PS Helvetia

Helvetia was a steamship of the Zurich steamboat company. She ran in 1875 by Stack, was scrapped by 1959 and to Lake Zurich in operation in 1963. The sister ship of Helvetia was the Mont- Blanc on Lake Geneva.

History

The steamers, which were between 1835-1875 on Lake Zurich on the road, served primarily to freight transport, passenger transport was mainly on the transverse speeds. The pilgrims on their way to the monastery Einsiedeln who wanted to take a ship to Wädenswil were financially not very interesting. The few tourists were treated as a necessary evil that obstructed the only place on the ships. A timetable for the boats on the lake did not exist.

In the 1860s, at the instigation of Theodore Baur, the former owner of the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, two courses as quick trips from Zurich to Rapperswil and introduced back. The success of these courses, increasing traffic on Lake Zurich and thanks to the many new railway lines expected increase in visitor numbers meant that the steamboat company in 1873 at Escher Wyss in Zurich Helvetia ordered; "the most beautiful and largest saloon steamer all Swiss lakes " should be built.

The steamer was built in Zurich's Seefeld under the direction of the Escher- Wyss- business partner Gustave Naville. On 27 May 1875, the launch took place. The maiden voyage, called test drive, led on Saturday, June 12, under Captain Mason to Ufenau where it but preferred the invited guests to dine in the ship rather than get out and visit the island. The construction costs amounted to 398'811, 98 francs.

Operation

Helvetia has quickly become one for Sundays and feast ship; even if they export initially on weekdays. She laid back per season between 1000 and 4000 kilometers. In the ship book per month were held approximately 15 trips during the high season, mostly tours. The Sunday rides with concert cost at the beginning of one franc. 1922, people paid for a round trip from Zurich to Wädenswil and back in 1st class 3.50 francs; in 2nd class CHF 2.50.

Because leaking fire pipes Helvetia is said to have consumed in their early days, too much coal. With potatoes and beans flour in the boiler water a seal to have been reached. 1894 new boilers were installed and before the 1903 season, the ship was extensively renovated in 1941 and taken again on stack.

In rowing regattas Helvetia escort ship was above the boathouses, respectively. Since often all the people were sitting on their side or standing, they then lay with remarkable flip side in the water.

The end

As the Swiss Federal Office of Transport, the operating license of Helvetia limited to 1960 and the CCU began to renew its fleet with motor ships, the end of the great saloon steamer was foreseeable. On Sunday, October 5, 1959, he went out on his final journey. Festive flagged drove the Helvetia on the right bank along and crossed the lake at the height of Stafa towards Wädenswil to the residence of the then Chairman Dr. W. Weber, where he stopped. Weber circled the ship with the small steamer the Gambrinus brewery Wädenswil. The flag was at half mast, the crew gathered at the bow and took three minutes of silence farewell to the ship. Then there was the ship's whistle and the journey was continued toward Zurich. Overall, the Helvetia had around 200,000 km traveled.

In the same year, Helvetia was sold for 50,000 francs to the Horticultural Exposition "G 59", which she used as a floating restaurant. Then the steamer should be scrapped. After the exhibition, the Helvetia was sold for 35,000 francs to the Coiffeurmeister Black, which, however, did not receive approval for a floating restaurant.

On 16 November 1961, the CCU dragged the ship free after Nuolen in Upper Lake, where she lay on the site of the Kibag. In 1963, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that Black was responsible for the scrapping of the ship. The CCU paid voluntarily Black 3000 francs, and Black had about 2,000 francs to the Kibag, which scrapped the already half sunken ship and the shell sank. 1994 discovered members of the "Oldtimer Boat Clubs Lake Zurich " the " grave " of Helvetia in a marina at Nuolen. They settled at the place where the ship 's shell is, install a plaque which commemorates the Helvetia.