ONE historic paddle steamer chugs by another on the River Medway, a moment captured by photographer Barry Crayford.

But there’s a world of difference between the two.

The brightly painted Kingswear Castle, based in Chatham’s Historic Dockyard, is one of the few remaining coal-fired

paddle steamers still operational. She has been restored to her former glory and is kept busy with pleasure cruises along the

River Medway.

In sharp contrast, the vessel she is passing is the John H Amos, in a derelict state but awaiting a multi-million pound restoration.

The John H Amos has her own claim to fame, in that she is unique as the last surviving steam paddle tug..

For the last 10 years, she has been rotting away on a disused slipway in the Historic Dockyard. Her owners, the Medway

Maritime Trust, have moved her on to a pontoon in the river, in what was the biggest lifting operation of its kind on the Medway since the closure of the Royal Naval dockyard 24 years ago.

Only time will tell what the future holds for the John H Amos, as the cost of restoring the vessel to her former glory is huge.