World of Ships – May 2018

76 I World of Ships I Paddle Steamers

RHONE

BUILT 1927 by Sulzer Brothers, Winterthur

DIMENSIONS Length 62.5m, width 7.2m (hull), 14.3m (over

paddles)

MACHINERY Two-cylinder uniflow diagonal, by builders, 900hp

SPEED 27.4kmh (14.8 knots)

PASSENGERS 850

After limited service during 2017, the 90-year-

old Rhone retired to the CGN shipyard in

Lausanne following farewell cruises on 17 and

18 September to start a two-year refit, before

returning to service in 2020.

Ordered to replace the 1868-built paddle

steamer Bonivard, which was destroyed

by fire in 1925, Rhone was for a long time

Switzerland’s busiest steamer, running for 120

days or more each year and regularly covering

in excess of 20,000 kilometres of revenue-

earning service. The CGN priority was to have

Rhone ready for the 1927 season, when events

included a major wine festival in the region,

and for this reason the first class restaurant

was not as elaborately decorated as those in

earlier vessels, although it is still attractively

finished in dark wood with marquetry

panelling. Builders Sulzer decided the power

of the three crank uniflow engine provided

for Helvetie was not needed and produced a

two-cylinder version with the same hydraulic

valves and automatic lubrication, with the

cranks hidden from view by metal cases,

although since winter 2010-11 the main engine

cranks have been visible through Perspex

enclosures which replaced the original red-

painted metal covers.

Rhone has always been an economic vessel,

and after conversion to oil fuel in 1960 was

re-boilered in 1968, returning to provide short

day time cruises from Geneva before operating

as a floating restaurant at Quai Mont Blanc

in the evenings, the Lake Geneva fleet’s

catering arrangement differing from other

lake fleets, as each steamer or motor vessel

has its own independent restaurateur, with

keen competition between ships helping to

maintain high service standards.

ABOVE Rhone approaching Nyon on a Sunday afternoon ‘Petit Lac’ cruise from Geneva. (Russell Plummer)

ABOVE The main cranks of Rhone’s 900hp Uniflow

engine as originally enclosed by red painted

casings. (Russell Plummer)

ABOVE Since she started sailings in 2011,

Rhone’s cranks have been visible through Perspex

enclosures. (Russell Plummer)

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