Starting with an introduction about discovering the coal-burning paddle steamers of the Humber in the early 1970s the book continues with a brief history of the ferries of the Humber Estuary, the coming of the first paddle steamer, the Caledonia, in 1814 and the rapid expansion of steamers operating on the estuary It includes personal memories of those who worked on, used and loved the Humber ferries. It especially looks at the paddle steamers, Tattershall Castle, Wingfield Castle and Lincoln Castle, which became the last coal-burning paddle steamers operating a regular service in the United Kingdom. An appendix lists 79 paddle steamers from the Caledonia of 1814 to the last of the line the Lincoln Castle identified as working on the Humber Estuary from published and archive sources. It includes the diesel powered paddle vessel Farringford which saw out the service in 1981 and also other vessels associated with the Hull to New Holland ferry. AUTHOR: After attending school in Devon and London, Kirk moved to Derbyshire in 1965 where he started work on the railways at the age of 15. He spent five years on the railways in Derbyshire and London. Later, after attending college in Chesterfield, he went to Hull University in 1972 and discovered the coal-burning Humber ferries and spent three summers firing the Lincoln Castle. Together with his wife Katharine he spent fifteen years operating camping, hotel and community boats on Britain's inland waterways. As well as writing articles on railways, paddle steamers and canals, his time firing London Transport steam engines is recalled in the book Red Panniers co-authored with John Scott Morgan. 170 photographs