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River
Dart
Devon is a
picturesque county with the spectacular Dartmoor, now a National
Park, dominating much of the county. The River Dart flows off the
moor and, between Totnes and reaching the sea at Dartmouth, it is
navigable, passing through some attractive countryside eminently
suited to excursion cruises and, in the early days, providing a fast
and efficient link between the local riverside communities.
Small paddle steamers had been employed in the area since the early
years of steam navigation and the trade came to be dominated by the
Dartmouth Steam Packet Co, established in 1859 and later
reconstituted as the River Dart Steamboat Company. A classic design
of small river paddler was evolved, the final version being PS
Kingswear Castle, which served until 1965. This vessel was bought by
the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in an ambitious first attempt
at preservation on their own account. After many years of slow
restoration based on the River Medway followed by operation at her new
home, she was later sent on long-term charter to the current operators
of excursion vessels on the River Dart where she is now in regular
service.
A short cross-river ferry service
was operated from the railhead at Kingswear across to Dartmouth, owned
by the railway company (Great Western) but operated for a short time by
the Dartmouth Steam Packet Company before the railway once again ran it
directly until 1948. The ferry service is once again interated into the
excursion vessel operation at Dartmouth which itself is part of a
heritage steam railway operation using the original route between
Paignton and Kingswear.
Dartmouth (1872-1880) built in 1859
Newcomin (18xx-1880)
Louisa (1866-1870) built in 1856
Guide (1869-1877) Tug
Berry Castle (1880-1917)
Dartmouth Castle (1885-1907)
Totnes Castle (1894-1912)
Kingswear Castle (1904-1923)
Dartmouth Castle (1907-1939)
Compton Castle (1914-1963)
Totnes Castle (1923-1963)
Returned to service on the River Dart after a 15-year charter agreement with the ship's preservationist owners in 2013
Kingswear Castle (1924-1965 and 2013 to date)
Above : PS
Kingswear Castle (1904-1923) lost her engines to her successor of the
same name but, most unusually, was not scrapped. In a scene more
reminiscent of the Danube running through eastern Europe or some
Russian river systems, the hulk has been left to deteriorate -
gradually. This photo taken at Fleet Mill Quay is from 2005 and was
taken and kindly supplied by Phil Barnes.
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