Paddle steamer Helvetia
Encyclopedia
The Helvetia was a paddle steamer
that operated on Lake Zürich
in Switzerland
between 1875 and 1958. She had a capacity of 1200 passengers.
The Helvetia was built in 1875 for the Swiss Northeastern Railway
(NOB), and acquired by the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
(ZSG) in 1903, when the NOB became part of the Swiss Federal Railways. Between 1909 and the 1950s, she operated alongside the later, and still extant, paddle steamers Stadt Zürich
and Stadt Rapperswil
as the backbone of the ZSG fleet. She last operated in 1958 and, after briefly serving as a restaurant ship, she was partially scrapped in 1964. The remains of her hull were scuttled at the harbour of Nuolen, where they remain.
The Helvetia was named after the national personification of Switzerland
, and this name is now carried by the ZSG's motor vessel Helvetia.
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
that operated on Lake Zürich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
between 1875 and 1958. She had a capacity of 1200 passengers.
The Helvetia was built in 1875 for the Swiss Northeastern Railway
Swiss Northeastern Railway
The Swiss Northeastern Railway or NOB was an early railway company in Switzerland.In 1853 the Swiss Northern Railway merged with the Lake Constance and Rheinfall Railways under the name Swiss Northeastern Railway.The main instigator was Alfred Escher...
(NOB), and acquired by the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft
The Lake Zurich Shipping Company or Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft is a public Swiss company operating passenger ships and boats on Lake Zürich....
(ZSG) in 1903, when the NOB became part of the Swiss Federal Railways. Between 1909 and the 1950s, she operated alongside the later, and still extant, paddle steamers Stadt Zürich
Paddle steamer Stadt Zürich
Stadt Zürich is the oldest steam paddle ship on Lake Zurich. Stadt Zürich was built in 1909 by Escher, Wyss & Cie. in Zürich for the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft, as the 32nd ship in touristic service on Lake Zürich...
and Stadt Rapperswil
Paddle steamer Stadt Rapperswil
The Stadt Rapperswil is a steam paddle ship on Lake Zurich. She was built in 1914 by Escher, Wyss & Cie. in Zürich for the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft. In contrast to most other Swiss paddle steamers, the most striking features of this vessel and its sister ship Stadt Zürich are a short...
as the backbone of the ZSG fleet. She last operated in 1958 and, after briefly serving as a restaurant ship, she was partially scrapped in 1964. The remains of her hull were scuttled at the harbour of Nuolen, where they remain.
The Helvetia was named after the national personification of Switzerland
Helvetia
Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confœderatio Helvetica, the "Helvetic Confederation".The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing gown, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and commonly with braided hair, commonly with a wreath as...
, and this name is now carried by the ZSG's motor vessel Helvetia.