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BLS Page 1: Brienzersee
This page is under construction
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This page shows images of the
Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon (BLS) steamers and motor vessels on
Brienzersee.
BLS services on Brienzersee &
Thunersee
Image: ©BLS - Click to open larger image in new
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BLS Page 1: Brienzersee
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Early (pre-photography) steamships on Brienzersee
were DS Giessbach (1), DS Faulhorn and DS Giessbach (2).
In 1834, the Knechtenhofer brothers laid the cornerstone for leisure
navigation on Thunersee. In order to attract more custom to their hotel in
Thun, they ordered an iron-clad 16-horsepower steamer from the Cavé machine
builders in Paris. As early as the summer of 1835, the Bellevue
plied between Hofstetten and Neuhaus, which it covered in 1¼ hours non-stop.
The success of this new means of transport prompted the Giessbach Hotel
owner David G. Matti from Kienholz to move a small steamboat from Lake
Geneva to Brienzersee by rather adventurous routes. From 1839, the renamed
Giessbach (1) plied between Interlaken and Brienz, with a stopover
in Giessbach. The United Steam Navigation Company for Lakes Thun and Brienz
(VDG) was formed in 1842 and the pioneer Thunersee steamer Bellevue was
moved to Brienzersee in 1843, where it was renamed Faulhorn and ran
there until 1857. Giessbach (1) continued to run in competition
with the VDG steamer, but VDG acquired it in 1846 and renamed it
Helvetia. However, the Giessbach Hotel bought a small twin screw
steamer Giessbach (2) to run trips from the hotel to Interlaken and
Brienz. In 1857, the hotel and the boat were acquired by the VDG. A short
time afterwards, the Giessbach (2) was dismantled owing to an
alleged design fault. In 1870, the VDG sold the Giessbach property to a
third party. Subsequent steamers were all photographed and are dealt with
individually.
DS
Interlaken (1)
(1856-1951)
39.60 m long - 85.5 tons - 200 passengers - Escher-Wyss Engines
DS Interlaken (1) was a flush decked paddle
steamer built in 1856 by
Escher-Wyss of Zürich.
She was a typically spartan vessel as one would expect in 1856, and had a
clipper bow. She received a new
boiler and engines from Escher-Wyss in 1897. Later rebuilt with
vertical bow, a middle deck between the paddles and an enclosed wheelhouse. DS Interlaken (1)
was withdrawn in 1950 and broken up in 1951.
Photo of DS Interlaken
(1)
(1856) as built
Photo: ©BLS
Photo of DS Interlaken
(1)
(1856) as rebuilt
Photo: ©BLS
DS
Giessbach (3)
(1859-1959)
47.75 m long - 122.1 tons - 250 passengers - Escher-Wyss 250 PS Compound
Oscillating Engine
DS Giessbach (3) was built in 1859 by
Escher-Wyss of Zürich the last flush decked paddle steamer for Brienzersee.
She received a new
boiler and engines in 1870. Substantially rebuilt in 1886. The engines were replaced again in 1897. DS
Giessbach (3)
was withdrawn in 1956 and broken up in 1959. Her engines were acquired by
Technorama Winterthur.
Photo of DS
Giessbach (3)
(1856) in early condition with DS Interlaken (1)
Photo: ©BLS
Photo of DS
Giessbach (3)
(1856) showing early ornate bow
Photo: ©BLS
Postcard of DS
Giessbach (3)
(1859)
DS Oberland
(1870- )
51.81 m long - 197.5 tons - 500 passengers - Escher-Wyss 250 PS Compound
Engine
DS Oberland was built in 1870 by
Sulzer of Winterthur, the first of two double-ended paddle steamers designed to
assist manoeuvring in the canal section at Interlaken. She was also the
first Swiss saloon steamer. She was updated in 1890 and received a new
boiler. In 1913 Oberland received an enclosed wheelhouse. The engines were replaced again in 1906.
Oberland
was withdrawn in 1925 and broken up in 1932.
Photo of the
double-ended DS Oberland
(1870) in early condition
Photo: ©BLS
Photo of the
double-ended DS Oberland
(1870) in later condition but pre-1913
Photo: ©BLS
DS Brienz
(1)
(1871- )
51.81 m long - 197.5 tons - 500 passengers - Escher-Wyss 250 PS Compound
Engine
DS Brienz (1) was built in 1871 by
Escher-Wyss of Zürich, one of two double-ended paddle steamers designed to
assist manoeuvring in the canal section at Interlaken. DS Brienz (1)
was also the first saloon steamer built by Escher-Wyss. She received a new
boiler in 1893 and new engines in 1896. In 1902 Brienz was
substantially rebuilt. The engines were replaced again in 1906. Brienz
(1)
was withdrawn in 1956 and broken up the following year.
Photo of the
double-ended DS Oberland
(1870) in early condition
Photo: ©BLS
Photo of the
double-ended DS Oberland
(1870) in post-1902 rebuilt configuration
Photo: ©BLS
Postcards of the
double-ended DS Brienz
(1871) in post-1902 rebuilt configuration
DS Jungfrau
(1898- )
52.75 m long - 197.5 BRT - 500 passengers - Escher-Wyss 450 PS Compound
Engine
DS Jungfrau was built in 1898 by
Escher-Wyss of Zürich. She was withdrawn in 1940 but not broken up until
1951.
Postcards of DS
Jungfrau (1898)
DS Lötschberg was built in 1914 by
Escher-Wyss of Zürich and has worked continuously on Brienzersee since
then. Specifications are shown on the BLS fact sheet below.
Monochrome postcards of DS Lötschberg
Modern (post-WW2) postcards of DS Lötschberg
BLS DS Lötschberg in
1984
Photo: ©1984 Ian Boyle
BLS DS Lötschberg in
1985
Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle
BLS DS Lötschberg in
2011, at this point in torrential rain
Photo: ©2011 Ian Boyle, 19th July 2011
BLS DS Lötschberg -
main saloon in 2011
Photo: ©2011 Ian Boyle, 19th July 2011
BLS DS Lötschberg -
main deck
Photo: ©2011 Ian Boyle, 19th July 2011
BLS DS Lötschberg -
upper deck
Photo: ©2011 Ian Boyle, 19th July 2011
Rothorn
(1950- )
39 m long - 190 BRT - 400 passengers - Sulzer 300 PS
The small motor vessel Rothorn was built in 1950
by Herbosch of Antwerp. She is no longer in the BLS fleet (possibly
preserved?).
BLS Rothorn (1950)
postcard
BLS Rothorn (1950) in
1984
Photo: ©1984 Ian Boyle
BLS Rothorn (1950) in
1985
Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle
The small motor vessel Interlaken (2) was built in 1956
by Bodanwerft, Kressbronn. She remains in the 2013 Brienzersee fleet of BLS.
Specifications are shown on the BLS fact sheet below.
Postcard of Interlaken (2)
The attractive small motor vessel Iseltwald (2) was built in 1969
by Schiffswerft Linz AG on the Danube. She remains in the 2013 Brienzersee fleet of BLS.
Specifications are shown on the BLS fact sheet below.
2013 BLS photos of Iseltwald (2)
Photos: ©BLS
Postcards of Iseltwald (2)
BLS Iseltwald (1969) in
1984
Photo: ©1984 Ian Boyle
BLS Iseltwald (1969) in
1985
Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle
The large 3-deck motor vessel Brienz (2) was built in 1981
by Bodan Werft at Kressbronn. She is the last new vessel built for use on
Brienzersee. Brienz (2) has a slightly strange rustic 'Emmentaler'
interior with lots of light woods. Specifications are shown on the BLS fact sheet below.
2013 BLS images of Brienz (2)
Photos: ©BLS
BLS Brienz (1981) in
1985
Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle
The large 3-deck motor vessel Jungfrau (2) was
the first large vessel delivered to BLS after the war. She was built in 1954
by Bodanwerft at Kressbronn. Initially serving for nearly 50 years on
Thunersee, Jungfrau (2) was transferred to Brienz in 2002. Specifications are shown on the BLS fact sheet below.
2013 BLS photos of Jungfrau (2)
Photos: ©BLS
