The Cowichan was built at the same time as her sister (Q of Coquitlam - Burrard DD), and her truck ferry cousin (Q of Alberni - Allied Shipyard). Together these vessels comprised the first three of BC Ferries 'C' class vessels.
Also seen in this photo is a CanMar Beaufort Sea oil drilling ship, & a Canadian Coast Guard 'weather ship', the CCGS Quadra, sister to the CCGS Vancouver. The weather ship service was discontinued at about the time of this photo.
Note - this info updated 16 Nov 2011 - WCK/JST
Last Edit: Nov 16, 2011 10:02:28 GMT -8 by Wett Coast
Post by FerryNutSeattle on Jan 13, 2008 6:01:00 GMT -8
admin said:
The second is a postcard of either the Cowichan or Coquitlam (I'm not sure which). It looks like the older C-class visors were all one piece at one point as it seems to form a sort of arch over the traffic loading and unloading here:
This photo is of the MV QUEEN OF COWICHAN. An easy item to distinguish the difference between these two sisters then is their rescue boat stations. The COWICHAN had three angles (the clean look). The MV QUEEN OF COQUITLAM had an extra notch. This is now gone after their recent reworkings. The most obvious difference between the two now is that the COWICHAN has an odd looking structure behind one of her wheelhouses (does anyone know what it is used for?).
I asked one of the crew members about "the odd looking structure behind one of her wheelhouses" and I was told it was a smoking area for the crew and that it was also there for servicing the elevator.
Elevator, Confirmed. This was built on to the vessle in 1996 when she went in for major renos while been transfered from Langdale to Departure Bay. The Surrey and Cowichan Switched places. This was done according to crew members on the ferry because some passengers on the Langdale run had a "Problem" with the Escalators on the Cowichan.
I as well prefer the Visors. I feel like they could have made them better, for example they could have been like a bow door so they just slide/fold into place, Would be easier. I think the only reason the Spirits still have their's is because they wouldn't look so nice without them.
Queen of Burnaby <--Next | Flickr | YouTube | Last--> Island Sky, Queen of Surrey
I believe the Oak Bay lost her visors in 1998. While the Surrey lost hers around 1996, when Route 3 crews were customizing "their girl" for the route, and right after the Queen of Cowichan was cut from Route 3, and went in for her first MLU.
Post by Wett Coast on Jun 19, 2008 22:37:17 GMT -8
Queen of Cowichan - c1977... This photo shows a first generation 'C' class vessel in its original configuration complete with upper car deck visors and car deck 'windows' as they were in the beginning. She was a good looking ship. I believe that the photo was not taken by my brother, but is part of his collection and originated as a BCF's publicity photo.
Post by Flugel Horn on Nov 14, 2009 20:51:18 GMT -8
From the collection of forum member "7 Sisters", from his photobucket account: s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd105/7sisters_photos/ - click on the photo to get to the full-size option. ===================================
Last Edit: Nov 14, 2009 23:28:08 GMT -8 by Flugel Horn
I just scanned a few images from my collection of photos and postcards.
The second is a postcard of the Cowichan. It looks like the older C-class visors were all one piece at one point as it seems to form a sort of arch over the traffic loading and unloading here:
I found another little album! Back on Friday July 29, 1988 I decided to devote an entire day to riding on all 5 C-Class ships. That season, the ship assignments were as follows: #1 DB-Queen of Surrey #2 DB-Queen of Alberni #1 HSB-Queen of Oak Bay (some things never change ;D) #2 HSB-Queen of Coquitlam #1 Langdale-Queen of Cowichan
========== 5:30PM sailing from HSB to Langdale:
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2009 19:11:12 GMT -8 by Flugel Horn
Here is something I was able to capture, while I was sitting in the Langdale waiting room this afternoon, patiently waiting for the Esquimalt to arrive. You can still see the original print of the Cowichans name below the bright while paint. Look closely!
OK here's my first attempt at scanning, then uploading, then posting a photo. If it works there'll be more to follow. It's the Queen of Cowichan on route2 in the summer of 1981
