Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
On 16th August 1958 Bristol Queen was scheduled to run from Bristol to Ilfracombe. But P & A Campbell were already in deep financial trouble. Would the receiver have to be called in? Would she come out again next year? 16th August 1958: Bristol Queen – Kingswear Castle
In the 1960s former Plymouth tender Sir Richard Grenville found a new life in the Channel Islands running a complex schedule including connecting Jersey and St Malo – previously run by British Railways. She had an old-fashioned feel to her even then: 15th-22nd August 1966: A Week in the Life of La Duchesse de Normandie…
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On Saturday 15th August 1959 Consul had an unusual roster to view a very unusual ship: 15th August 1959: Consul – Kingswear Castle
On 14th August 1939 Balmoral ran a long day trip from Southampton to Bournemouth taking in the piers at Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor on the way. Then there was a round trip to Swanage before returning via the same route: 14th August 1939: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
Vevey returned to service on Lake Geneva today (13th August) after being fitted with brand new paddle wheels . Vevey is scheduled to run the service starting and finishing her days in Le Bouveret incorporating one call at Lausanne (10.50) and circuits of the eastern part of the lake from Vevey (12.00, 14.00 & 16.00)…
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Low river water levels on the River Elbe, due to the lack of rain, are set to go lower from Friday 14th August preventing any of the regular paddle steamer sailings from Dresden and in Saxon Switzerland. After today (13th August) which has seen only Diesbar and Krippen – which are the smallest and have…
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Standing on the pier at Hastings on Wednesday 13th August 1952 you might have been surprised to see a paddle steamer called Cardiff Queen arrive to take you on your day trip to Shanklin IOW. But there she was, based on the Sussex Coast in 1952 & 1953: 13th August 1952: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear…
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On 12th August 1935 Golden Eagle was on her summer roster from London to Ramsgate with balloon-blowing competitions, skipping, musical chairs, tug of war & streamer throwing offered. 20 years earlier she carried 6,329 Chinamen. Why did she do that? 12th August 1935: Golden Eagle – Kingswear Castle
At a loose end in Llandudno on 11th August 1930? Why not take a trip on the veteran PS Snowden at 10.30am along the N Wales coast to Menai Bridge and Caernarvon? To find out more: 11th August 1930: Snowdon – Kingswear Castle
On 10th August 1962 Waverley was scheduled to run an “Up-River Cruise” from Largs to Glasgow but didn’t. To find out why not: 10th August 1962: Waverley & Caledonia – Kingswear Castle
In the blistering heat of the summer of 1976 on 9th August Balmoral ran from Penarth to Weston and Ilfracombe and ended the day in Swansea. What was she doing for the rest of the week?: 8th-16th August 1976: A Week in the Life of Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
On Monday August 8th 1955 Cardiff Queen left Swansea early in perfect weather for Ilfracombe for a 10.30am departure for Milford Haven to see the Royal Yacht with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh aboard. Was this super long and most unusual day trip a spectacular success or a commercial flop?: 8th August 1955: Cardiff…
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On Sunday 7th August 1960 Monarch returned to service after a rare day off. To find out more: 5th-11th August 1960: A Week in the Life of Monarch – Kingswear Castle
After the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna (1815) created an order in Europe where diplomacy stood higher than war. That changed in the late 19C. By 6th August 1914 Majestic was forced to alter her trips as the world slid towards the abyss: 6th August 1914: Majestic – Kingswear Castle
Only three of Lake Geneva’s eight paddle steamers are scheduled to be in service at any one time this August (2026). See below for the daily routine: Rhone is set to run the day trip from Geneva at 10.45 to Lausanne returning at 6.40pm after which is due to leave at 7.10pm for Yvoire returning…
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The paddle steamer Majesteit has been sold to the Dutch company Constantin Beweging which already owns two large and modern passenger vessels Blue Rhapsody and Grace Kelly which offer high end trips and fine dining from Rotterdam. Built in 1925 for service on the Rhine Majesteit has run for many years based in Rotterdam in…
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Where was PS Consul – sporting a primrose funnel and bottle green hull – 63 years ago on 5th August 1963? What was she trying to do and was she having any luck in the doing of it? : 5th August 1963: Consul – Kingswear Castle
On Saturday 4th August 1962 Medway Queen was rostered for two round trips between Strood and Southend. To find out more and why a crew member was sacked: 4th August 1962: Medway Queen – Kingswear Castle
On the return from her day trip from Southampton and Bournemouth to Cherbourg on Tuesday 3rd August 1937 Balmoral didn’t make it back to Southampton in the evening. To find out more: 3rd August 1937: Balmoral – Kingswear Castle
On 2 August 1924 we could have enjoyed a day trip down the N Welsh Coast from Liverpool to Llandudno, Beaumaris, Bangor and Menai Bridge. To find out more: 2nd August 1924: La Marguerite – Kingswear Castle
Living in London Saturday 1 August 1936? Fancy a trip on one of the new electric trains to Brighton, then on to Shanklin IOW by paddle steamer and home again for supper? Here’s how it was done: 1st August 1936: London to Shanklin via Brighton – Kingswear Castle
In 1939 the newly arrived Vecta displaced Princess Elizabeth on the Southampton/Cowes ferry which was sent to Bournemouth for the summer displacing PS Corfe Castle. Then Bournemouth Queen had boiler trouble so by Monday 31st July it was all change again: 31st July 1939: Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
On Monday 30 July 1962 my 10 year old self took my Auntie Mary on a morning cruise from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove on Consul. This is what happened: 30th July 1962: Consul – Kingswear Castle
In the peak days of the 1962 season Consul ran seven days a week, the only respite for her crew being on days trips were cancelled due to the weather. On Sunday 29 July she offered two afternoon cruises and an evening Jazz Cruise. To find out more: 29th July 1962: Consul – Kingswear Castle
On Thursday 28 July 1960 you could have enjoyed a day trip from Torquay to Plymouth aboard PS Princess Elizabeth and got back almost an hour late. For more about this very long day: 28th July 1960: Princess Elizabeth – Kingswear Castle
If we had been in Bournemouth on Thursday 27th July 1899 we could have bought a ticket to join PS Brodick Castle for a day trip to Totland Bay, Cowes or Portsmouth. For more details: 27th July 1899: Brodick Castle – Kingswear Castle
As paddle steamers pitch and roll in a seaway water is forced up into the paddle boxes one after the other choking and impeding the rotation of the paddle wheels. How did P & A Campbell try to solve this paddle steamer problem: August 2026: Paddle Box Freeing Ports – Kingswear Castle
Fancy a trip around the IOW on Thursday 26th July 1934 from Southampton aboard PS Lorna Doone with calls along the way at Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor? This is how the day panned out with pics: 26th July 1934: Lorna Doone – Kingswear Castle
King George V conducted an inspection of over 200 warships, airships and seaplanes in the Solent during the weekend 25- 27 July 1924. This brought a bonanza for local paddle steamer operators: 25th-27th July 1924: The King’s Spithead Inspection – Kingswar Castle
68 years ago on Thursday 24th July 1958 we could have boarded P & A Campbell’s Cardiff Queen in Swansea for a day trip to Ilfracombe, Clovelly or on to land on Lundy Island. To find out more: 24th July 1958: Cardiff Queen – Kingswear Castle
