63 and free

One for the Engine-gears.

While we were visiting the Gold Rush museum in Arrowtown, we saw photos, references and a scale model of a legendary boat that plied the waters of Lake Wakatipu (the lake Queenstown is on). It was called the “TSS Earnslaw”.

When we arrived in Queenstown, we instantly recognized her! She is still running today, over 110 years after her launch on February 24th, 1912 (about 2 months prior to the Titanic going down).

Like the Titanic, she was…and IS STILL…powered by coal. We hope the Greens don’t shut her down!

We scrambled to get tickets for the lake cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High country farm, and back. It was wonderful. An engineer’s dream…

She was gorgeous. Cut the water far more beautifully than any modern boat!
A plaque onboard the “Earnslaw”.
First look!
Stats!
The Saloon.
Craftsmanship as it used to be
Someone is in heaven.
Ahhh…I think we would have loved the roaring 20’s! Can you be nostalgic about the era of your grandfather and his father??
At the wharf at Walter Peak.
Ah, the rhythm of beautiful machinery.
She cruises at about 11 knots.
1 ton of coal per hour!

David and Bernadette Harris

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