Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
The CGN’s Ouchy shipyard opened its gates to the public on 18–19 April 2026, offering a rare chance to see the engineering, craftsmanship and behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps the Léman paddle steamers and other ships in the fleet running. For a tour of the yard in pictures click here: May 2026: Ouchy Shipyard Open Days…
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The first steamship trip of the season on Lake Lucerne was taken by Stadt Luzern on Saturday 18th April sailing away from Lucerne at 11.12 to Fluelen 14.00 and back to Lucerne at 16.47. To take a look at some pics click here: 18th April 2026: Stadt Luzern Starts Season – Kingswear Castle
Tickets are now available online for KC’s only planned trip to Totnes this season on 8th September. You can book either for the round trip leaving Dartmouth at 3.30pm or as singles each way. All the ticket revenue will go to the KC Rebuild Appeal. To buy tickets click here: Shop – Kingswear Castle
The CGN is opening their Lausanne Ouchy Shipyard to the public on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April from 10.00 to 17.00. Visitors will be able to explore the various workshops and other under cover facilities at the yard. Admission is free but there is a charge of 15 francs for adults and 5 francs…
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Uri was in steam running trials on Lake Lucerne on Wednesday March 25. For more details of when she and other Swiss paddle steamers are due back in service click here: Uri Out on Trials – Kingswear Castle
On Friday 20th March Waverley entered Garvel Dry Dock for her annual out-of-the-water inspection and refit.
Members of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust Board, along with PSPS Chairman John Allen, visited KC in the Dartmouth Shipyard on 19th March to see how work on Phase 2 of her rebuild is progressing. All were very impressed with what they saw. For some pics click here: 19th March 2026: KC Rebuild Phase…
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Ever wondered if paddle steamer captains received pensions? To find out more check out the March Pictures of the Month on the KC website: March 2026: Paddle Steamer Captain Pensions – Kingswear Castle
Peter Walker, who looked after Kingswear Castle’s accounts for more than thirty five years, has died. For his obituary on the Kingswear Castle website click here: 4th February 2026: Peter Walker Obituary – Kingswear Castle
Three captains all living in the same road in Weymouth overlooking Portland Harbour with two of them in the same house? To find out more check out the Pictures of the Month on the Kingswear Castle website: February 2026: Three Sandsfoot Captains – Kingswear Castle
Illustrated progress report
KC was taken out of the water on the Old Mill covered slipway on Thursday 8th January. Work is continuing apace on Phase 2 of her major rebuild. This will include renewing the steelwork strake of the hull just below the deck forward of the paddle box both sides and renewing all the decking from…
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The results of the Waverley Grand Draw 2025.
Is Bognor Regis maybe one of the more forgotten UK paddle steamer piers? To find out more check out the November Pictures of the Month on the KC website: November 2025: Paddle Steamers at Bognor – Kingswear Castle
It was with great sadness that we heard earlier this week about the passing of our joint Patron, Prunella Scales at the age of 93. It was particularly poignant as it was less than a year ago since her husband Timothy West, our other joint Patron passed away. Prunella was an outstanding English actress, best…
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The Waverley Autumn Draw 2025 was organised by the London & home Counties Branch. The draw took place on 25 October at the Society’s National Annual General Meeting held in the Princess Royal Gallery at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The winning tickets were drawn by our President, Douglas McGowan MBE. The winners have all been notified…
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2025 was not a good summer season for the CGN paddle steamers on Lake Geneva with only the diesel electric Italie and Vevey in service during the peak weeks out of a total of eight paddlers on the lake. To find out more click here: Season 2025 Lake Geneva – Kingswear Castle
Don’t forget that a post pops up on the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle website every day of the year about what some paddle steamer or other was doing somewhere, sometime in the past on this day. At present there are 410 of them to be enjoyed: Megoran’s Musings – Kingswear Castle
The Dampferzeitung magazine has asked the managements of paddle steamers on a number of the Swiss lakes for their assessments of how the 2025 season has panned out for them. To find out more: 2025 Season in Switzerland – Kingswear Castle
Three cruises are planned this summer season to raise funds for Phase 2 of KC’s major Rebuild Appeal. For more details click here: 19th March 2024: KC 2025 Fundraising Cruises – Kingswear Castle
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year. But she did make it to Dartmouth to meet KC on Saturday 30th September and on Monday 1st September was able to run from Dartmouth at 10.45 with a call at Torquay at 12.15 to Weymouth where she…
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The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year with fresh to strong winds causing many cancellations. However she did make it to Dartmouth in the late afternoon of Saturday 30th August where she met up with and steamed alongside KC. Here are some pics of the…
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Last month we looked at what KC was up to 40 years ago in July 1985. This month we continue the story with her sailings in September and October 1985: September 2025: KC’s Log September/October 1985 – Kingswear Castle
On her voyage north about to the South Coast Waverley made a call at Dundee on Wednesday 27th August. For more details click here: Waverley Calls at Dundee – Kingswear Castle
In 1930 the Southern Railway built two giant paddle steamers for their services from Portsmouth. To find out more, including about their calls at Bournemouth, check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: August 2025: Whippingham at Bournemouth – Kingswear Castle
In her first season back in service in July 1985 KC ran on 26 operating days from her base at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Take a look at her log for that month all those years ago and find out what she was up to: July 2025: KC’s Log July 1985 – Kingswear Castle
KC returned to service for the 2025 season on Tuesday 1st July. To have a look at some pics of her first trip check out a post on the KC website: KC 1st July 2025 – Kingswear Castle
Waverley returned to the Clyde on Thursday June 26th after a highly successful visit to the Mersey and Bristol Channel. She started her main summer season on the Clyde the following day. To see some pics of her arriving at Greenock at 11.15 on Sunday June 29th check out the post on the KC website:…
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To take a look at some rare pics of PS Consul laid up at Weymouth check out the Pictures of the Month on the KC website: July 2025: Consul Laid Up at Weymouth – Kingswear Castle
Work is scheduled to begin today scrapping Kingswear Castle’s sister Compton Castle in Truro. Compton Castle to be Scrapped – Kingswear Castle
