The oldest coal fired propeller driven steamer, with original engine, in the World
A voyage with the steamship Ejdern is like travelling back to the past. S/S Ejdern is the oldest steamer of her kind.
But in spite of her age, she is still going strong, running her own commercial sailing tour every summer. Since 1906 Södertälje has been the port for S/S Ejdern and since that time the people in Södertälje have taken S/S Ejdern to their hearts.
The long history of S/S Ejdern has been filled with many events, some we are acquainted with and some we don’t know so much about. Fortunately for us some of her history has been written down.
‘Göteborgs Mekaniska Werkstad’ in Gothenburg built S/S Ejdern in 1880. In the last part of the 19-th century, she frequented the archipelago of Gothenburg . Between 1898 and 1905 she frequented Lake Roxen. Lake Roxen is one of the lakes on the Göta canal. From 1906 to 1957 S/S Ejdern ran between Södertälje and Trosa. The ship was also used for freight transport in the east parts of Lake Mälaren. Over a period of more than fifty years S/S Ejdern and hear crew became a well-known sight for people in the city. The captain of the ship, Rikard Fredmark, was her commander between 1914 and 1957.
After that time followed some bad years for S/S Ejdern. In 1957, Rikard Fredmark sold the ship to Södertälje City. The ship was in very bad condition, and the trips were not profitable. Many people in Södertälje tried to save her but without success and the city council decided to sink her in the deep water outside the island of Landsort.
But at the very last minute some young people started an ‘association for saving old steamers’ and the council of Södertälje donated the ship to the association (read about it.) The year was 1964. Later the association was renamed the Museiföreningen Ångfartyget Ejdern. And nowadays, unpaid volunteers take care of S/S Ejdern, maintaining her as a living museum and a communication memorial from the 19-th century. Owing to these people’s hard work S/S Ejdern steams Södertäljes waters every summer.
In 1984 S/S Ejdern was rebuilt back to coal firing. This makes the steamer very quiet and gives her a special steamship atmosphere. As a passenger you get the feeling of being back in the old days.
More fact about Ejdern
- Hull: Dimensions: length 22 meters (72 feet), beam 4,2 meters (14 feet), draught loaded ca 2,05 meters (6 feet). Steel hull, strengthened for ice breaking. A four-bladed propeller 1,4 meter in diameter (on continuous shaft).
- Propulsion machinery: Compound engine, built 1880, with jet spray condenser; cylinder diameters 216 mm (8,5 in) and 432 mm (17 in) respectiverly, stroke 222 mm (8,75 in), 65 IHP at 120 rpm. Stephenson's valve gear for reversing.
- Electrical power: 1 cylinder steam engine, 2 IHP at 600 rpm.
- Pumps: 1 steam driven piston pump for feed water and bilge.
- Boiler: Scotch type, built 1946, with one fire tube, coal fired, working pressure 7-10 kg/cm2 (105-150 psi). In normal traffic (at 8 knots) the coal consumption is 1 hl/h.
- Fuel: Coal.
- Max speed: 8 knots.
- Min Crew: captain, engineer and one deck hand.
- Passengers: Originally S/S Ejdern was allowed to take 145 passengers, a number that now is lowered to 90.
