Paddle ship Goethe

[Dallinson]

Hi there paddlers
I have been reading through all the mails over the last 10 days. Very
interesting. The model engine is absolutely superb.
Just a quick note in case anyone is planning a trip to the continent this
summer.
I have just been attending a wedding in Germany and managed to convince my
host that it was essential that we all went for a trip on the "Goethe". (The
last steam engine driven paddle ship on the Rhine). As an ex-marine
engineer, I could not resist the temptation to go down the engine room for a
closer look. (The main part of the engine is visible through viewing
windows) One of the engineers spoke very good English and seemed only too
pleased to show me around. She has a single, two stage compound diagonal
engine about 700 HP. Incidentally they check all the nuts and bolts on the
paddles very day. Quite a job. She has been fitted with a good sized bow
thruster to make getting alongside and off again a little safer, in the very
swift current which is a feature in that part of the Rhine nearer the
northern part of the journey. Otherwise she seems quite original (new oil
fired boilers) and in very good condition and will surely serve many years
to come. She runs daily from Koblenz to Rudesheim and back. Well worth a
trip. You can get on and off at many stops along the way. You do not have to
do the whole 12 hour round trip!! The countryside, castles and the white
wines around there are also very nice !!
Happy sailing.
David

[Paulrjordan]

Hey David!! Sounds like a fabulous paddler to ride on (in!) and this
is something I would love to do on a future Euro trip. I know
the "Goethe" very well as some of you may recall I was successful
in "snagging" the ONLY Revell "Goethe" I have seen on Ebay in a
year..and although not the most expensive (compared to the original
multicolored Revell "GE"), it must surely rank as one of the rarest
Plastic Model Paddler kits. It's a super little 1/160 kit with over
400 parts and would make a superb customized static display model.
The hull is very pretty and it wouldnt be a stretch to take some
lines off her. I wonder if plans exist of her to make a really
accurate model?

> She has been fitted with a good sized bow thruster to make getting
> alongside and off again a little safer, in the very swift current
> which is a feature in that part of the Rhine nearer the
> northern part of the journey.

Nice touch for an operating sidewheeler model too!
Can you imagine if our pioneer sternwheelers had that luxury as they
shot the rapids of the Northern rivers? Just goes to show you how
incredibly skilled their Captains and crews were! I still scratch my
head in bewilderment (and awed admiration) at how they managed to
keep their bows alligned to navigate those rivers. Something else!

So, David..once P.T. "Scotia" is finished...would a "Goethe" be a
remote (pun intended!) possibility ?...especially now that you've
seen her "up close and personal"! Robert in Scotland could even
advise you how to make her engine!!!

> The countryside, castles and the white wines around there are also
> very nice !!
> Happy sailing.
> David

Which reminds me that my posting on my wonderful trip "doon the
watter" on "Waverley" in May is hopelessly overdue (in the middle of
a house move!).. it will be done though..although there's ONE I have
to do first!

Thanks for the "Goethe" info, David...do you have pictures of her and
your trip aboard ?

PJ