paddlesteamers.info  :  The Internet's leading website for Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers 
La Suisse, one of the many paddle steamers still in operation (see the first link below) photographed at Montreux on 22nd June, 2024 by Gordon Stewart
About Paddle Steamers
The first steamships were paddle steamers and for three decades they were the only steamships. Despite losing out to new forms of propulsion, those that remain are now firmly established favourites in the tourist industry, providing excursions amongst fine scenery on lake, river and in the case of the UK's renowned Waverley, coastal cruises. Their visible steam engines, linked to large paddle wheels, are a unique selling point and these engines provide a quiet, smooth and virtually smell-free experience for the customer. 

Waverley paddlebox.jpg

PADDLE WHEELS

STEAM ENGINES

DECORATIVE PADDLE BOXES

The form of propulsion unique to paddle steamers

The engines are a major on-board attraction

The most distinctive feature when seen from shore

The method of propulsion used by the first steamships and still ideal for calm and shallow waters. Many paddlers have viewing port-holes on the main deck so the turning wheels and splashing waters can be seen to good effect.

On most paddle steamers the engines are clearly visible and are, for many, a major on-board attraction. Here, lubrication oil is topped-up on Lake Lucerne's PS Schiller whilst the engines are stopped as she calls at a pier. 

From a distance, Paddle Steamers can often be identified by their distinctive paddle boxes, with vents of different sizes and shapes, often highly decorated. The Paddle Steamer Waverley's port side vents gets a touch-up of paint whilst she waits at Tighnabruaich.
 
About www.paddlesteamers.info
This website is one of the internet's most comprehensive first-point-of-reference resources for side-wheel excursion paddle steamers in operation, statically preserved or laid-up. It is also an introduction to the history of paddle steamers and creates a basic framework for those who wish to research the subject in more detail. It is compiled by Gordon Stewart.

Website Objective : To introduce readers to the world of paddle steamers, to understand their roles and where they operate with the intention of generating deeper interest in and support for existing paddle steamers and projects to preserve and restore historic paddle steamers.

Links to the specific sections of the database :

- OPERATIONAL PADDLE STEAMERS  including vessels converted from steam to motor power

- PROSPECTIVE NEW PADDLE STEAMERS which are planned to be reactivated, under construction or proposed

- PRESERVED PADDLE STEAMERS  which are in static use, with onward link to those laid-up and at risk

- PADDLE STEAMERS OF THE PAST


- Paddle Steamer engines : In operation, in statically preserved vessels and in museums or storage

- Paddle Tugs : Preserved vessels only


- Photograph Archive : Photographs by Gordon Stewart

- Look Around Selected Paddle Steamers

- The historical context of Paddle Steamers, their current and future roles : Analysis by Gordon Stewart

- Cost reduction and clean energy : An innovative solution for the retention and reactivation of vessels at risk : by Gordon Stewart


Bibliography

For a comprehensive guide to paddle steamers in general from a historical development point of view  :

The Coming of the Comet : The Rise and Fall of the Paddle Steamer   by Nick Robins

Seaforth Publishing, 2012 : ISBN 10 : 1848321341  and ISBN 13 : 978-1848321342

It is an almost impossible task to cover such an enormous subject, deciding what to include and within those topics, how much detail to present. This book makes as good an attempt as must surely be possible. 
Other suggested reading is listed in the separate sections of this database. 

ABOUT THIS WEBSITE

paddlesteamers.info is designed and maintained by Gordon Stewart, life member of the UK's Paddle Steamer Preservation Society

The webmaster attempts to keep information as up-to-date as possible but does not guarantee that any information is necessarily current.  Any views expressed are those of the webmaster alone unless otherwise indicated. All information is presented in good faith. If any information is clearly wrong, please advise the webmaster and it shall be corrected

 Send an e-mail to the Webmaster, Gordon Stewart   
What counts as a Paddle Steamer in this side-wheeled steamer database ?

 Steam powered side-wheelers including those which have been converted to diesel power and those which survive statically (even if the machinery has been removed). Side-wheelers built as motor vessels are also included where they can be regarded as equivalent in size to the steamers covered.  Some very small steamships in private ownership and limited to 12 passengers are noted. Modern ships primarily propelled by screw propellor but with a side-wheel either entirely or substantially for visual effect are excluded. Stern-wheel vessels are excluded.

Copyright and re-use of information and images

The website is illustrated by webmaster Gordon Stewart's own photography (of which there is a full archive) and images kindly supplied for publication by his correspondents of their own work or from private collections owned by them which are not generally published elsewhere. Where not otherwise acknowledged, the post-1965 photos are by Gordon Stewart and under copyright. This website uses a limited number of historical images which, it is believed, are in the public domain. Creative Commons licence is shown where applicable. The original photographer is acknowledged if known from the photograph source.

Photographs displayed are with the permission of the acknowledged photographer but are not to be copied for re-use for any other website or publication without the specific authorisation of the photographer. You are welcome to use the text from this website as a research source and basis for your own work but it should not be copied and republished elsewhere verbatim or only slightly altered.
All text on the paddlesteamers.info database is Gordon Stewart also photos as follows : unacknowledged post-1965 photos or the individual photographer where acknowledged. Other photos pre-1952 are deemed to be in the public domain due to age

Acknowledgements

The webmaster gratefully acknowledges many sources of information, including websites shown on the links page, magazines such as Paddle Wheels and Dampferzeitung and published books which he has read and absorbed information from. Many of these are listed in the Bibliography sections of the main pages to which they refer and readers of this website are referred to these books for much more detailed information about the relevant subjects. Thanks go to everyone who has submitted photos. They are acknowledged on the website alongside their photos. Particular thanks are due to many, especially Kenny Whyte, Phil Barnes, Kevin Hoggett, Zsolt Szabo, Olivier Bachmann, Enrico Crosti, Robert McLuckie, Chris Allen, Tom Lee, Malcolm Oliver, Bill Worden, Derek Gawn, John Hendy, Bernd Gross, Markus Graf, Andrew delaGhetto and Lukas Bannier for the large number of excellent photos which they have submitted to this website
Numerous photos of paddle steamers on the Rhein have come from Markus Graf, owner of the photos of Rudi Graf and Eduard Bundgen, some of which have been published in the latter's comprehensive work "Die Personenschiffahrt auf dem Rhein - Vom Schaufelraddampfer zum Kabinenshiff" (EK-Verlag 1987, ISBN 3-88255-501-7)

Paddle Steamer Information Requests

Most of the information available to me is presented in abbreviated form in this database and it is unlikely that I will be able to help with ships which are not included in this database, but please send the webmaster an e-mail and I will give as much assistance as I can. I can for example also give general guidance about paddle steamer services in Europe (e.g. Swiss lake steamers operations) and guide you to the best sources of external information. I can also assist in identifying paddle steamers in old photographs
Send an e-mail to the Webmaster, Gordon Stewart

Can You Help With This database ?

The webmaster would be delighted to receive any updates of relevant information and non-commercially available photographs which could help to keep this database as up-to-date as possible and fill in gaps in the historical record. These should be taken by yourself, a family member or from unpublished collections to which you own the copyright. However, recent photographs of PS Waverley sailing in preservation with Waverley Excursions are not required due to the enormous number of images of her now available on the internet and in numerous publications
ASSOCIATED WEBSITES


Clyde Turbine Steamers

Although Clyde Steamer fleets were dominated by paddle steamers, the introduction of the turbine steamer King Edward in 1901 dramatically improved the quality of the long-distance day excursion fleet. The world's first ever passenger ship powered by turbines brought a new level of speed, comfort and smoothness and in the next 35 years a number of excellent vessels joined the Clyde fleet. The photo is of Duchess of Hamilton (in service 1932-1970) at Campbeltown, taken by Ian Stewart. 



InTramCities  with Gordon Stewart : Infrastructure, Architecture and Environment along streets with trams

Gordon Stewart travels regularly throughout Europe to create what is perhaps the finest tramway photograph resource on the internet. Although trams are the focal point and common thread throughout, it is where they are running which provides the diversity and interest in his photos. As well as city centres with their grand architecture, Gordon takes you to less well-known suburbs to give a real feel for the tramway city. The photos are becoming an important historical record for those interested in the city itself as well as its trams and also show how trams fit into urban environments to provide an attractive and accessible transportation system.  Photo taken on 19th June 2024 in Lyon, France
paddlesteamers.info  Domain front page
Gordon Stewart 2001-2024  
 

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