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Post by compdude787 on Oct 1, 2016 10:30:29 GMT -8
Wow, that is a great photo!!
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Oct 12, 2016 19:16:23 GMT -8
From a purchased photo, here's the ILLAHEE as LAKE TAHOE in San Francisco. The West Coast's first successful propeller driven 279-foot ferry BERKELEY of 1898 is seen astern of the 1927 256-foot Steel Electric.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Nov 9, 2016 2:18:29 GMT -8
Just got another photo of the ILLAHEE. This one shows her in the dock at Sidney BC in the late 1950s. In most likely her last summer as being a 66-foot wide ferry. In 1958, she would be taken in for "surgery" to elevate her superstructure for taller vehicles and widened to nearly 74 feet with new steel railings and reconfigured steering guides. As you can see, her makeshift aft mast (with its aft masthead light) was in the raised position. The forward masthead light was on the flag mast behind the Captain's stateroom. The stern light was mounted above the observatory windows at the other end. The aft mast would be lowered when south of the San Juans and the Inland Rules white lights, one above each wheelhouse, would be turned on at night. Only then the red and green lights would indicate the direction the ferries would be going.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2017 11:01:12 GMT -8
Some 1958 WSF historical footage of a ferry from Sidney
I will park this here, and then move it when the ship is identified.
starts at 4:12 mark
(Chinook and Kahloke at beginning of the video)
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Post by SS San Mateo on Aug 26, 2017 11:51:38 GMT -8
Most likely the Klickitat (the nameplate on the wheelhouse is visible at 4:41, but it's hard to read).
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 26, 2017 12:01:39 GMT -8
Some 1958 WSF historical footage of a ferry from Sidney I will park this here, and then move it when the ship is identified. starts at 4:12 mark (Chinook and Kahloke at beginning of the video) This was the ILLAHEE. This was the only Steel Electric ferry in the San Juans to have a fully enclosed midships lounge then. The KLICKITAT and NISQUALLY had their original midships shelter (around the fiddly) partly enclosed during that time. I don't think the QUINAULT ventured up there then as she was not fitted with makeshift international rules navigation lights like the other three had (until her 1987 rebuild). The ILLAHEE had green and white flag masts. This was shown before the ILLAHEE was widened and had her vehicle deck clearance raised to 13'10" from 11'4".
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2017 13:59:56 GMT -8
Thanks for the ferry identification work, gents. Much appreciated.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Jan 19, 2018 0:10:03 GMT -8
I have recently acquired a historic brochure. This is of the Steel Electrics operating during their initial days with Southern Pacific Lines before the mega merger that created the SPGGFL.
Larger image HERE
Larger image HERE
These show the original interiors of these ferries. The dining room had a smaller counter then before being expanded by either Black Ball or WSF. The view inside the ILLAHEE's observatory shows a thin strip of stained wood. It would be later when a thicker one would be installed. It also shows the roller door to protect the fancy machines of yesteryear from sea spray.
An error in a caption shows these were all-steel. Their hulls, car deck superstructures, fiddly, funnel, and ventilator cowls were steel. The decks were wood as well as the cabins and wheelhouses.
Very lucky these historic brochures are still around!
ENJOY!
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on Mar 12, 2018 11:35:22 GMT -8
Does anyone out there have a hull view of one of the Steel Electic's in dry-dock, before the 1950's renovations? I have several of the post renovation dry-dock views, but no the early ones. I would like one or two where the photo was taken looking toward one of the propellors, so I can get an idea of the hull's width's cross section.
From looking at the post widening photos, it appears that not all the widenings were the same, the Illahee widening looks different from that of the Quinalt.
Your assistance please. I have gotten myself appointed to the official, Whatcom County, Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee and am looking at every "smaller" ferry hull design I can find. The renovated Steel Electric's had some of the most efficient and seaworthy hulls in the area.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 7:32:46 GMT -8
I hope this Isn't inappropriate for the forum but its on my mind ive Not ridden on a state ferry but seeing videos and pics of the steel electrics brings tears to my eyes i love these ships but it just seems that ferry fans like me and all of you guys only say nice things about ferries before they're retired much like how people gather together to say great things about someone once They've Died i no offence but i just had toy say what my hearts been begging me to say here ever since ive been a member
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 8:42:38 GMT -8
It is a real shame they scrapped em to sure wished i could have done something for you guys
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2019 15:58:53 GMT -8
Gone but not forgotten R.I.P mv illahee mv klickitat mv nisqully and mv quinalt
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Jan 1, 2020 14:53:47 GMT -8
18 May 1935
From a purchased photo, we see these two passengers on the deck of the MV LAKE TAHOE. They were on a trip from the east side of the Bay to the Ferry Building, San Francisco.
I'm one of a few lucky ones of this forum to have promenaded this deck when this ferry was operating here on Puget Sound as the ILLAHEE, my favorite Steel Electric.
It would be 45 years later from the date of this photo when Mount Saint Helens would do her thing. Ferries would be equipped with "ash kits", whatever those were.
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Post by SeahawkNERD8275 on Apr 11, 2023 10:06:39 GMT -8
Did the nisqually do the point defiance- talaquah route ?
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Post by Kahloke on Apr 11, 2023 11:10:28 GMT -8
Did the nisqually do the point defiance- talaquah route ? Probably. According to EvergreenFleet.com, Nisqually was at Anacortes or the Vashon routes from 1951 to 1957. I would imagine Nisqually would have been at the north end of Vashon most of the time when assigned there, but it's possible she did time at Point Defiance-Tahlequah, too. See this link: evergreenfleet.com/nisqually/
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Post by northwesterner on Apr 11, 2023 23:23:16 GMT -8
Probably. According to EvergreenFleet.com, Nisqually was at Anacortes or the Vashon routes from 1951 to 1957. I would imagine Nisqually would have been at the north end of Vashon most of the time when assigned there, but it's possible she did time at Point Defiance-Tahlequah, too. See this link: evergreenfleet.com/nisqually/In the early 90s, Klickitat was at Pt. Townsend year round, Nisqually in the Islands year round, Quinault at FVS, and Illahee served as the second Pt. Townsend vessel in the summer and relieved the other 3 Steel Electrics for winter maintenance as well as the Rhody at Pt. Defiance. When the Coast Guard requested Illahee be moved off of Pt. Townsend, she swapped with Nisqually, which I believe became the roving relief Steel Electric (including at Pt. Townsend) for a few years until Quinault was bounced off FVS permanently.
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Post by elwharust on Feb 26, 2024 18:22:01 GMT -8
Here's the NISQUALLY as seen from Fort Casey in 1986: These photos were taken using a disc camera, the only camera I had in my pocket that day. I was experimenting with that camera then. Thus, the grainy look. I took these just after sunset. The 1984-installed directional nav lights can be seen in the middle photo. More about the disc camera can be read at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_filmI don't know what it is about it but I just love the look of the Steel E's old houses with this paint scheme
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Post by northwesterner on Feb 26, 2024 22:58:16 GMT -8
These photos were taken using a disc camera, the only camera I had in my pocket that day. I was experimenting with that camera then. Thus, the grainy look. I took these just after sunset. The 1984-installed directional nav lights can be seen in the middle photo. More about the disc camera can be read at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_filmI don't know what it is about it but I just love the look of the Steel E's old houses with this paint scheme I had not seen these posted previously, but FNS these are the only photos I've seen of the Steel Electrics with the old cabins and the WSDOT "T" logo on the stacks.
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