Want a Vintage Ferry?

[EGfleet]

You can get your very own on ebay!

tinyurl.com/293xoe

The Olympic is up for bid...Any takers here on the board?

[Northern Exploration]

If this was yesterday I would have said it was an April fools leg puller lol.

[Electric Thunderbird]

Would be cool as a houseboat.

[SS San Mateo]

I would be if I had won that huge powerball lottery a few weeks ago.

[FNS]

I remember riding the OLYMPIC. Many times in the 1960s to the 1980s on the Whidbey runs. Neat old ferry.

She had a bit of a neat rattle. My folks used to call her a "rattle-trap".

Step outside onto her open promenade and you were serenaded by a noisy stack. I remember the noise really well. I'll let you folks chat about this on this thread for a few days before I tell you my story about this, and an embarrassing incident that happened to her in 1980.

The photos on the auctioneer's sites bring me memories of riding this vessel. Good to see the green benches. A few things WSF did are upsetting to me. Like covering some stained wood trim under the windows with paint, and replacing the beautiful dark green tile flooring with gray. The area you see the "ISSAQUAH seats" was a table fastened to the stanchions. People ate their hot dogs on this table standing up while reading the headlines (this was located next to the galley counter).

The rattle only stopped when the main engine was stopped and being cocked the other direction. She had one engine that was connected to both drive shafts (push-pull). A small hiss of air was heard when it was started each time by orders from the telegraph. It took about five or so seconds for the engine to change directions (stop, wig, hiss, start). The electric generator was the noisiest part of the vessel. As mentioned above, I'll let you all discuss what the exhaust sounded like for a few days before I tell you on this thread.

[Low Light Mike]

Are you teasing us with a flatulence joke ? ;D

[FNS]

As promised, here is my description of the noise that came from the OLYMPIC's stack from her electric generator.

The best way for me to describe this sound is that it sounded quite like a tractor. Like a British Railways Class 37 diesel locomotive. Railfans there affectionately call these double ended machines "growlers". They growl when leaving a station and usually maintain it at speed. These are quite popular machines as railfans in Britain have an addiction to them. Me too, as I have three OO-Gauge replicas in my collection. They are seen in mainline and preserved service. They are also seen assisting steam locos, like the one used in the filming of the movie of that boy wizard on its trips to and from Sir Robert McAlpine's 1901 Mallaig West Highland Extension Line out of Fort William, Scotland. Glenfinnan Viaduct is used most often in these films.

Here is a site to listen and watch videos of this popular British Railway machine and to get an idea on what the OLYMPIC's stack sounded like:

www.freewebs.com/railatestuk/index.htm

Now, for the OLYMPIC's most embarrassing moment in 1980.

This happened on a Wednesday in October of that year. The NISQUALLY rammed the Mukilteo dock after the morning rush. The damage was enough to close the terminal and send the ferries down to Edmonds. The 14 minute crossing became a 55 minute cruise. Other vessels at Clinton this day were the ILLAHEE and OLYMPIC. The NISQUALLY was not damaged enough to set her telegraphs at Finished With Engines and worked with the ILLAHEE on the Edmonds detour.

The afternoon arrived and the OLYMPIC was ready to do her extra trips. She went south to Edmonds empty. When she arrived, she could not fit the dock! She and the RHODODENDRON were fitted with bows that originally had a greater radius than the ones on the Sound. Typical wide radius of those in New York. The ferry docks on the Whidbey runs were compatible to both bow radius-es. The OLYMPIC was helpless that afternoon and went back to Clinton.

The next day, a crew was sent to Anacortes to bring down the KLICKITAT, which was unaffected by a printed schedule in the Fall Timetable. This would be quite a reunion of the Steel-Electrics since their arrival from San Francisco Bay. This would probably be the only time you would see up to three SE's on a single run here on Puget Sound. The QUINAULT was preoccupied with a printed schedule at Vashon Island and couldn't join the party.

It was back to normal on the Friday. KLICKITAT went back north and the OLYMPIC was back in business handling the loads on the holiday weekend.

It would be about 1984 when WSF finally figured out how to fix the bows of the Maryland sisters. Extensions were welded at each end to give their bows a sharper radius. They began to flex their freedom as they could fit all docks now. The OLY served mostly at Point Defiance, but also made appearances on the Fauntleroy, Edmonds, Whidbey, and Anacortes runs. The RHODY served the San Juans in 1984, back at Port Townsend in 1985, out of service in 1986 until the early 1990s.

All overall 207 and 226 measurements mentioned in books, websites, and this auction of the OLYMPIC are no longer valid as these vessels are about ten or so feet longer with the extensions. This is also why you see such an overhang over their bows.

[Political Incorrectness]

Thanks ferrynut. That is a little interesting piece of history and information and we thank you for sharing that (at least me, myself and I).

[FNS]

One more bit of bow history.

When the CROWN CITY came north to become the KULSHAN for service on the Mukilteo run in 1969, her bows were modified. She had a double bevel at each end with a disappearing bar barrier at the summit. The ramps had to come down to a precise location on the bevel so that the undersides of motorists' expensive machines don't get damaged. Blisters were welded at each side of her bows so she could land at these widely separated docks specially designed for the Maryland sisters.

When the KULSHAN moved to Hood Canal in 1980, her blisters were trimmed (the docks there were designed for standard sharp bows). When she returned to Clinton in 1981, complaints came in from motorists. After subbing for the HIYU about that time at Point Defiance, it was decided to say goodbye to this vessel.

After the Maryland sisters finally received their bow extensions in 1984, it was good riddence to special dock designs (all docks can now be of one standard design)!

After a long tow to the East Coast for service in New York Harbor as GOVERNOR, she went to a shipyard for modifications. A long lounge was installed on the Statue of Liberty side. Oh, yes! Her bows were modified again!! Big radius there!!!

One more move came for her. And, hopefully, one last bow modification! She is a standby at Woods Hole for the services to Martha's Vineyard alongside the new ISLAND HOME and MARTHA'S VINEYARD. Their bows are sharper like the ones we have here on Puget Sound.

[northwesterner]

ferrynutseattle said:

It would be about 1984 when WSF finally figured out how to fix the bows of the Maryland sisters. Extensions were welded at each end to give their bows a sharper radius. They began to flex their freedom as they could fit all docks now. The OLY served mostly at Point Defiance, but also made appearances on the Fauntleroy, Edmonds, Whidbey, and Anacortes runs. The RHODY served the San Juans in 1984, back at Port Townsend in 1985, out of service in 1986 until the early 1990s.

Its interesting that neither of the sisters has served at PT-Keystone for over twenty years - yet as of a few years ago the postcard racks in Port Townsend still have lots of cards with Rhody and Olympic on the route. Also, I believe the annual poster of the Keystone and PT terminals feature (both?) those ships.

I remember growing up and seeing all those posters and postcards of those two on the route - but I never rode them. Everytime I was out there - it was always a Steel Electric... for as long as I can remember.

Also interesting is the Rhody's 1984 service in the San Juans. Was it just for the summer, or longer? Was this the only appearance by the Rhodedendron in the Islands? I'd love to see a picture of that. Did the Olympic ever serve the islands?

[SS Shasta]

northwesterner said:

ferrynutseattle said:

Its interesting that neither of the sisters has served at PT-Keystone for over twenty years - yet as of a few years ago the postcard racks in Port Townsend still have lots of cards with Rhody and Olympic on the route. Also, I believe the annual poster of the Keystone and PT terminals feature (both?) those ships.

I remember growing up and seeing all those posters and postcards of those two on the route - but I never rode them. Everytime I was out there - it was always a Steel Electric... for as long as I can remember.

Also interesting is the Rhody's 1984 service in the San Juans. Was it just for the summer, or longer? Was this the only appearance by the Rhodedendron in the Islands? I'd love to see a picture of that. Did the Olympic ever serve the islands?

My father and I actually rode MV Olympic from Keystone to Port Townsend twice during June 1993. We had gone up to visit Fort Casey where my dad worked for several months during World War II. When we looked up, to our surprise, we saw MV Olympic docking at Keystone; we knew we needed to jump on board for the ride to Port Townsend. There she was displaying her lovely brass fittings and wheel; a work crew was placing fresh tar on the roof of the passenger cabin to stop some leaks. It was such a joy to ride on her that we returned a few days later for a round trip.

Yes, there were many cards, etc. in the gift shops at Port Townsend displaying both the Oly and the Rhody. I purchased a lovely copper engraving of the Oly at the old Port Townsend landing that summer and a original painting of her landing at Keystone.

It is a shame to see her looking so sad at her layup dock in Winslow.

[FNS]

1984 was the only year the RHODY was in the San Juans. Summer only. Inter-island.

The exhaust sound from the RHODY's stack was quite the opposite of the OLYMPIC's. Very quiet. The electric generator noise from the Engine Room hatches on the RHODY's Main Deck sounded like a loud vacuum cleaner tuned to the same note as her whistle.

The OLY's visit to the San Juans was very brief, I think just one time, just to replace a vessel or add service in a vessel shortage. Just think of some of the islanders hearing that tractor sound from her stack. They may think there was a short construction project going on nearby!

[Barnacle]

northwesterner said:

Its interesting that neither of the sisters has served at PT-Keystone for over twenty years - yet as of a few years ago the postcard racks in Port Townsend still have lots of cards with Rhody and Olympic on the route. Also, I believe the annual poster of the Keystone and PT terminals feature (both?) those ships.

If you're referring to the WSF annual posters, the 1985 poster of Keystone featured the unrefurbished Illahee; the... er... 1989? poster of Port Townsend featured the refurbished Klickitat.

And I'm told the Olypmic did interisland service up in the islands for a few years, but I wasn't here to verify that, of course. ;D

[FNS]

To brush everyone up on this neat forum on the history of the Keystone run, WSF began two vessel operations on the Keystone - Port Townsend run in 1981.

I took the TILLIKUM from Edmonds to Port Townsend on the last day of operation of this temporary run in the Spring of 1980. I then took the OLYMPIC to Keystone. While looking back through her car deck when landing at Keystone, I saw the northbound RHODODENDRON turning into Port Townsend on a vessel change.

The new dock in Keystone harbor was under construction. When that opened, WSF was allowed to run two vessels on this run.

The old Quincy Street dock in Port Townsend was still in use then.

Both the RHODODENDRON and OLYMPIC were on the Admiralty Inlet run in 1981, inaugurating two vessel service there. The OLY made fast at the old Keystone dock (next to the new one) at night while the RHODY's telegraph was set to FWE (Finished With Engines) at Quincy.

When the new double-slip Harrison dock was opened, the old Keystone dock was taken down (which is left with the current slip there). Both vessels now FWE in Port Townsend when their schedules are completed for the day.

One exception to this is that the main vessel of the two will need to make fast at Keystone at night leaving the main slip at Harrison open for a 24-hour ferry from Edmonds whenever that 90 minute run is restarted due to any major closures of the Hood Canal Bridge.

[northwesterner]

shasta said:

My father and I actually rode MV Olympic from Keystone to Port Townsend twice during June 1993. We had gone up to visit Fort Casey where my dad worked for several months during World War II. When we looked up, to our surprise, we saw MV Olympic docking at Keystone; we knew we needed to jump on board for the ride to Port Townsend. There she was displaying her lovely brass fittings and wheel; a work crew was placing fresh tar on the roof of the passenger cabin to stop some leaks. It was such a joy to ride on her that we returned a few days later for a round trip.

Thanks for confirming this. I thought I remembered that Olympic last ran on that route just before her sale.

IIRC, when the Rhody returned to service, Olympic was to be retired immediately. But the Rhody had some teething problems, and so the Olympic became a stand-by fill-in vessel. She made a couple more round trips at Tahlequah, and then filled in for a week or two at PT-Keystone, in summer 1993 (I wanted to get up there and ride her but couldn't make it). That assignment may have been her last, as she was sold shortly thereafter.

[Electric Thunderbird]

Re-listed on E-bay

tinyurl.com/yt73d7

[SS San Mateo]

The highest offer that was made the last time around was $20,000... less than 10% of the buy it now price ($249,500).

[Emory Lindgard]

I hope whoever bids on it, realizes that one of the Steering Wheels and Telegraphs is missing. It is on the Cathlamet as a display. Emory

[EGfleet]

vashondude said:

The highest offer that was made the last time around was $20,000... less than 10% of the buy it now price ($249,500).

Quite a mark up, considering it sold for $74,000.00 in 1997. And its condition certainly hasn't improved in the last 10 years.