TSS Earnslaw
The Earnslaw in 2004
" Lady of the Lake "
Lloyd's
The Earnslaw is a 1912 -built steam ship that still drive around the Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. The ship is a tourist attraction and the only one still commercially operated coal-fired passenger steamship in the southern hemisphere. In Lloyd 's Register, the ship is registered as the only remaining operable, coal-fired steam ship.
History
At the beginning of the 20th century forgave New Zealand Railways ( NZR ) a job to the shipbuilder John McGregor and Co., Dunedin to build a steamship for Lake Wakatipu, cost 21,000 pounds. The ship was north of Lake Wakatipu named after Mount Earnslaw, a mountain. At 48 meters long, the Earnslaw should be the largest ship in the lake. Hugh McRae from the New Zealand Government Railways Department in Dunedin was responsible for the design of the ship. The keel was laid on July 4, 1911. For transport, the ship was dismantled, the shell sorted into numbered parts and transported by rail to Kingston at the southern end of the lake. There, the ship was reassembled and passed on 24 February 1912, the maiden voyage to Queenstown its determination. Captain was allowed to be on this day of seafaring Minister of New Zealand.
The Earnslaw, also called " Lady of the Lake ", was operated by the New Zealand Railways ( NZR ). Together with the paddle steamers Antrim and Mountaineer and the screw steamer Ben Lomond, the ship for the transport of sheep, cattle and passengers to the farms in the highlands has been used around the lake.
In 1968 the steamer was saved, just ahead of scrapping by (now Real Journeys ) was purchased from Fiordland Travel. In 1984 a major overhaul, in which the 12 m high chimney was red and the shell painted white. The passenger decks got a glazing. In March 1990, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip were allowed to be a guest on the steamer, as well as the King and Queen of Belgium years later. During the long period of operation of the Earnslaw there were only two incidents. The two strandings on the gravel shore of the lake proceeded without serious consequences.
In the film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008 the ship was allowed to pose as a " statist " an Amazon steamer. Four years later, jährte the commissioning of the steamer for the 100th time, which was celebrated accordingly in October 2012.
Specifications and description
The Earnslaw is 51.2 meters long and 7.3 meters wide. The ship has a displacement of 329.55 tons with a draft of 2.1 meters. The hull is made of 1/4 inch thick sheets of open-hearth steel, the deck is made of Kauri. Two triple-expansion steam engines with 500 hp each acting on a propeller drive the Earnslaw. Similar to a steam locomotive boiler are constructed and operate at a pressure of about 12 bar. The ship has in his coal bunker space for 14 tons of fuel. It is operated with 11 crew members and can accommodate 389 passengers.
Current usage
The Earnslaw, is used for transporting tourists across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, a tourist -driven farm with farm tours, riding tours, historical walks, picnic and dinner in the former home. In the summer months, the ship sails 14 hours a day, the rest of the year, 11 hours. Passengers can view them on the half hour long drive on a visitor's passage in the engine room, the steam engine and watch the heater at work. Each year, usually in late May / early June, is subjected to the ship inspection and taken every other year for maintenance of the water.