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All Germany Strausberg Straussee Ferry

Straussee Ferry

A unique, free-floating electric ferry may be the only of its kind in Europe.

Strausberg, Germany

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ThomasSchneider62
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Ferry berth from the forest side   skhg / Atlas Obscura User
Information board at the Strausberg side   skhg / Atlas Obscura User
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zonk43
Overhead wire of Straussee Ferry - the longest span (369 metres) of an electric line used for power supply of a vehicle in the world   Zonk43
Information table of the history of Straussee Ferry in the vessel   Zonk43
Eastern support of the overhead line supplying Straussee Ferry with electric power   Zonk43
“Steffi” the only ship of Straussee Ferry   Flickr User: Mr. Wissenschaft
“Fest an der Faehre” - a festival for free with a firework celebrated at the port of the ferry. The blue column is the support of the overhead line supplying Straussee Ferry with electric power   Zonk43
Western support of the overhead line supplying Straussee Ferry with electric power   Zonk43
Plaque commemorating Daniel Gepke, the initiator of Straussee Ferry on the western support of the overhead line supplying Straussee Ferry with electric power   Zonk43
Lookning up the structure of the Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Looking up the interior of the Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Guy anchor of the Western Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Looking up the interior of the Western Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Western Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Western Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Western Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Eastern Tower of the overhead wire of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Conract role of vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
Vessel “Steffi” of Straussee Ferry   Zavijava2
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About

Straussee Ferry is the only free-floating electric ferry in Europe, getting its power through an overhead wire.

The Strausberg Railway launched the Straussee Ferry in 1915. It uses a single vessel named "Steffi", which is however not the boat used at inauguration, as it was built in 1967 and can transport 192 people at a time—more than enough to earn its keep in this picturesque German community.

While the United States has some passenger cable ferries like Steffi, the boat seems to be the only one of its kind in Europe. Running purely off of electricity, its overhead line is a power supply consisting of a single wire fed with AC of 230 volts, using the cables for the guidance of the ferry and the lake as a return conductor.

The overhead wire of Straussee Ferry, which is fixed at the eastern shore on a 9.6 metres high and on the western shore on a 9.7 metres high pylon, has a span width of 369 metres. It may have the largest span width of all overhead wire systems used for power supply of vehicles in the world.

The boat gliding across Straussee Lake as it shuttles passengers between the city of Strausberg and a forested area. Its travel distance spans a distance of 309 metres, the journey lasting around seven minutes.

Straussee Ferry travels all year round, but only if the Straussee doesn't freeze over completely, and as long as the waterway can be kept free of ice. Otherwise, Steffi ceases operation until warmer weather allows.

 

Related Tags

Boats Electrical Oddities

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Added By

ThomasSchneider62

Edited By

Rachel, hrnick, Knuffimufflon, skhg

  • Rachel
  • hrnick
  • Knuffimufflon
  • skhg

Published

March 5, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straussee_Ferry
  • http://www.psrb.de/eisenbahn/faehre/faehre.htm
  • https://www.strausbergereisenbahn.de/fa-faehre.htm
Straussee Ferry
Strausberg
Germany
52.576998, 13.876596
Visit Website

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