MV CARDIFF CASTLE, Totnes - May 11, 2023
Dart Valley Railway Ltd MV CARDIFF CASTLE arriving at Totnes Steamer Quay on a very lightly loaded morning sailing from Dartmouth. There were only two passengers on board. However, the return sailing was quite busy!
MV Cardiff Castle was built in 1964 for the River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd (RDSC) by Bolson's of Poole. She was a near sister of Conway Castle and was built to replace Totnes Castle.
She was originally fitted with Totnes Castle's wheelhouse on a flying bridge structure above her main (open) passenger deck. She also had a lounge on the lower deck. She operated passenger services on the Dart until 1977; by this time she was the last passenger vessel owned by RDSC.
In 1977 she was sold to Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd, which at that time was the largest operator of cruises from Plymouth. They rebuilt her to her current condition, with a large deckhouse on the main deck, and open deck seating above, behind a new wheelhouse.
The bar is still located on the lower deck. In 1980 the Millbrook Company was bought by Dart Free Houses Ltd, parent company of Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd. Some years later Dart Pleasure Craft were bought by the Dart Valley Railway Company Ltd.
