On Friday 3rd July a surveyor was aboard Kingswear Castle to test her two boiler safety valves. I am pleased to be able to report that they both lifted and re-seated at the correct pressures.

However during the steaming trials an issue developed with the vacuum which was tracked down to a slight leak in a pipe connecting the condenser and the air pump. KC’s Engineer Dan Wheeldon has today machined the pipe at the workshop at Churston. This has now been fitted and I am pleased to say that the air leak has been fixed and the vacuum maintained. So a very big thank you to Dan.

We now expect KC to return to service on Monday 6th July running harbour cruises connecting with the steam train between Paignton and Kingswear starting at 12 noon..

For full details of the Reopening Plans for the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company at www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/reopening-plans.

You can buy tickets online at www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/book.

Please note that passengers will be required to wear face masks which can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head to give a snug fit.

I will be there and so look forward to welcoming aboard as many of you as can make it for the first paddle steamer sailings in the UK for the 2020 season.

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