Laos paddlesteamers

[Roderick Smith]

I'll assemble this in stages.  France used Mekong River as a supply line.  Major rapids below Pakse proved to be insurmountable.  A portage railway was built across Don Khone island, and later extended to Don Det island.  Today, this section of the river is known as '4000 islands', and is a popular tourist area for locals and backpackers.  A locomotive from the railway is preserved there, with about six history panels around it.  I'll assemble them all, but here is a tempting start.  A lot of the history is unclear, but it seems that most of the early traffic was boats in sections for use further upstream.  Searching on Laos in this group brings up the lower reach, through Cambodia to Vietnam, and also Halong Bay (Vietnam).

150725Sa Don Khone: History panel showing SWPS Haiphong.  (Roderick Smith)
These are below the rapids, a small section of which is visible rhs.  There are many more across, and some have a much bigger drop.

A good start on the history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Det_%E2%80%93_Don_Khon_narrow_gauge_railway

Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

The first history panel, in two slices to keep them within the posting limit.  I prepared the panel in large size to maintain readability.
Roderick

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Roderick,

interesting informations. In relation of our field of interest the East Asian countries (except India and Myanmar) not very much is known.
As far I know, there are very less informations about the steam navigation of rivers like Mekong and the navigable rivers of Thailand - I remenber you made a post about this long time ago. May be, like in India and Myanmar, an unknown paddler wreck has survived to our present days.

Thomas

[Roderick Smith]

I have had no luck with Thai paddlesteamers, despite three research efforts.  I have no Thai, and my hosts have insufficient English for a technical conversation.
* Marine board: Not a paddlesteamer hunt, but chasing ten smaller ferries built in Tasmania.  No success.
* National museum: Some river views, none with a paddlesteamer.
* Major university: I couldn't even find the library.  I had hoped to go back on this recent visit, but simply felt too daunted.
Chao Phraya river was navigable for a long way, and must have had paddlesteamers back in the days.  There must have been tugs to bring long-distance ships up the Chao Phraya from the mouth to Bangkok.  The musical 'King and I' begins with Anna and son arriving in Thailand, and the captain of the ship gives her advice re what to expect.  They must have come up the river, predating a rail link to the mouth, and the electric interurban line.  Just from memory, the prince who carries the succession forwards in a modern manner at the end of the show was Rama IV; his name is preserved on a very busy and major road.
Kwai River was regarded as fast and treacherous, and may not have had much navigation.  However, there are lots of touristy houseboats at Kanchanaburi, and dinner cruises, and it can't have been worse than my recent Kok and Mekong experiences.
Ping River is a major Chao Phraya tributary, and could well have had early navigation.  Today, dams block through passage.
Kok river is a major Mekong River tributary.  However, it is tricky, and may not have had the need for commercial navigation.
There are more history panels to come.  I am sure that, above the portage, France got boats through to at least Luang Prabang, which in turn would let them reach the golden triangle, and the Myanmar, Thailand and China borders (two lots of three way, not one four way).
I plan to return to all zones in rotation, but may have no more success in proving/disproving theories.
Since the trigger photo in this thread was a boat run by France, to what could it have been related?
I have edited the text to SWPS, but too late for the wrong caption.
When all the panels are up, you will see that most were steam screw, not steam paddle.
As I voyaged from Huang Xai to Pruang Labang I couldn't see the depth, and had trouble asking my captains.  However, when poling onto or off shore stops, we were in 2 m close to the shore, and I got a hint of 6 m midstream from one skipper.
Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

History panel two, again carved to keep within posting limits, while maintaining readability.  This was the source of my opening SWPS photo.

Roderick

[Hankwilliams]

Real exceptional material.
The "Haiphong" paddler has much similarity with the early Congo steamers. Also the "Ham Luong" is of that type of small screw boats, which are used on African rivers and lakes.
The method, to send a boat in pieces to other continents and then build up there was common at this time.
As far I know,  this method was first used by Chesneys Euphrates expedition in the 1830tis with the paddlers "Euphrates" and "Tigris" when it was possible to fabricate precise iron parts and segments.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Morning Thomas....in 1831. we infact in Australia were also awaiting a few 'knock down steam paddle vessels' from UK to be assembled on our shores....both in Sydney and Melbourne.... Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Thanks Derek!
This was a new information for me.

Thomas

[Roderick Smith]

History panel 3.
Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

To finish this section, just one small part of the multiple falls and rapids.
150725Sa Mekong River (Laos): Rapids.  (Roderick Smith)

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khone_Phapheng_Falls

Roderick