but not very successfully as it turned out: 16th September 1964: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear Castle
On Saturday 15th September 1934 a crack developed in Brighton Belle’s HP cylinder just after leaving Newhaven, disabling the ship for the rest of the season. Why did that happen? :15th September 1934: Brighton Belle – Kingswear Castle
On Wednesday 14th September 1932 we could have joined Southsea or Whippingham to sail from Portsmouth, Southsea or Ryde round the Isle of Wight or for time ashore in Bournemouth: 14th September 1932: Southsea & Whippingham – Kingswear Castle
13th September 1959 was veteran Cosens master Capt Rawle’s last Sunday in command of a paddle steamer before retiring from Embassy later that week. Why did he retire before the end of the season and what became of him later: 13th September 1959: Captain P St Barbe Rawle – Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle was joined this week at Dartmouth by another veteran historic ship – Nordstjernen – which was on a cruise of the South of England and Wales targeted at the German market. The trip started in Bremerhaven on 2nd September with calls at Portsmouth, Falmouth, the Scilly Islands, Fishguard, Avonmouth, Lundy, Penzance, Dartmouth and…
Read more
On Saturday 12th September 1964 Waverley substituted for Duchess of Hamilton, which had a charter, on the long day excursion from Gourock to Campbeltown via Dunoon, Rothesay and Largs. To find out more: 12th September 1964: Waverley – Kingswear Castle
On Sunday 11th September 1932 we could have joined one of the giant Southern Railway paddle steamers Whippingham or Southsea for a trip from Portsmouth or Southsea to the IOW’s east coast piers at Sandown, Shanklin or Ventnor or vice versa: 11th September 1932: Southsea or Whippingham – Kingswear Castle