Kingswear Castle Returns to Totnes

Saturday, 9 February 2013

Kingswear Castle Returns to Totnes

On Thursday 7th Febuary Kingswear Castle steamed up the River Dart to Totnes on a trial run. This was her first call at Totnes since 1965. Since her last visit Steamer Quay has been widened so there is now a reduced turning space to allow KC to cant before heading back down river to Dartmouth. Jeremy Gold, Chairman of Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust, took some pictures as KC was canted and has kindly provided them for use on this blog.

KC approaches Steamer Quay, note how narrow the River is.

The cant rope is deployed to allow the steamer to be turned to head back down river.

KC starts to cant.

Nearly half way round.

Further round - over half way in the cant now.

All turned and heading for home.

Kingswear Castle will be going up on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company's own slip on Tuesday 12th February. She will enter passenger service on Friday 29th March (Good Friday) with a special "Homecoming Charity Cruise" where all proceeds will be donated to the PSPS. Tickets are still available at www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/ or by calling 01803 555 872.

The Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company is manged by Andrew Pooley who was aboard KC for the run to Totnes, he is pictured below onboard with Company Secretary & Financial Controller. Andrew addressed members of the PSPS at the last AGM in Bath in November when it was announced that KC would be returning to her home waters.

Andrew Pooley & John Jones

Paul Semple

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Saturday, 9 February 2013