Compagnie Generale de Navigation sur le Lac Leman (CGN), Lake Geneva, Switzerland
The CGN operates eight paddle steamers, built between 1904 and 1927, and several other motor vessels for cruises on Lake Geneva. Services include cruises along the full length of the lake , around the lower and upper lakes and from Lausanne across to Evian on the southern French shore.The decision to retain steam operation was made in the 1960s at a time when, elsewhere in the world, paddlers were being rapidly withdrawn.
Helvetie was converted to diesel-electric power when her boiler came up for renewal and joined three earlier conversions, whilst the remaining four steamers underwent refurbishment.
A new share issue was made in 1998 to raise funds for further rebuilding, including, amazingly, the restoration of steam to the diesel paddlers. The first vessel to receive the new engines will be Montreux over the winter of 1999 / 2000.
LAKE GENEVA
OPERATIONAL PADDLE STEAMERS
(and Diesel-Electric
Paddlers)
|
Type |
Name |
Year |
Builder |
Length (ft) |
Length (m) |
Engine Type |
Notes |
||||
|
PS |
Montreux |
1904 |
Sulzer |
218 |
63.0 |
Steam under installation |
Diesel power 1962-1998 |
||||
|
DEPV |
Vevey |
1907 |
Sulzer |
210 |
61.5 |
Diesel |
Diesel power from 1955 |
||||
|
DEPV |
Italie |
1908 |
Sulzer |
210 |
61.5 |
Diesel |
Diesel power from 1958 |
||||
|
PS |
La Suisse |
1910 |
Sulzer |
256 |
73.8 |
Compound Diagonal |
|||||
|
PS |
Savoie |
1914 |
Sulzer |
217 |
63.0 |
Compound Diagonal |
|||||
|
PS |
Simplon |
1920 |
Sulzer |
256 |
73.8 |
Compound Diagonal |
|||||
|
DEPV |
Helvetie |
1926 |
Sulzer |
256 |
73.8 |
Diesel |
Diesel power from 1977 |
||||
|
PS |
Rhone |
1927 |
Sulzer |
215 |
62.5 |
Compound Diagonal |
« Uniflow » type |
||||
PADDLERS WITHDRAWN BUT STILL IN EXISTENCE
|
Type |
Name |
Year |
Builder |
Length (ft) |
Length (m) |
Engine Type |
Notes |
||||
|
DEPV |
Geneve |
1896-1973 |
Sulzer |
Diesel (since 1934) |
At Geneva |
||||||
|
PS |
Valais |
1913-1962 |
Sulzer |
218 |
63.0 |
CD (Removed) |
At Geneva |
||||
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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
——————————————————————————–
Sciffahrt 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.