Kingswear Castle - the other one!

Not the preserved exampe but the original Kingswear Castle now lies on the banks of the dart.

Just looking around on Google Earth and tracked down her remains. Hopefulyl have a closer look sometime this summer - a good excuse to put a day on the Torbay Express to good use!



A few close up pictures can be seen here -

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4155054

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4154875

 

Amazing - I was completely unaware of that.

Does Compton Castle still exist in Truro???

 

Yep - of sorts lthough in need of a lot of love. Her engines are still around too in a museum on the IoW- very well cared for.

Picture from June 2008 - in much the same sorry state now if not a little worse. Last I saw her mentioned with any positive news was here - http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/westbri ... ticle.html
Nothing appears to have happened though.



For her life story see - www.users.waitrose.com/~thonybrett/index.html

She sure is a remarkable survivor. If my numbers ever come up . . . . .

 

If I'm correct that KC was used as a hospital at one stage and the engines in the preserved KC are from her...
I saw her from one of the cruise boats and there isn't much left of her.

 

Yeh thats correct, normally vessels would have been sold on but I expect in this case her size would have made her hard to sell as other areas were booming after the war as indeed was the dart.

Chris

 

Interesting to see the remains of the original KC - I must see them myself one day. I believe the remains can also be seen of PS Dartmouth Castle - are they near KC's? Interestingly ,Totnes Castle also still exists - albeit at the bottom of the channel!

Sad that Compton Castle wasn't restored for the restaurant plan after all. However, as a previous post says, the engine still exists in the IoW while the previous boiler from KC (2) still exists unwanted in Australia - another restoration anyone?!

As the full time engineer on Kingswear Castle (the preserved one!), it's good to see something on here about the KC rather than other steamships!

Nigel

 

Hi Nigel,

I intend to have a closer look at KC's remains sometime in July - will have to invest some time on Google Earth to find DC - I have seen a picture of 'your' KC alongside her remains in the 60's but where I thought it was looked clear of any hulks.

I spoke to someone today regarding CC - seems plans are ongoing and its not a dead duck. There's a TV company following the rebuild and may visit 'your' KC at some stage. Will sort the pictures I took in February later and post. I dream of seeing her sailing down the dart again but know it'll never happen. Perhaps KC for her 100th though ??!!

Cheers
Chris

ps - I will introduce myself next time I'm on KC (likely to be late July). A few years since I did a trip on her with Capt Megoran.

 

Hi Chris,

Good to hear that there may be a future still for Compton Castle - though from the press release it sounds like they might turn her into a miniture Titanic!

It has been suggested on more than one occasion that we all (inc KC) retire down to the Dart!

Maybe see you next month.

Best Wishes,

Nigel

 

Pictures from Feb 09 of CC.

 

Had a quick scan through Google maps for PS Dartmouth Castle - do either of these look likely?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...6319,-3.585497&spn=0.001288,0.002725&t=h&z=19

or

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...35833,-3.59628&spn=0.000644,0.001363&t=h&z=20


Keith

PS: I've only gone on info available on the net as to it's last known whereabouts, so don't shoot the messenger if the above is completely wrong!

 

The second link looks to be on the money to me . .

Chris

 

This was Compton fifteen years ago at Kingsbridge



Say hello to John Megoran for me Nige - it was surreal the other week to be sat in the Commissioners House talking Waverley and you lot going toot toot up and down outside