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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
PS
Neuchatel
PS Neuchatel on 13th June 2014 - Photo by kind courtesy of Olivier
Bachmann
In service : 1912-1969 and from 2014
Builders / Engineers : Escher, Wyss (Zurich)
Length : 46 m, Breadth : 6 m, Breadth (including sponsons) : 11 m
Displacement tonnage : 153
Original Engines : Compound Diagonal, 350 HP, by Escher, Wyss (removed
1972)
New Engines : Compound Diagonal, 360 HP, 440 mm and 720 mm x 900 mm (approx 17 and 28 in x 35 in) by Maffei (Munich, 1926)
-
The new engines were originally in service on PS Ludwig Fessler on the
Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany until 1973
Sailed on lakes Neuchatel and Murat
After withdrawal, she was re-sold and established as a floating
restaurant at Neuchatel in 1972
When, in 1999, it was put up for sale, the
enthusiast group "Trivapor" was formed to purchase her - but
she was sold on to a different restauranteur.
In early 2007, agreement was reached between
the owners of Neuchatel and Trivapor for the
transfer of ownership at a price of SFR 600,000 .
2012 : New boilers and the Maffei-bult engine (ex
Ludwig Fessler) refurbished by SGV Shiptec installed in the renovated
hull at Sugiez
Renovation cost approximately 12 million Swiss Francs (approx £ 8 million) with around half provided by Mr Marc Oesterle of Bern
First trial runs completed on September 12th 2013
Neuchatel's
inaugural 2014 season ended early after boiler problems on August 14th with
the Italian manufacturer (Garioni Naval) having gone into bankruptcy
She is operated by LNM as part of their scheduled services on behlaf of owners the Trivapor organisation
FROM STATIC RESTAURANT BACK TO OPERATIONAL EXCURSION STEAMSHIP
Neuchatel in 2007, after transfer of ownership
to the Trivapor organisation. Photo courtesy of Olivier Bachmann
On October 1st 2009 the paddle wheels were removed
......... Photo by kind courtesy of Olivier Bachmann
PS Neuchatel on the move to Sugiez on 18th September
2010.
Photo kindly made available by the Trivapor organisation
(through Olivier Bachmann)
Many thanks to the original photographer
Neuchatel
was lifted out of the water at Sugiez on 16th October 2010 for
renovation work to begin
For
more photos of the lift : click here
Click
here for photos of Neuchatel under renovation work on February 4th, 2011
The Maffei engine being rebuilt
at the SGV (Shiptec) shipyard at Luzern. It is seen her in a photo taken on November 23rd,
2009 and kindly supplied by Olivier Bachmann
PS Neuchatel's reconditioned engine (ex- PS Ludwig
Fessler) was lowered into the renovated hull at Sugiez on May 3rd,
2012. The new boiler was also lowered into the hull.
Photos by kind courtesy of Olivier Bachmann
Paddle wheels under reconstruction in Luzern in
June 2012. Photo by Olivier Bachmann
Further progress report from 25th September 2012
by kind courtesy of Olivier Bachmann : click
here for more photos
Above : Neuchatel at the beginning of May 2013.
The ship is planned to be launched in mid-August. More
photos by Olivier Bachmann here
Above : May 28th 2013 - and the wheelhouse has
just been mounted. A compromise was found with the safety authorities
who inititally required the wheelhouse to have one large pane of
glass with no columns obstructing the view forward - a change to
the historical appearance of the ship. Thanks to Olivier Bachmann
for the photo. More
Above : Further progress by early July, particularly
with regard to the construction of the fore-deck Rotunda. More
Above : Returned to the water on Wednesday 13th
August 2013 More
First trial run under steam on 13th September 2013 - photo by kind courtesy of Sebastien Jacobi (via Olivier Bachmann). More views of trial runs
Above : Neuchatel at Morat/Murten on 19th August 2022. Photo by kind courtesy of Andrew DelaGhetto
INTERNET LINKS
Website of the commercial operators of services on Lake Neuchatel (French and German options)
Website of owners and enthusiast organisation Trivapor for more details about the vessel (French and German options)
Neuchatel's timetable
Return to:
Lake Neuchatel - Historical
Operational Paddle Steamer List
Ludwig Fessler
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