Electric Rhine ferry Godesberg-Niederdollendorf

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Electric Rhine ferry Godesberg-Niederdollendorf (1908)

The electric Rhine ferry Godesberg-Niederdollendorf was built in 1908 by the Ewald Berninghaus shipyard in Duisburg for the electric ferry Godesberg-Niederdollendorf GmbH founded on March 21, 1908 . It was the first electrically powered ferry on the Rhine and operated between the later Bonn district of Godesberg and the later Königswinter district of Niederdollendorf .

history

Since 1900 the community of Godesberg bought the ferry rights of the Niederdollendorfer ferry operator in order to set up a modern ferry service. First a steam ferry was to be built, but due to the power station built in 1907, it was decided to use an electric ferry. It was built at the Duisburg shipyard E. Berninghaus and was launched on June 30, 1908. The maiden voyage with invited guests took place on July 8th, followed by the first official ferry crossing three days later. The ferry was in operation until it was sunk by the Wehrmacht on March 8, 1945. Some time later the wreck was blown up by the American occupying forces.

The Rhine ferry Bad Godesberg – Niederdollendorf provides this connection today.

Launched in Duisburg (1908)

construction

The riveted iron hull was 30 m long and 8.0 m wide on the main rib. The deck had a width of 9.5 m and was usable for vehicles over a length of 15 m. The fuselage was divided from front to rear into a collision room, crew quarters, battery room and engine room. The drive took place with two electric motors on two propellers. The carrying capacity was given as 645 people. On both sides of the main deck there were 9 m long flaps for easy loading and unloading of the vehicles as well as getting in and out, which were moved by a 3 HP electric motor.

The entire electrical equipment was built by Felten and Guillaume-Lahmeyerwerke in Frankfurt am Main, the accumulators were supplied by Akkumulatorenfabrik AG Berlin from Hagen. The 160 batteries provided a voltage of 200 volts. The batteries were recharged while waiting at the Steiger . On the back of the deck was a deckhouse for the passengers. It was elegantly built in the Viennese style and had a fireplace for heating. The teak wheelhouse stood on the deckhouse. During the entire period of service, the ferry was repeatedly adapted to the increased requirements. By 1923 the batteries had to be replaced a total of five times because of wear and tear and also because they were destroyed by the occupying forces. In 1929 the battery capacity was increased by 50% to allow more and faster crossings.

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literature

  • Ferdinand Clausen: From bank to bank , pp. 35–39. Bonn, Röhrscheid, 1987, ISBN 3792805677