French paddlers of Lac Leman

[Paulrjordan]

I took a further look around Jean Vernet's unofficial CGN Website and
I am impressed how well it is put together. The CGN has a long history
and seems to be an amalgamation of three companies. In addition to "PS
Montreux" which was recently converted from diesel-electric power back
to steam, they currently own 8 fully operating sidewheelers.

Steam fired sidewheelers:

"S/S La Suisse II" OAL:70m - Launched 1910 - Restored 1970-71
"S/S Simplon III" OAL:70m - Launched 1919 - Restored 1967-68
"S/S Savoi" OAL:60m - Launched 1914 - Restored 1966-67
"S/S Rhône III" OAL:60m - Launched 1927 - Restored 1968-69 and 1996
"S/S Montreux" OAL:60m - Launched 1904 - Restored 1961-62/98-2001

Diesel electric sidewheelers:
"M/S Helvétie II" OAL:70m - Launched 1926 - Restored 1975-77
"M/S Italie II" OAL:58m - Launched 1908 - Restored 1956-58
"M/S Vevey" OAL:58m - Launched 1907 - Restored 1953-55

Isn't it refreshing to see one country (or at least one Company) who
has preserved it's OPERATING Paddlewheeler heritage so well. Just
makes the British effort so much more desperate when you think of the
difficulty in getting the lovely "PS Medway Queen" restored!

You will find lots of pictures of these lovely Clipper Bow
sidewheelers on this Website at:
http://mypage.bluewin.ch/jvernet/index.html

And if you can read French, you'll find the text quite interesting. I
enjoyed reading about the CGN Company's early history.

PJ