Lucerne Boat Pier
Lake Lucerne Navigation Company
Postfach 4265
CH-6002 Lucerne, Switzerland

Notable for: oldest operating vessel with a diagonal, compound steam engine, with disc valve gear

Owner: Schiffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstattersee (SGV)

Plaque location: on board

More about . . .
This is the oldest operating vessel with a diagonal, compound steam engine, with disc valve gear. Operating at a higher pressure than the oscillating-cylinder engines then used in lake steamers, this type of engine was more powerful and efficient, as well as smaller. The compound engine, built by Sulzer brothers of Winterthur, uses super-heated steam from the boilers in two stages-high and low pressure-before exhausting it into a condenser. The engine produces 650 horsepower, turning two paddle wheels.

Further information on the Uri is available in the Landmark Brochure

Visiting Info: regular operating hours, April through October, 41-41-367-6767

Ceremony Notes: 5 Sept 1998

In September 2007, at 106 years old, Uri surpassed the 2 million kilometer mark. Swiss press reported the achievement (article in German).