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PS Neuchâtel

Lake Neuchâtel
psneuchatel
Afloat again after her major re-build
Date entered service -- 1912
Builder -- Escher-Wyss 1912, No 578
Displacement 157.5 tons
Speed -- 23.54 km/h
Date withdrawn from service -- 1969
Date re-launched -- Wednesday 14th August 2013
Date returned to service -- Friday 11th April 2014
Length -- 48.50m
Breadth -- 6.00m (11.00m over paddle boxes)
Passenger capacity -- 300
now completely re-build including installation of the Maffei steam engine from PS Ludwig Fessler
normally operates.........
timetabled sailings from Neuchâtel on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the main season
 
9th May 2024 First timetabled sailings of the season
Planned to operate her regular sailings 411-412-313-213-315 from Neuchâtel to Estavayer-le-Lac on Ascension Thursday 9th May
4th May 2024 Planned to operate to operated a pre-season charter sailing for the Trivapor AGM to be held on Saturday 4th May
 
Winter 2023 Ten years of preservation
In addition to her normal annual winter maintenance she undertook her first '10 year survey' and an overhaul at LNM's Nid-du-Cro shipyard after the previous decade when she was preserved incuding a major-rebuild for Trivapor
The most inportant part was confirmation that her hull is in excellent condition despite the usual dirty 'tide marks' just above the waterline
24th September 2023 Last sailings of the season
Operated her normal sailings 211-23-24-215-217 from Neuchâtel which included her final visit of 2023 to Lake Morat/Murten on Sunday 24th September
1st August 2023 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Tuesday 1st August
3rd June 2023 Operated the first of her monthly visits to Yverdon-les-Bains on Saturday 3rd June
13th May 2023 First timetabled sailings of the season
Operatb the revised sailings 411-142-313-213-315 from Neuchâtel to Estavayer-le-Lac on Saturday 13th May
7th May 2023 delayed 150 Years of the LMN "Parade"
Took part in the re-dated special Parade to mark 150 years of the LNM on Sunday 7th May - originally planned for Saturday 1st October 2022
6th May 2023 Operatde a pre-season charter sailing following the Trivapor AGM held at Neuchâtel on Saturday 6th May
 
2nd October 2022 Last sailings of the season
Remained in public service until Sunday 2nd October  (the first week of the autumn timetable) and operated sailings 102-103-104-105 vice a motor vessel
1st October 2022 150 Years of the LNM "Parade"
Originally planned to take part in the special Parade to mark 150 years of the LNM on Saturday 1st October but this was CANCELLED on the day due to gales - postponed until Sunday 7th May 2023
1st August 2022 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Monday 1st August
14th May 2022 First timetabled sailings of the season
Ooperated sailings 201-203-205 from Neuchâtel to Estavayer-le-Lac on Saturday 14th May
7th May 2022 Operated a pre-season charter sailing for the Trivapor AGM which this year was held at Morat/Murten folowed by a lunch cruise on Saturday 7th May
 
2nd October 2021 Operated a post-season charter sailing for the Trivapor AGM which this year was held at Grandson folowed by a lunch cruise on Saturday 2nd October
1st October 2021 Last timetabled sailings of the season
Remained in public service until Friday 1st October  (the first week of the autumn timetable) and operated sailings 103-104-105vice a motor vessel
22nd August 2021 Owing to a defective "water level sensor,"  she remained at Neuchâtel harbour on Sunday 22nd August whilst repairs were carried out leaving her sailings to be covered by a motor vessel
3rd August 2021 As if the delayed start to the season was not bad enough,  a shortage of steam engineers resulted in the paddle steamer having to be replaced by a motor vessel on both Tuesday 3rd August and Thursday 5th August
31st July 2021 First actual sailings of the season
Following only a slight reduction to the water level on the lake,  limited sailing re-started but the planned monthly visit by the paddle steamer to Yverdon-les-Bains was terminated at Estavayer-le-Lac as sailing at the southern end of the lake was still impossible
- she operated the normal Saturday sailings 201-203-205 instead
17th July 2021 Revised first planned sailings of the season
Following the fitting of a replacement generator,  the paddle steamer was eventually planned to operate sailings 201-203-205 to Estavayer-le-Lac,  but a very high water level on the lake resulted in all sailings having to be suspended
5th June 2021 First planned sailings of the season
Following further Coronavirus delays,  the NLM eventually started sailings on Saturday 5th June,  but during tests earlier in the week the paddle steamer's generator was found to be faulty,  so her new planned sailings 201-203-205 had to be replaced by a motor vessel
 
26th September 2020 Last sailings of the season
Operated her revised sailings 61-52-53-54-64 from Neuchâtel to Morat/Murten including three citcuita of the lake
She was originally planned to sail to Estavayer-le-Lac the following day (Saturday 27th September) but was replaced last minute by a motor vessel due to string
1st August 2020 The annual Swiss National Day fireworks cruise from Neuchâtel on Saturday 1st August was cancelled due to the Coronavirus precautions
4th July 2020 First actual sailings of the delayed season
Operated a revised timetable consisting of sailings 61-52-53-54-66 from Neuchâtel to Morat/Murten including three sailings round the smaller lake on Saturday 4th July
7th June 2020 Originally planned to operate the first of four monthly timetabled sailings 201-82-91-92-83-204 from Neuchâtel to Yverdon-les-Bains on Sunday 7th June,  but all four were cancelled due to the Coronavirus precautions
17th May 2020 First planned sailings of the season
Originally planned to operate sailings 202-63-64-206-208 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 17th May,   but these were cancelled due to the Coronavirus precautions
 
29th September 2019 Last sailings of the season
Operated her regular sailings 202-63-64-206-208 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 29th September
1st August 2019 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Thursday 1st August
2nd June 2019 Operated the first of four monthly timetabled sailings 201-82-91-92-83-204 from Neuchâtel to Yverdon-les-Bains on Sunday 2nd June
25th May 2019 New for 2019
Operated the first of weekly Saturday timetabled sailings 41-42 from Neuchâtel to Bienne/Biel on Saturday 25th May
19th May 2019 First public sailings of the season
Operated sailings 202-63-64-206-208 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 19th May
18th May 2019 Operated a pre-season charter sailing for the Trivapor AGM which this year was held at Lüscherz calling at the small pier - which is not used by the regular timetabled sailings - on Saturday 18th May
 
30th September 2018 Last sailings of the season
Operated her regular sailings 202-63-64-206-208 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 30th September
1st August 2018 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Wednesday 1st August
15th July 2018 On arrival back at Neuchâtel after her morning sailing to Portalban on Sunday 15th July she had problems (possibly the funnel lowering mechanism) so mv Ville-de-Neuchâtel covered sailings 63-64 and probably the rest of the day
After also missing her sailings on the following Tuesday for repairs she was able to return to service on Thursday 19th July
3rd June 2018 Operated the first of four monthly timetabled sailings 201-82-91-92-83-204 from Neuchâtel to Yverdon-les-Bains on Sunday 3rd June
19th May 2018 First sailings of the season
Operated sailings 202-63-64-206-208 from Neuchâtel on Saturday 19th May
 
24th September 2017 Last sailings of the season
Operated sailings 202-63-64-205-206 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 24th September
1st September 2017 Operated a private charter sailing all the way to Biel on Friday 1st Seotember - this was the only visit of the year to Lake Biel
1st August 2017 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Tuesday 1st August
23rd June 2017 Operated three days of special sailings for the Yverdon-les-Bains "Fêtes Eau-Lac" on Friday 23rd June  Saturday 24th June and Sunday 25th June
4th June 2017 Operated the first of four monthly timetabled sailings 201-201-82-91-92-83-204 from Neuchâtel to Yverdon-les-Bains on Sunday 4th June
23rd May 2017 First timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 202-63-64-205-206 from Neuchâtel on Tuersday 23rd May
20th May 2017 First sailing of the season
Operated a special pre-season sailing to Morat for the Trivapor AGM on Saturday 20th May
 
25th September 2016 Last sailings of the season
Operated sailings 61-52-53-54-66 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 25th September
1st August 2016 Operated a special Swiss National Day fireworks cruise at 2000 from Neuchâtel on Monday 1st August
24th June 2016 Again operated three days of special sailings for the Yverdon-les-Bains "Fêtes Eau-Lac" on Friday 24th June  Saturday 25th June and Sunday 26th June
7th June 2016 On arrival back at Neuchâtel after her regular sailings on Tuesday 7th June a crack was discovered in the covering plate of the condenser and all sailings from Wednesday onwards were replaced by a motor vessel
Temporary repairs were made to enable her to return to service for the Yverdon-les-Bains "Fêtes Eau-Lac" weekend
5th June 2016 Operated the first of four monthly timetabled sailings 201-82-83-92-204 from Neuchâtel to Yverdon-les-Bains on Sunday 5th June
28th May 2016 First timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 202-63-64-205-206 from Neuchâtel on Saturday 28th May
21th May 2016 First sailing of the season
Operated a special pre-season sailing to Concise for the Trivapor AGM on Saturday 21st May
 
27th September 2015 Last timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 61-52-53-54-66 from Neuchâtel on Sunday 27th September
1st August 2015 Operated a special fireworks cruise from Neuchâtel on Swiss National Day on Saturday 1st August
26th June 2015 Operated three days of special sailings from Yverdon-les-Bains commencing Friday 26th June
20th June 2015 Operated a special sailing to Biel (he only visit of the year) for the Trivapor AGM on Saturday 31st May
23rd May 2015 First timetabled sailings of the season
Operated sailings 204-63-64-207-209 from Neuchâtel on Saturday 23rd May
 
14th August 2014 Last sailings of the season
The paddle steamer operated sailings 204-63-64-207-209-210 on Thursday 14th August despite a noticable "smell" coming from the boiler room
An inspecition the following morning revealed a major problem with the boiler and the paddle steamer was immediately withdrawn from service
Despite attempts to undertake quick repairs, it was not possible for these to be completed in time for a return to service in 2014
17th July 2014 Broke down at La Sauge pier on the return sailing 64 from Morat on Thursday 17th July and her passengers were transferred to the following service operated by mv Isle St. Pierre
She returned to service the following day
29th May 2014 Operated three days of special sailings from Yverdon-les-Bains on Ascension Thursday 29th May   Friday 30th May and Saturday 31st May
24th May 2014 First public sailings of the season
Following many decades out of service the paddle steamer finally returned to public service and take over some of the Neuchâtel based sailings as part of the LNM fleet to the Three Lakes commencing Saturday 24th May with a sailing to Estavayer-le-Lac
17th May 2014 A special sailing from Neuchâtel to the Trivapor A G M at Yverdon-les-Bains and a lunch cruise on Saturday 17th May were both fully booked
11th April 2014 Following many decades out of service, re-entered service on Friday 11th April commencing with three 90 minute Return to service private charter sailings from Neuchâtel - repeated the following day
 
14th August 2013
After completion of her major re-build, the paddle steamer was again "lifted" from dry-land at Sugiez on Wednesday 14th August and will be towed to for winter lay-up to allow the completion of her internal fittings
 
17th October 2010
The paddle steamer "lifted" onto dry-land at Sugiez on Saturday 17th October to allow work to start on her major re-build
  - finance for the first stage has now been secured
18th/19th September 2010 The paddle steamer was towed to Sugiez on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September via Morat (berthed overnight) to commence her major re-build
4th September 2010 The paddle steamer was open for visitors for a "Farewell Visit" on Saturay 4th September prior to leaving her "home" port
4th February 2010 The paddle steamer was open for visitors on the first Thursday of February to August inclusive
 
5th February 2009 The paddle steamer was open for visitors on the first Thursdays of February to December inclusive
 
6th November 2008 The paddle steamer was open for visitors on Thursdays 6th November and 4th December in Neuchâtel harbour
 
14th April 2007 The 2007 AGM was held on board the paddle steamer for the first time on Saturday 14th April
22nd February 2007 The paddle steamer was transferred to the ownership of "Trivapor" and plans to restore her to operational status using the already acquired Maffei steam engine (see below) will now be developed in detail
 
12th February 2005 A special steam-hauled passenger and freight train carrierd the former Maffei steam engine (previously installed in PS Ludwig Fessler) from Rotterdam to Yverdon on Saturday 12th February and was later put on public display at Yverdon
 
1969 to 2007 The paddle steamer remained static at Neuchâtel spending much of her time as a lakeside resturant
 
1968 Last season in operation
neuchatelpbox Over the years operated a varied selection of timetabled and special sailings on and between the three Jura lakes
Do you have details of any of her sailings during this time ?
1912 Entered service
The following year (1913) the paddle steamer inaugurated the daily service between Bienne and Neuchâtel, whilst its twin PS Freiburg provided connections to/from Yverdon
 
Following withdrawal from regular service on the Jura Lakes, this paddle steamer spent many years serving as a static resturant at Neuchatel harbour
After negotations were completed in 2007 the ship was transferred from her then owner to the Trivapor organisation who plan to restore her to full operational status powered by the Maffei steam engine No.576 previously installed in PS Ludwig Fessler on Lake Chiemsee (Bavaria) until 1973


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Updated - Lakes Brienz, Geneva, Luzern, Thun, Zurich, Konstanz, Maggiore, Como, Garda 9th February 2024   e-mail   (c)1999-2024 John B Bird