Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape
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LAKE LUCERNE (VIERWALDSTATTERSEE) - SWITZERLAND
Schiffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstattersees (SGV)

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Stadt Luzern at her home base, Bahnhofquai, Luzern.

Unterwalden amidst magnificent scenery at Buochs

Uri at Kehrsiten-Burgenstock in 2001 - her centenary year

The SGV operates five paddle steamers, built between 1901 and 1928, and several other motor vessels for cruises on Lake Lucerne primarily from the city of Luzern to Fluelen, but also with services to Kussnacht and Alpnachstad. Important piers en route are at the resorts of Weggis, Vitznau, Beckenried, Gersau and Brunnen. Connection is made at various piers with mountain railways and cable cars, notably at Vitznau for the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn, the world's first cog-wheel railway. Originally the lake formed part of the route from Northern Europe to Italy, but once the railway was completed to Fluelen, the steamers provided primarily day trips for tourists.
The five paddle steamers are now regarded as priceless tourist assets, evoking memories of the "Belle Epoque" of the early part of the century and they are maintained in spotless condition. To ensure their survival, the vessels have undergone extensive reconditioning, and in the case of Uri, a complete rebuild, whilst retaining and restoring thier original character. PS Schiller was taken out of service after the 1997 season for her rebuild and was relaunched in February 2000. Since 1972, there has been cooperation with the local enthusiast's society Dampferfreunde Vierwaldstattersee with regard to attracting finance to assist with steamer preservation.

The next steamer re-fit will be PS Unterwalden, whose original retirement in 1977 prompted the prompted the first success of the Dampferfreunde Vierwaldstattersee and the reversal of SGV's original decision, even after the ship's name had been given to the newly-built motor vessel now called Europa. Her boiler has been given clearance to sail through the 2008 season only. The cost of the refit is estimated at between 6 and 8 million swiss francs. The SCG has already established, in partmership with a research body from the Cenral Switzerland Technical College, a project into how the operational costs of paddlers can be reduced and also how engine emissions can be minimised. The findings of this investigation are likely to be incorporated into the "new" Unterwalden.

The SGV is a big undertaking. In 2006 it achieved 2.28 million passenger journeys (a 5% increase on the previous year) and a turnover of 41 million Swiss Francs (a 40 % rise!), employing over 400 workers in the summer season. Over 515,000 journeys were recorded in July , and over 29,000 in the quietest month (February). July 30th was the busiest day with 25,003 passengers. It is fully integrated into the various national and local Swiss transport ticketing system, which means that the numerous available passes are accepted subject to the conditions of those passes.

As well as the five paddle steamers, SGV has 15 motor vessels (11 of which could be considered as large).

EARLY WINTER PADDLING ON LAKE LUCERNE : Paddle Steamer Uri is scheduled to sail on Sundays and Mondays until December 17th, 2007
Go to the SGV website for more details and current timetables - and direct to the paddle steamer roster page : Dampfschiff Einsatze for steamer operations
The SGV Annual Report & Accounts are in the public domain on the SGV Website
OPERATIONAL PADDLE STEAMERS : Details and photographs
Uri
Unterwalden
Schiller
Gallia
Stadt Luzern
Steamer Photo Comparisons
Steamer Engines - the visible crankshaft area
More Lake Lucerne Ships
History of services and Historical paddle steamers
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Die Geschichte der Schiffahrt auf dem Vierwaldstattersee
Josef Gwerder, Jurg Meister, Erich Leichti
1999
Maihof Verlag AG, Luzern
ISBN 3-9520756-8-X
Reworking and updating of the 1987 celebration of 150 years of the SGV - a comprehensive illustrated reference
Unsere Flotte Vierwaldstattersee
Heinz Amstad, Othmar Egli, Kurt Hunziker, Anton Raber
1987
Verlag Dampferzeitung, Hirtenhofring 2, CH-6005 Luzern
Profile of the vessels in the fleet in 1987, short history of the SGV old and new yards
Schiffe Aus Alter Zeit
Peter A Meyer
1984
Buchverlag Keller & Co, CH-6002, Luzern, Switzerland
ISBN 3-85766-016-3
Detailed profiles of all the former vessels of the fleet up to PS Wihelm Tell and PS Rhein (MV Waldstatter)
Detailed and copiously illustrated profiles of the current paddle steamers are available in the "Bordbuch" series by Josef Gwerder

PS Stadt Luzern -published in 1989 by Keller & Co AG, Luzern. ISBN 3-85766-030-9
PS Gallia - published in 1991 by Keller & Co AG, Luzern. ISBN 3-0-7596-12-4
PS Uri - published in 1996 by Maihof Verlag, Luzern. ISBN 3-9520027-6-3
PS Schiller - published 2000
Brief details of the vessels can be found in the following more general Swiss steamer guides:
Dampfschiffe Schweiz
Anton Raber and Peter Horlacher
1982
Verlag Dampferzeitung, Luzern, Switzerland
Brief detals in four languages including English
Paddle Steamers of the Alps
Leslie Brown and Joe McKendrick
Ferry Publications
ISBN 1-871947-19-7
Illustrated profiles of the steamers and operating areas
Schiffahrt auf den Schweizer Seen
Anton Raber
1972
Orell Fussli Verlag, Zurich
ISBN 3-280-00285-0
Illustrated round up of Swiss lake vessels, with fleet lists and sections on vessel design and engineering.
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