Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
On Thursday 3rd September 2026 Waverley is offering a trip from Dartmouth and Torquay single to Weymouth. Before Waverley the last paddle steamer to carry passengers between Torquay and Weymouth was Princess Elizabeth on Saturday 27th June 1965 on a special charter to PSPS. Before that the last paddle steamer to make several day trips…
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There are some changes to the rostering of the Lake Geneva paddle steamers this September: From Monday 7th September Savoie will return to service. She will take over the roster currently run by Montreux with two round trips of the eastern part of the lake from Lausanne at 11.20 and 15.05. She will continue with…
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The KC September Pictures of the Month, which are now up, are about Malcolm Cockell – Babcock’s Chief Engineer for the lifting of the Mary Rose from the seabed off Southsea in 1982. He also played a crucial role in the return to service of KC in 1985. To find out more: September 2026: Malcolm…
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In order to even up the kilometres steamed by each paddle steamer on Lake Geneva, PS Montreux was brought out of reserve on Wednesday 18th August to take over from Savoie which is now laid up in the Ouchy Shipyard. Montreux will run circuits of the eastern lake from Lausanne and the evening cruises to…
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With river water levels rising at Dresden (8am 22nd August 70cm) the paddle steamers are gradually returning to service. Yesterday (21st August) PS Krippen was scheduled for the double run from Dresden to Schloss Pillnitz, Leipzig for one trip to Pillnitz followed by a “Sightseeing Cruise”, Pillnitz for three “Sightseeing Cruises” and Stadt Wehlen for…
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Services are still running on the Chiemsee in Bavaria but, due to the low water level in the lake, have been unable to call at Seebruck and Übersee/Feldwies since 3rd August: Home – Chiemsee Schifffahrt
Low water levels on the River Elbe, due to the lack of rain, have been preventing the regular paddle steamer sailings from Dresden and in Saxon Switzerland. As things stand at the moment the water level at Dresden is rising but the company’s website says (am on 18th August) that all cruises remain cancelled until…
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Low river levels on the Rhine are disrupting KD’s passenger ship schedules with, amongst other cancellations, the paddle driven Goethe, which usually operates the Nostalgia route between Koblenz and Rudesheim, currently replaced by the shallower draft MS Asbach which itself is only able to operate between Boppard and Rudesheim. For a fuller picture check out…
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Low water levels are affecting sailings on Lake Zurich. As of 17th August there are service restrictions as follows: Also only the paddle steamer Stadt Zurich has been in service this season. Following work on her machinery last winter PS Stadt Rapperswil has been unable to run trials due to a shortage of personnel. She…
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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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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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2026 is the 60th anniversary of the withdrawal of Cosens’ South Coast paddle steamer Embassy in 1966. She is remembered 60 years on in the July Pictures of the Month on the KC website: July 2026: 60 Years Since Embassy – Kingswear Castle
KC returned to service in sparkling form on Monday 15th June 2026 after completion of Phase 2 of her major rebuild. Once again she is running one hour harbour cruises from Dartmouth this season in connection with the steam train from Paignton on a regular basis. However she does not run every day. To check…
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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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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
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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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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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
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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