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TOPICAL PADDLE STEAMER PHOTOPGRAPHS : Archive (2011-2013)
The refurbished PS Neuchatel was returned to the water on 13th August and should be back in service next year after 45 years inactivity. More |
The Clyde summer season is now under way for Waverley. It was ticket holders only to Rothesay on Saturday 20th July, with many staying aboard for a trip through the Kyles of Bute and time ashore at the tiny Argyll hamlet of Tighnabruaich (above). More from this cruise |
Above : PS Neuchatel : Further progress by early July, particularly with regard to the construction of the fore-deck Rotunda. More |
Waverley began her Bristol Channel season in 2013 with a trip to Minehead on Wednesday June 5th. More |
Swift progress is now being made on the complete reconstruction of PS Neuchatel, which has now been out of operational service for over 40 years. If all goes to plan, she will be returned to the water in August 2013. Photo by kind courtest of Olivier Bachmann (more) |
At the end of August 2012, Austria's paddle steamer Schonbrunn made a highly-successful cruise to Budapest, capital of Hungary, bringing back memories of when numerous large paddle steamers sailed up and down the mighty River Danube. Schonbrunn met the magnificently restored paddler Kossuth, which is in service as a restaurant and museum in central Budapest in a rare photo opportunity. My thanks to Zsolt Szabo, Enrico Crosti and Florian Pausch for these excellent photos of the event. Click here for the photos |
ITALIE AWAITS HER TURN |
MPV Italie lies at Bellerive dockyard on Lake
Geneva, stripped down as she awaits better times. Once her quasi-sister
Vevey emerges newly renovated, Italie can, with support from local
enthusaist group ABVL, expect to undergo the same treatment. Much
has been removed from the ship, included elements which will be
replaced totally and other items which will be stored for re-installation.
This has been done with the help of a local subsidised temporary
jobs programme for unemployed youth. The renovation which is expected
now to be at the end of 2014 will involve the installation of new
diesel engines, replacing those dating from 1958. |
Excursions to meet visiting cruise ships are normally very popular. A good crowd turned out on Waverley on August 2nd 2012 to see Cunard's Queen Elizabeth at and leaving Greenock. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte. Click here for more |
Sunday July 15th 2012 : Waverley steams down the Firth off Skelmorlie en route to Largs, then to Campbeltown on a cruise advertised to celebrate the 80th anniverary of the much-loved turbine steamer Duchess of Hamilton which sailed as part of the Clyde excursion fleet until 1971. In those days Waverley rarely ventured as far as the Kintyre port - such long runs were normally the reserve of turbine steamers. Thanks to Kenny Whyte |
On July 8th 2012, Waverley sailed on charter to
the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society to Loch Riddon, a small
sea loch rarely visited by the paddler although she regularly passes
the entrance to the Loch as she sails round the Kyles of Bute. In
a joint offereng with the Clyde River Steamer Club, Clyde Marine
Services' motor ship "The Second Snark" was also chartered
to act as tender and to land passengers at the rarely-used pier
at the hamlet of Ormidale (see photo above) and return those wishing
to sail on her back to Greenock. Photos by kind courtesy of Kenny
Whyte. |
The Western Isles mini-season ends as Waverley
passes Toward Point as she returns to the upper Firth of Clyde on
the evening of June 11th. |
Waverley departed Glasgow at around 07:00 hrs on Friday June 1st 2012 for Greenock, Campbeltown and Oban. Balmoral remains tied up - with two weeks to go before her season commences. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte. More from Waverley's Western Isles mini-season |
May 3rd 2012 : Waverley approaches her Glasgow berth on her return from dry-docking at Greenock. Here she passes her place of birth, the former A & J Inglis shipyard at Pointhouse, Glasgow, now the site of the city's Riverside Museum. Moored outside is the "Tall Ship" Glenlee. In the foreground, Fencer is operating on the recently introduced (or restored) ferry service across the river from Govan. Photo by kind courtesy of KennyWhyte. |
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 |
Balmoral and Waverley in Garvel drydock at Greenock. They left together on April 30th 2012. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenneth Whyte |
Balmoral and Waverley entered Garvel drydock at Greenock together on April 18th 2012. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenneth Whyte More photos here |
Swiss paddler gets a ground-up refurbishment although she has been out of operational service since 1973 ..... |
Moored in central Geneva as a drop-in-centre for
underpriviledged young people, MPV Geneve (right) is undergoing
a major renovation. Built in 1896 and the first paddler converted
to diesel in 1934, she has been able to move under her own power
when necessary despite being out of service for 39 years now. Extensive
reporting of the work is available on the vessel's website, where
numerous photos show the extent of the work currently being undertaken.
http://www.bateaugeneve.ch/activites-sociales/conservation-renovation/blog-des-travaux/ |
ZSG (Lake Zurich Shipping Company) open day at Zurich on 24th March 2012 |
The major Swiss passenger steamer operators have regular open days when the public is invited to wander round the companies' yards, workshops and many of their ships in days which act as excellent customer service opportunities. Thanks to Enrico Crosti for these photos of PS Stadt Zurich in the yard's dry dock,where the public was able to get the rare opportunity to walk around "underneath" a paddle steamer. Click here for more photos |
PATRIA BACK IN THE WATER AT
DERVIO |
Waverley - tied up for the winter at the Science Centre, Glasgow
- wondering what the future will be.
Photo by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte Culture, Media & Sport (Tourism): Question from Michael
Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk, Labour): "To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
if he will provide support to help preserve the paddle steamer Waverley
as a tourist attraction." |
PS KRIPPEN (1892) TO SAIL ON
SPECIAL CHARTER INTO UNUSUAL PART OF THE ELBE : |
WAVERLEY APPROACHES LARGS IN JULY 2011. WILL SHE BE BACK AGAIN IN 2012 ? |
Winter maintenance costs are
expected
to exceed the owner's depleted cash assets despite the extra income
resulting from the "Save the Waverley"
appeal. (see official
website for more information - and how to support the appeal) |
If Waverley is withdrawn from Clyde service, passenger-only services will be left in the hands of a small number of much smaller vessels, such as Ali Cat, seen passing Waverley on her new Gourock-Dunoon shuttle service in 2011. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte. |
THE "NEW" MEDWAY QUEEN TAKES SHAPE IN BRISTOL Photo (Oct 2011) by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte |
MPV HELVETIE GETS A FACELIFT FOR HER NEW JOB |
PS Rhone at Bellerive on 24th September 2011 with temporary weather protection over her damaged starboard sponson. |
As well as damaged floats and paddle wheel, the entire starboard paddle shaft sheared. Photos courtesy of Enrico Crosti |
|
Supporters of the lake Geneva paddlers can breathe a sigh of
relief now that Helvetie has been taken into dry-dock at Bellerive
for cosmetic attention. Not only will this make her ready for her
forthcoming temporary role as a museum ship linked to the Museum
of the Olympics at Ouchy, but will ensure that she is not left todeteriorate
further after almost nine years of lay-up. |
PS Waverley |
Waverley delayed in Garvel Dry Dock, Greenock |
Waverley in Garvel Dry Dock, Greenock : 30th May 2011. Photo by Kenny Whyte |