2-995-966 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Steam-gondola for Coniston Lake, Lancashire, 1860. '...a most elegant and novel vessel...in its outward form and internal fittings a perfected combination of the Venetian gondola and the English steam-yacht - having the elegance, comfort, and speed of the latter, and the graceful lightness and quiet gliding motion of the former...Coniston Water...[was] recently made easily accessible to tourists from the metropolis and the chief towns by the extension of the Furness Railway...The vessel is of iron or rather steel plates...It is propelled by a screw, driven by a 16-horse-power engine on the locomotive plan, burning coke, and placed quite aft, thus leaving the best part of the vessel for passengers, and relieving them from smoke, smell, and noise - three disagreeables generally complained of in ordinary steam-vessels...The centre of the vessel...is fitted up as a saloon, covered with a light roof; the sides, of plate-glass...affording an uninterrupted view of the magnificent scenery surrounding the lake, the summit of the highest mountains being visible to those seated in the saloon...The Gondola was designed by Mr. James Ramsden, the secretary and general manager of the Furness Railway: it was built by Messrs. Jones and Co., of Liverpool...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.