1974 Holmegaard Ships-plate with the paddle steamer Hjejlen as its motif

Product Description

1974 Holmegaard Ship's plate with motif of
Hjejlen - The Oldest Paddle-Steamer in
Denmark.
Inscription:
Hjuldamper Hjejlen

The beautiful paddle steamer was launched
on May 25th 1861 by Baumgarten and
Burmeister in Copenhagen. The vessel was
ordered by the founder of the town Silkeborg,
Michael Drewsen, an it was the first
passenger ship on the Silkeborg lakes. It
was called the Hjejlen ( The Golden Plover)
after the bird which, at that time, was a
typical inhabitant of the moors. Today the
bird has been almost crowded out, and in the
Silkeborg district the boat's whistle is
more often heard than that of the bird.
After considerable towing difficulties the
Hjejlen was able to moor along its future
berth on June 18th 1861, and on June 24th
its inauguration took place with King
Frederik VII on board.
The Hjejlen has undergone some changes
since then. As early as 1871 the mast was
removed and the funnel arranged to bend
backwards when the boat went under the
railway bridge.
A rail was put up all the way round, and the
original steam boiler- an ordinary
locomotive boiler- has been replaced. The
Hjejlen was equipped with an engine room
telegraph and an enclosed wheel house.
The Hjejlen is still in regular service,
and the good ship carries thousands of
tourists from Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget
(The Heaven Mountain) and back again every
year.