Bodensee - Lake Constance

 

These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the excursion ships and ferries of Lake Constance. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in chronological order, covering German ships only. Separate pages will show the Austrian and Swiss fleets.

 

Services have been operated on Bodensee by numerous fleets from the three countries which border the lake, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Three German Lände border the lake, Baden, Bayern and Württemburg, and prior to 1914, each had its own railway system which operated steamers on the lake. Between the two world wars, services from Germany were operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn. In the aftermath of WW2, services were run by the Generaldirektion des Südwestdeutschen Eisenbahnen until 1952, when they were taken over by Deutsche Bundesbahn. Services are currently (in 2002) operated by BSB (Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe) whose logo is shown at the top of this page.

 

 

The postcards on this website are not available for sale.

Additional ships will be added to this page shortly.

 

 

Links to the Ships on This Page:-

Allgäu - 1929-2001

Baden - 1929-2001

Euregia - 1996-

Hohentwiel - 1913-

München - 1929-2001

Schwaben - 1937-

Stadt Überlingen - 1929-63

 

Links to Associated Pages:-

Ferry Postcards

Cruise Ship Postcards

Ocean Liner Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

www.bsb-online.com - Official BSB (German) Bodensee Fleet Home page

www.sbsag.ch - Official SBB (Swiss) Bodensee Fleet Home page

 

 

Table of Complete Postcard Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Allgäu		1929
Hohentwiel		1913

 

 

Fleet List in Date Order

 

Hohentwiel (1913- )

Hohentwiel was built in 1913 for Württemburgischen Dampfschiffahrt by Escher-Wyss, for services out of Friedrichshafen. She came under control of Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1920. Between 1933 and 1935 she was rebuilt with a new foresaloon and bridge. She served on Bodensee until 1962. She was not scrapped, being used by a Bregenz sailing club until 1986 when she was moved to nearby Hard. Between 1987-90 was restored to her original condition, largely paid for by the towns and authorities around the lake. She now operates special trips on Bodensee. A complete postcard history of the Hohentwiel is available on this link.

 

This is H.Weber postcard, serial number 60198, of Hohentwiel in the original condition to which she has now been restored.

 

Ad.Jorg postcard, serial number 152/31, of Hohentwiel leaving Friedrichshafen.

 

Vahle postcard, serial number 270, of Hohentwiel in later condition with raised bridge and aditional deck houses.

An enlarged view of the ship is shown beneath.

 

 

This card shows Hohentwiel on her return to service on 17th May 1990.

 

Werner KG postcard serial number 7.820.

 

FMV postcard serial number 94/275.

 

Ernst B.Leutweiler postcard serial number 5502.

 

 

 

 

 

Allgäu (1929-2001)

Two large new Bodensee vessels were delivered in 1929. Allgäu was the first large motorship on the lake carrying over 1000 passengers. She entered service with Deutsche Reichsbahn on 14th August, a month before the Stadt Überlingen (the last and largest Bodensee paddlesteamer). Allgäu cost RM 1,110,000, compared to RM 970.000 for the paddlesteamer. In 1935 Allgäu was rebuilt as a three deck vessel. She served with Deusche Bundesbahn after the war, and remained the largest Bodensee ship until scrapped in 2001. A complete postcard history of the Allgäu is available on this link.

 

Allgäu as delivered to Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1929 as a two-deck motorship and fake "paddleboxes".

Weber (Stuttgart) postcard serial 61954.

 

In 1935 Allgäu was rebuilt as a three deck vessel, with larger "paddlebox" windows as shown below.

 

In 1971/72 Allgäu was rebuilt with new engines, funnel and extended upper deck accommodation, as shown below.

Postcard serial 20004/91 published by "Der Bahnladen"

 

Simplon Postcards serial number sp1075, issued November 1991, of Allgäu in final condition.

Photographed July 1991 by Ian Boyle.

 

 

 

 

 

Stadt Überlingen (1929-1963)

Stadt Überlingen was built in 1929, the same year as pioneer large motorship Allgäu.

Unfortunately she was withdrawn and scrapped in 1963.

 

Franz Walter postcard of Stadt Überlingen.

 

G.Feiner postcard of Stadt Überlingen.

 

G.Feiner postcard of Stadt Überlingen.

 

 

 

 

 

Baden (1935- )

Baden in the latest BSB colours.

Any help with finding cards of the rest of the fleet in these colours would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

Schwaben (1937- )

Schwaben in the latest BSB colours.

Any help with finding cards of the rest of the fleet in these colours would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

München (1961- )

München in the latest BSB colours.

Any help with finding cards of the rest of the fleet in these colours would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

Euregia (1996- )

Euregia in the latest BSB colours. Any help with finding cards of the rest of the fleet would be appreciated.

 

 

 

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