PS Kingswear Castle, Coal-fired paddle steamer in Dartmouth, Great Britain
The PS Kingswear Castle is a coal-fired paddle steamer based in Dartmouth that still operates river cruises today. The vessel is roughly 27 meters long and carries passengers on regular trips along the river, maintaining its original steam engines and mechanical systems.
Built in 1924 in Dartmouth, the steamer carried passengers between riverside towns until 1965. Its steam engines came from an earlier vessel constructed in 1904, preserving proven machinery from the previous generation.
The vessel carries meaning as a working reminder of passenger travel methods that once shaped daily life in rural England. Visitors board today to experience how people once moved between riverside communities, making the journey itself the point of their visit.
The steamer operates mainly from June through September, with boarding available at Dartmouth Harbour. It is wise to arrive early since seating is limited and the cruises become popular during the season.
This steamer holds the distinction of being the last coal-fired paddle steamer still operating in the United Kingdom with its original steam machinery. Few visitors realize they are witnessing one of the rarest working examples of 20th century British maritime engineering.
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