before
after
The final sailings by
MPV Montreux took place on
Sunday 4th October 1998
After that, the old diesel engine was removed and the hull towed to the dry
dock at Ouchy Works (Lausanne) for the first part of a two and a half year major rebuild.
The work included the installation of a new steam engine with an oil fired
boiler
These will eventually have direct controls from the bridge, enabling a reduction
in the number of crew - a first for any Swiss paddle steamer (see below)
The hull was re-floated and moved out to Ouchy harbour for the new boiler
to be lowered in by crane on 29th August 2000
Re-instatement of the superstructure was completed and fitting out continued to a
very high standard. This included the ability to look down on the engine from the first-class
upper deck - something normally only possible from the second-class main deck on
all other Swiss lake paddle steamers
Lake trials commenced on Thursday 24th April 2001 to enable the paddle steamer to re-enter
service on time, albeit with expenditure considerably over budget and the
direct controls from the bridge not yet operational, requiring a temporary increase in the
number of crew
The paddle steamer re-entered service on
Saturday 19th May 2001
with a special Maiden Voyage cruise
for invited guests only - the other
four paddle steamers joined
in with a special public "
parade" leaving Lausanne at 1200 and cruising round the Upper Lake to
arrive Montreux at 1550
The public had their first opportunity to sail on
PS Montreux the
following day when
six special short
free cruises were offered from Lausanne in the morning and Montreux in
the afternoon
The paddle steamer was then
available for charter until the end of June
A special early morning sailing operated from Lausanne to Geneva on
Friday 29th June 2001 to enable
shareholders to attend the AGM
During the 'lay-over' at Geneva, the opportunity was taken to provide two short
free promotional sailings and a lunch cruise
During July and August 2001
PS Montreux was based at
Lausanne and operated the following timetabled services each day:-
1) 1230 (Lunch Cruise) sailings 65-76 Lausanne to
Evian-les-Bains and return
2) 1415 (Afternoon Cruise) sailings 95-173 anti-clockwise "round the
Upper Lake" from Lausanne
3) 1820 (Evening Cruise) sailings 177-218 Lausanne to Yvoire
and return
Detailed timings for all the Lake Geneva paddle
steamers during this period are now given for
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays and
Sundays
The final timetabled sailings of 2001 by
PS Montreux were on
Friday 31st August
During this period the new engines performed faultlessly and no sailings were 'lost' - a
remarkable achievment for a new steam engine
There were numerous private
charter sailings booked for the remainder of 2001
(ie 1st September) which kept the paddle steamer in active service into the new year
(January 6th)
- apparantly there were OVER TWENTY sailings arranged for September
alone, justifying the 'quality' rebuild for the oldest operational paddle
steamer on Lake Geneva
During this period there were also two public Scottish "Whisky-Dinner" cruises
on Friday 23rd
November from Lausanne
and Saturday 1st
December from Geneva
The direct control of the engine from the bridge was finally commissioned at the end
of November 2002 and the first public cruise using the equipment was on
Sunday 8th December |
4th December 2002
e-mail
(c)2001-2002
John B Bird