Elvas Tower: SS Hopatcong Excursion Steamship - Elvas Tower

SS Hopatcong

Excursion Steamship
White Steamship Company

Lake Hopatong, NJ
1910

3.0 Change Log: Added Railings, Night Textures.

The largest steamship on Lake Hopatcong New Jersey, the Hopatcong served for decades to ferry passengers from the New Jersey railroad lines to the many resort hotels and lodges that were built around this beautiful area in the last 1800s up to the Second World War. This steamship was capable of carryng up to 150 people, and was well known in the region for the service it provided to the GreenLake area.

The Hopatcong was built and operated by the White Steamship Company who was the main competitor for the waterborne traffic for the lake with the Black Steamship Company which was owned by the Lackwanna RR. Competition was fierce and the Hopatcong was the largest ship on the lake and was a well known sight for many decades. The Hopatcong Lake area was renowned for the beautiful lakeside Resorts, Hotels and Lodges, the largest of which the Hotel Breslin was built in 1888. The area was very popular until after the Second World war, and many famous celebrities from New York City among the Vaudeville, Broadway and Hollywood realms came to the lake every summer and often performed at the resorts.

Gradually over time, the automobile replaced the trains and the steamers that sailed the lakes and the Hoptacong finally was dismantled in the 1970s after lingering in a backwater for many decades.

Credits:

I have learned a great deal about modelling for Train Sim and Open Rails from the wonderful experts that have given much to this remarkable sim over the years including Tim Muir, Captain Bazza, John Fleming, Jeff Farquar, Larry Mullett, Refman, Swisse, and many others. I created this model entirely with my own humble efforts. It is intended for medium distance viewing, and is suitable for just about any route from the era between 1880 and 1950, a few similar heritage ships remain in private and public collections and may still be enjoyed.

This model was created for placement in the Tri State Project and research and background was much assisted by members of that team.

The textures were developed from actual historic photographs of the ship herself and the overall details are as close as the minimal records that remain allow us to make her. Historic photos of the ship are included in the file set along with a suggested REF entry for scenery placement.

My thanks to Master Chief for testing this ship and running her thru sea trials.

Any questions you may reach me here at Elvas Tower via my forum names of CrisGer.