The “Lady of the Lake” is back

Media Release Friday 4 July 2008
For immediate use

The “Lady of the Lake” is back

Toot toot!

She may be pushing 96, but she’s still turning heads - especially after spending five weeks at the nautical equivalent of a health spa.

Queenstown’s vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw is back working on Lake Wakatipu and looking better than ever after her extensive annual survey.

If you think she is looking a little jauntier than usual, there’s a reason: over the last five weeks the steamship has undergone some major internal work.

The TSS Earnslaw’s engines have been serviced extensively: both boilers underwent a full inspection; her emergency steering gear was overhauled; and two piston rods in the main engine were modified. Workmen also reconditioned her air pump, installed two reconditioned water feed pumps and upgraded her generators with modern electronic controls.

TSS Earnslaw/Walter Peak manager Andrew Husheer said the survey team were pleasantly surprised to find that no large hull plates needed replacing during this year’s survey.

“She works up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, so she’s holding her age a lot better than most of us would under those circumstances.”

Mr Husheer says he is over the moon about having the vintage steamship back at work. “She’s a huge part of Queenstown and it’s great to have her back out on the lake. It always feels like there’s something missing when she goes on her annual survey.”

The TSS Earnslaw resumed carrying passengers across to Walter Peak High Country Farm today at 12noon.

ENDS

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