DS Unterwalden-Back in Service

Approaching Vitznau on Swiss National Day (1st August 2011)

The Lake Lucerne paddle steamer Unterwalden returned to service in May this year after an overhaul lasting over 30 months and costing more than 10 million Swiss francs (£8 million).

Unterwalden was built by the renowned Swiss company Escher Wyss and entered service on 18^th May 1902. Since then she has had 4 general overhauls, including a period from 1978 to 1985 when she was out of service. Substantial rebuilding in 1961 allowed her to sail under the then new Acheregg motorway bridge. Her appearance after that overhaul was less in keeping with her original build and this recent overhaul has ensured that she looks more like she appeared in 1902 while incorporating the latest technology.  The masts, funnel and wheelhouse can still be lowered to allow her to reach Alpnachstad, she is the only paddler able to do this. The outside steering stand and tent structure on the upper foredeck have been remodelled and the Stubli has been created once again under the wheelhouse. The restoration of the First Class saloon is of the highest standard complete with hand-painted ceiling decorations.

This year during the peak season Unterwalden is on the 1045 departure from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, she is then on the 1400 Lucerne to Kussnacht and also the 1545 Lucerne to Stansstad. This gives her a slightly different roster from that which she operated prior to her recent overhaul. She is also being used on the sunset cruises (the 1912 to Vitznau) on a Tuesday and Wednesday through July and August. Previously these cruises had been operated by Uri during the peak season. It is thought from next year the daily sunset cruise will be operated by a paddle steamer everyday in the peak season. I can certainly recommend any sailing on Lake Lucerne by a paddler but dining in the First Class saloon aboard Unterwalden while experiencing a sunset is a memory which will last a lifetime.

The following pictures should give some idea of the standard of the work which has been carried out on Unterwalden and her current appearance.  Reference can be made to the blog given on this site dated 29^th December 2010.

One of the orginal boiler plates

Steam Engine

Upper Foredeck

Stubli

Upper deck looking aft

First Class Saloon looking forward
(Note the wood carving and ceiling)

Note the attention to detail in the wood carving, chairs and ceiling in the First Class Saloon

Lower deck looking forward

Pursers' Office

On route to Brunnen for the fireworks to mark Swiss National Day

Paul Semple

Unterwalden Rebuild

As mentioned in the current winter issue of Paddle Wheels MPV Vevey has been withdrawn from service on Lake Geneva which leaves 5 operational paddle steamers on Lake Geneva. In 2011 there will once again be 5 operational paddle steamers on Lake Lucerne when Unterwalden re-enters service in the spring. Unterwalden last sailed in 2008 before entering a rebuild which has allowed her original boilers to be replaced in addition to restoring her external appearance more in keeping with the other paddlers of the fleet.

Of the 5 paddle steamers in the lake Lucerne fleet Unterwalden has had the most varied history. She was launched on 12^th November 1901 and entered service on the 18^th May 1902, she is the second oldest of the steamship fleet. It was in 1920 that she was fitted with a wheelhouse to protect the captains and helmsmen from the elements having had an open bridge when first built. On 30^th October 1923 while sailing through thick fog in darkness she ran aground at Beckenried suffering considerable damage. She also sustained damage in February 1956 when she crashed into the lake wall at Kehrsiten Dorf.

By 1960 her boilers required attention and were re-tubed this also providing the opportunity to remodel the ship to allow her to pass under the new Acheregg Bridge. The masts, funnel and wheelhouse were replaced allowing the masts to fold with the funnel and wheelhouse being able to be lowered as required. The rear upper deck was given an aluminium roof in place of the former canvas one.  By the mid 1970’s her condition was giving cause for concern with plans made for her withdrawal from service to form an exhibit at the Swiss Transport Museum. In 1976 a newly built motor vessel was named Unterwalden and the paddle steamer Unterwalden made her last trip on the 22^nd September 1977.  After a few years of laying in a poor condition a major rebuild began in 1982 lasting till 1985 when she was relaunched and the new motor vessel was renamed Europa.

By 2007 it was becoming clear that her original boilers had reached the end of their working lives and would have to be replaced. The current rebuild has replaced the two original boilers with one larger boiler. It has also allowed much of the superstructure and interiors to be restored to as much like their original pre-1961 state, as far as possible, while still allowing her to sail under the Acheregg Bridge.  The funnel, wheelhouse and masts will still be able to be lowered but the appearance of the funnel in particular will be more like the other members of the steamer fleet.

There will be a special parade of all 5 paddle steamers to mark the re-entry into service of Unterwalden on Saturday 14^th May with a provisional departure time of 11:30 returning to Lucerne at 15:30.

The following pictures show Unterwalden prior to her rebuild. I have included a few interior pictures to allow some comparison to be made after she re-enters service. The first class saloon should be impressive as the neo-rococo carving is also being restored in addition to the parquet flooring.

Dressed overall during the 2008 steamer parade to celebrate 80 years of Stadt Luzern.

This shot shows the 1961 fitted wheelhouse and funnel. (April 2008)

At Alpnachstad in August 2004, note that one of the masts is left down for the return sailing.

The first class saloon looking forward.

First class saloon looking aft.

Looking forward into the second class saloon from the engine. As part of the rebuild a retractable bulkhead will be installed to once again separate the saloon from the engine area.

The upper deck dining area as it was in 2008.

An early season shot from 2008, note the snow on Pilatus.



Paul Semple

Waverley in Switzerland

Click images for larger view
This week a number of Waverley crew members and enthusiasts have been enjoying some Swiss steamer sailings. Earlier in the week I met up with Waverley's Iain McCorkindale i.e. Corky and John Sims on Lake Lucerne where we enjoyed some sailings on the four operational paddlers Uri, Schiller, Gallia and Stadt Luzern. (the lake's fifth paddle steamer,Unterwalden, is currently undergoing a life extension rebuild in the SGV Shipyard at Luzern (Lucerne). When she returns to service in 2011, Unterwalder's two original 'Scotch' boilers will be replaced by new steam plant - unusually from Italy). It is good to see that a fine picture of Waverley is now on permanent exhibition opposite the entrance to Schiller's First Class Saloon, as exhibited above. The picture was the result of a genorous donation by a PSPS member during the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of PS Stadt Luzern in the previous year. Many thanks to Captain Kuno Stein of PS Schiller for arranging for the picture to be displayed in such a splendid location and for bringing my attention to it on our first meeting of my 2009 visit.
It was John Sims' first visit to the Swiss steamer fleets and I think he was suitably impressed - except possibly for the 'view' from the summit of Mount Rigi (after we had disembarked from PS Uri and ascended the mountain on the Vitznau - Righbahn, which was the world's first mountain railway). Later in the week I met up with Waverley's relief Purser/Shopkeeper/Chief Steward Paul Semple at Lausanne on Lake Geneva for a sailing on the newly rebuilt 99 year old paddle steamer La Suisse.
Corky was first to work out the intricasies in the changes to the SGV timetabled excursions on 2009 - particularly the daily 'Dampfer Matinee'. In this the paddler covering the 'express' Luxern-Beckenreid sailings (usually Schiller or Gallia) joins with the early Fluelen service paddler (usually Uri) on the return voyage at Vitznau. The two paddlers sail on a parallel course to Weggis but just before they get there, the 1315 Luzern-Fluelen paddler (the other of Schiller or Gallia) sailed through the gap between them - a spectacular few minutes but you need to be ready for it. The view below (from Weggis) shows Uri (left) and Gallia with the '1315' boat Schiller in the distance approaching Vitznau i.e. first time round I wasn't ready for it!

The second part of the show plays out about half an hour later (provided you are on the 1245 or 1315 sailings from Luzern when both steamers converge on the pier at Beckenreid (along with a motor ship going to Luzern. The two paddlers cruise across the lake at full operating speed about half a boats length apart giving good photograph opportunities. Below is Schiller from Gallia
UPDATE ----- UPDATE--------UPDATE ----- UPDATE
Better prepared today for the meeting of the three paddlers off Weggis on Lake Lucerne at just after 2pm:
Uri on the left (on the return leg of the full lake sailing that originated at Luzern at 0912), Schiller on the right (on the new 1245 roster from Luzern to Beckenreid with added attractions) and picture from Gallia (on the 1315 full lake sailing from Luzern. Paul Semple on the main deck (forward, starboard side) for the nearer the water shot!

Second part of the show plays out about 30 minutes later when the two ships on the 1245 and 1315 sailings from Luzern converge on Beckenreid at full speed - Schiller from Gallia

UPDATE ----- UPDATE--------UPDATE ----- UPDATE
SGV, the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company, are justly renowned for their famous fleet of five classic paddle steamers and some of the world’s best passenger excursion motor vessels. Therefore it is probably to be expected that the arrival of the lake’s first large passenger catamaran, the MS Cirrus, has provoked lively debate – not just between professional crew members and enthusiasts but also amongst Lucerners in general, who always seem to be very interested and knowledgeable on ‘their’ fleet. The view below provides some contrasts between MS Cirrus, turning into Pier No 1 at Luzern with the restaurant / bar paddler Wilhelm Tell and the Bucherer motor vessel Stanserhorn (or Pegasus?) in the background at the Schweizerhof Quay.

Cirrus was specified by SGV and designed and built by their in-house subsidiary ‘Shiptec Lucerne’ which also undertakes specialist contact work for the Swiss water and power infrastructure companies. Anyway the debates continue over dinner and a few drinks as we gaze out on Luzern’s beautiful nighttime lakeside.

Other Views of the Lake Lucerne paddle steamers and the spectacular mountain scenery of Luzern and its lake can be found at the following links
Lake Lucerne and its steamers
Lake Lucerne and its steamers - part 2
Paddle Steamer La Suisse, which reaches her 100th year in 2010 has just returned from very extensive 2-year long multi-million pound rebuild and restoration, carried out at her owner’s shipyard at Ouchy in Lausanne. The results of the work on the external areas of the ship may be regarded as quite subtle, apart from the much more appropriate and traditional wheelhouse. Although the structure to support an awning over the forward section of the upper deck has been put in place, so far the awning has not. She did have such an awning when new. Internally, facilities on the upper deck have been upgraded including a very well presented new wood panelled forward ‘observation’ section. The view below shows La Suisse, heralding her imminent departure from Montreux, on the Swiss Riviera, at 5.10pm on Wed 5th Aug 2009. Although she seems to have two steam whistle tubes these do not produce the two tone sound that might be expected. Instead it starts with a rather ‘dry’ tone, changing to a powerful sonorous single tone somewhat reminiscent of the whistle of a great American locomotive.

Another view of the magnificently restored La Suisse departing from Montreux to trace her way back to Lausanne. Her owners operate five paddle steamers on the lake – La Suisse. Simplon, Savoie, Rhone and Montreux.

The following view shows the beautifully restored ‘Beau Rivage’ 1st Class Saloon of La Suisse with its traditional decorated wooden panelling, runner carpets and mirrors (to enhance the impression of size. Of particular note is the very characteristic lighting which reflect those originally fitted a century ago when the vessel was new.

Man with a mission, Waverley enthusiast and relief crew member Paul Semple (incognito), captures La Suisse’s departure from Lausanne.

For more views of the Lake Leman (Lake Geneva) steamers and the cities of Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux follow this link:
Lake Geneva
Also visit the Swiss Transport Museum

Stuart Cameron

Major Refurbishment for Veteran Swiss Paddler

The second oldest of Switzerland’s 15 operational paddle steamers is due to be taken out of service later this month to undergo a major refurbishment. The Lake of Lucerne Paddle Steamer Unterwalden was built 106 years ago by the Zurich-based firm of Escher Wyss. Remarkably, the steamer is still operating with its original boilers, although due to their condition, the steam pressure has been reduced in recent years. The Swiss paddle steamers are regularly visited by members of the PSPS Scottish Branch and both enthusiast and crew members from the Swiss fleets visit the Clyde-based paddler. Useful information on the preservation of paddle steamers in the 21st Century has been shared between the operators in Switzerland and the UK

When the opening bridge at the Acheregg narrows was replaced by a fixed span bridge in 1961 the two oldest paddle steamers on the lake, Uri and Unterwalden, were modified to enable their funnels, masts and wheelhouses to be retracted to allow them to pass under the bridge en route to Alpnachstad, a popular destination due to the lower terminus station of the Mount Pilatus funicular railway being located there. The modification impaired the classic original lines of both vessels. When Uri was rebuilt in the early 1990s she was restored to her original condition and appearance, therefore, since that time Unterwalden has been the only one of the lakes five paddlers that has been able to go to Alpnachstad.

Unterwalden on Swiss National Day 2003 - note the huge Swiss Flag on the cliff face of Vitznaualp above the steamer

Unterwalden was withdrawn from service in 1975 and replaced by a modern motorship of the same name. At the time her owners, SGV (The Lake Lucerne Navigation Co), had intended to gradually replace the remaining paddlers with new vessels. However, local enthusiasts lobbied for the paddler to be restored and returned to service. Eventually, ten years after her withdrawal, the Unterwalden returned to service and for a few years two paddlers were able to go to Alpnachstad again. When she was returned to service in 1985 it was estimated that her then 83 year old boiler plant still had significant life and this has been borne out.
The upcoming major refit, which will be undertaken in the covered building hall at the SGV’s own shipyard in Lucerne, will probably see the Unterwalden restored to something close to her original 1902 design but this will be complicated by the desire to maintain the ability of the vessel to pass under the bridge at the Acheregg Narrows.

Stuart Cameron