Riverboats - Germany: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Schubschifffahrt auf dem Mittelrhein

The image of the Rhine, especially in the Middle Rhine Valley, is characterized by charming landscapes, imposing castles and idyllic villages. But aside from the romantic notions, the Rhine has also been an important trade route for centuries, characterized by a flourishing inland shipping industry.

Gerd Schuth, a native of Koblenz and a long-time journalist for the "Rhein-Zeitung", has been dealing primarily with push barge shipping for decades. For this illustrated book, he has selected over 220 previously mostly unpublished images from his own collection and the archives of enthusiastic shipping enthusiasts. Expertly commented, they show the development of push barge transport between Bingen and Koblenz since the 1950s.
Impressive, often colored photographs of the "Rheinbullen" with up to 6 000 hp in front of the panorama of the towns and landscapes convey a vivid picture of this special chapter in Rhine shipping.
A must not only for technology lovers, but for anyone who wants to discover a different side of the Rhine.

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Reederei Braunkohle - Frachtschifffahrt auf dem Rhein

Rolf Diesler and Bernd Schwarz present around 190 mostly unpublished historical photographs that invite you to take an entertaining journey into the past of the once important brown coal shipping company.
Unique impressions of shipping on the Rhine that will make the hearts of all shipping enthusiasts beat faster.

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Schubschifffahrt auf der Elbe

Joachim Winde presents around 150 mostly unpublished historical photographs that invite you on an entertaining journey into the history of push barge travel on the Elbe.
Detailed illustrations of the ship constructions and knowledgeable explanations make this extraordinary depiction of the most modern form of inland shipping an exceptional reading pleasure. A must for all friends of Elbe shipping.

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Die Kettenschifffahrt auf Elbe und Saale

The only publication currently available on chain shipping on the Elbe and Saale shows this special form of freight shipping in 120 images.
Shipping expert Sigbert Zesewitz presents the route of the chain from Melnik via Dresden to the mouth of the Elbe in Hamburg with many unpublished historical images. A journey through the history of technology from the late 19th century to around 1945.

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Frachtschiffe - Binnenschifffahrt auf europäischen Wasserstrassen (Typenkompass)

European waterways are used by thousands of cargo and tanker ships, whose size becomes apparent only when they dock.

Large volumes of goods can be transported with low energy and personnel, far more than by rail or truck with the same engine power. Modern ship engines produce fewer pollutants, and new fuels such as natural gas are being tested.

In this type guide, Ingo Steller, an expert in inland shipping, provides an overview of the different types of cargo ships operating on the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, and Oder.

Pages of the book "Frachtschiffe - Binnenschifffahrt auf europäischen Wasserstrassen"

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Dampfschiffe auf dem Rhein

Steamship travel on the (German) Rhine is history. The fire under the boiler of the last passenger steamer of the "Köln-Düsseldorfer", the "Goethe", which was delivered in 1913 and rebuilt several times, went out in 2008; the other KDD steamers had already disappeared a quarter of a century ago.
The last steam tug on the Rhine, the "Oscar Huber", was taken out of towing service over 40 years ago and is now the only "paddle steamer" open to the public in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
Little remains of the former glory of steamship travel on the Rhine. In September 1939, the "Köln-Düsseldorfer" still had 22 steamers, and steamship travel in freight transport also reached its peak before the Second World War. In 1935, there were over 1 800 steamships registered on the Rhine, including 115 "wheel boats", i.e. the powerful paddle steamer tugs, around 80 m long and with up to 1 900 hp, which brought up to nine barges to their destinations.

After the Second World War, steamships experienced a brief boom, but then the picture changed dramatically. Freight traffic was transferred to pushboats or self-propelled vessels, and steamships were decommissioned and scrapped one by one in passenger service.

You can read more about this topic in this large-format book, which brings the great era of steamship travel on the Rhine back to life on 96 pages (32 of which are in color) with around 110 historical photos (mostly from the period between 1930 and 1970) by Carl Bellingrodt, Detlev Luckmann and many others.

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