14 I World of Ships I Paddle Steamers
three years of negotiations to persuade the
trustees that we have the marine expertise
and steam engineering skills to look after
the vessel in perpetuity.’ Now they are doing
just that, the steamer quickly settling on her
return to the Dart, but problems arose with
the century-old main engine’s low-pressure
cylinder in 2015, and a replacement was cast
at Tyldesley Engine Works in the Midlands. It
was delivered in 2016, only for a slight crack
to be discovered in the outer casing. It was
decided to repair the original cylinder and this
was in place for the start of the 2017 season,
with the new cylinder due to be fi tted prior to
the summer programme of 2018.
Kingswear Castle’s main sailing is from
Dartmouth to Totnes and back, taking 90
minutes each way, and passing the villages
of Dittisham, Galmpton, Stoke Gabriel and
Duncannon, plus the Sharpham and Greenway
Estates and, close to Totnes, passengers
even get a sight of the remains of the earlier
steamer of the name, which Kingswear Castle
replaced in 1924.
Kingswear Castle’s elder sisters also
survived after the end of their operational
days in the early 1960s, but Totnes Castle
sank in Bigbury Bay while being towed fromABOVE Passengers on Kingswear Castle’s after
deck are protected from the weather by a large
canopy, and further sheeting can be lowered to
deck level on either side.BELOW Back in home waters: Kingswear Castle
sailing on the river Dart after returning to Devon
following a near half-century absence to start
sailings in 2013.Dartmouth to Plymouth in November 1967.
Compton Castle was used as a fl ower shop
at Lemon Quay, Truro until 2008, when
her engine was removed and displayed at
Blackgang Chine Fantasy Park on the Isle
of Wight until it was bought by the Paddle
Steamer Preservation Society in 2015 and
moved to Dartmouth.01 Paddlers_Britain_NL.indd 14 17/04/2018 09: