Model of the first Danube Steamboat "Caroline" 1817

[Hankwilliams]

Hi, friends and neighbors,

some pictures of a breathtaking model of the first Danube steamboat "Caroline" of 1817. The model was built by Mr. Gerhard Schuster, Vienna (not our member Gerhardvienna). It is on display in the Bezirksmuseum Wien - Floridsdorf.

From my opinion the model is really more than excellent, even when it is a non function model.
This boat of the beginning age of steamboating is singular, not only by the high pressure engine and the geared paddlewheels, even in the whole constucton and magination, also for the very exact detailing.

Anton Bernhard from Pecs in Hungary has build the "Caroline" in 1817 for towing barges on the lower Danube.
The boat made some sucessful trips, but for a longer time there was not enough economic success and the "Caroline" was withdrawn in 1819.
High pressure engines like this were not common at the time, standart were the side lever engines witht very low pressure.

Trevithik constructed the first hight pressure engines in the beginning of the 19. century. One of this was sendet to Esterhazy castle in Eisenstadt east of Vienna in 1803 for driving a pump for a fontain in the gardens of the castle.

It`s more than probably, that Bernhard made an altered copy of this engine for use in his boat.

I hope, now you will enjoy the pictures!

[Hankwilliams]

Some more pictures...

After Bernhards attempt for several years the Danube didn`t see any steamboat.
As late as 1830 the DDSG (Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft - what a long word) was foundet. In the same year the paddler "Maria Anna" made trips from Vienna to Linz.
The DDSG lasted very long until the beginning 1990ties, when she was liquidated.

Thomas

[greateastern]

Very interesting  model. The boat seems almost too fragile to stay afloat. It is amazing how much technology was available at that early time. I think  "modern" society doesn't think much of that time, mostly backward, but that is hardly the case. It is fascinating to look at the early technology journals.
thanks for sharing your pictures.

[DamienG]

Many thanks for posting this great story and pictures.

Damien.