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Simplon (3)

Page 3: pre-2004 Photographs

Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN)



This page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) steamer Simplon (3) . This page shows photographs of the Simplon (3). Other Simplon (3) pages are listed below. There is a table of all CGN individual ship histories on the CGN Header Page.
 
The SIMPLON POSTCARDS website was named after the Simplon, the largest working paddle steamer on the Swiss lakes, which is owned and operated by the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) on Lake Geneva.
 
Simplon was ordered in 1913 from Sulzer Brothers, the second 70 metre paddle steamer on Lake Geneva. She differed from her predecessor La Suisse (2) by having her twin boilers (and consequently her funnel) aft of the paddle shaft. The subsequent two deliveries Helvétie (2) and Rhône also followed this pattern. Her hull was completed in 1915, and the boilers and machinery were also added. However, due to the war, construction was slowed, and Simplon was not delivered until 1920. Simplon is 70m long and can carry 1500 passengers. A 1400hp 2-Cylinder compound steam engine can drive her at 29.5kph. In 1928, she received an aluminium canopy over the top deck. The front of this canopy was glazed in 1932. She saw little use during the second war. her boilers were converted to oil firing in 1959. At the end of the 1966 season, Simplon was withdrawn for the replacement of her boilers, returning to service in May 1968. She was the last ship in the fleet to receive radar, in 1980.
 
In the 1980s and 1990s she was mainly used as reserve ship, based at Lausanne-Ouchy, but saw greater scheduled use whilst the diesel paddler Montreux was rebuilt with new steam engines, and again when the rebuilding of Savoie commenced. Whilst on this duty in August 2003, she suffered a boiler explosion, but is due to return to scheduled service on 17th July 2005, taking over one of the two-day rotas during the peak weeks until August (run by Vevey in 2004).
 
 
Sections on this Page:-
Simplon - 1985 Photographs
Simplon - 1986 Photographs
Simplon - 1988 Photographs
Simplon - 2003 Photographs
 
Simplon (3) Pages:-
Simplon (3) - Page 1 - Historic Postcards
Simplon (3) - Page 2 - Modern Postcards
Simplon (3) - Page 3 - Pre-2004 Photographs - this page
Simplon (3) - Page 4 - 2004 Photographs
Simplon (3) - Page 5 - 2005 Photographs
Simplon (3) - in 2006 - 2006 Photographs
 
CGN Pages:-
CGN Header Page
CGN - Page 1 - Paddle Steamers 1822-1886
CGN - Page 2 - Paddle Vessels 1887-2004
CGN - Page 3 - Screw Motor Vessels
CGN - Page 4 - The 2004 Fleet
CGN - Page 5 - The 2005 Fleet
CGN - Page 6 - The 2006 Fleet
 
Associated Pages:-
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page






Simplon (3)
 
 
1985 Photographs
 
Simplon in reserve at the CGN yard, Ouchy.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1985



Simplon in reserve at the CGN yard, Ouchy.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1985






1986 Photographs
 
Simplon in reserve at the CGN yard.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1986.






1988 Photographs
 
Simplon was used as reserve ship throughout most of the 1980s, although she seemed to clock up fairly high average distances each year. Unfortunately I did not see her in service on any previous visits. My luck changed on my 1988 visit, and I saw Simplon pulling out of the CGN yard to take an evening wedding charter. The first few images below were taken from our hotel balcony.
 
 
Simplon reversing out of the CGN yard to take an evening wedding charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of the CGN yard to take an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon arriving at Ouchy to take an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon at Ouchy, prior to taking an evening charter.
The images above were taken from a balcony at the Hotel du Lac in the background.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon at Ouchy, prior to taking an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon at Ouchy, prior to taking an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening wedding charter.
Wedding photos were being taken on the upper deck.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening wedding charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening charter.
Wedding photos were being taken on the upper deck.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon reversing out of Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon at Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



Simplon at Ouchy on an evening charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



I made daily enquiries with the CGN office at Ouchy to see if Simplon was taking any scheduled services. On the last day of my holiday, Simplon deputised for Savoie, due to a booking for a particularly large party, and I finally got to travel on the steamer that my postcard publishing business was to be named after.



Simplon at Ouchy prior to taking Savoie's duties for a day.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



On board Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



On board Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



View from the bridge on Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



View from the bridge on Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



View from the bridge on Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988



View aft from the bridge on Simplon.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, August 1988






2003 Photographs
 
Photos by Georges Pop, who writes:- I'm pleased to send you some rare pics of "your" Simplon. The ship is here chartered as Shuttle Lausanne-Evian by the G8 summit in Evian (France), to bring officials and journalists from Lausanne to Evian. As you can see there are some anti-terrorist policemen on the bridge and the roof of the upper deck. The photos have been taken last Saturday evening (30/06/2003) in Ouchy, the port of Lausanne. All the area was closed and forbidden, but as journalist I was allowed to be there... I was probably the only radio journalist with a ... photo camera.
 
 
Simplon at Lausanne-Ouchy on 30th June 2003.
Simplon has received a wider black funnel top - a big improvement.
Photo: © Georges Pop.



Simplon at Lausanne-Ouchy on 30th June 2003.
Photo: © Georges Pop.



Simplon at Lausanne-Ouchy on 30th June 2003.
Photo: © Georges Pop.






Simplon - Page 1 - Simplon - Page 2 - Simplon - Page 3 - Simplon - Page 4 - Simplon - Page 5
CGN Header Page - CGN - Page 1 - CGN - Page 2 - CGN - Page 3 - CGN - Page 4
Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
Top of Page - Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
 






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