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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 14, 2013 7:00:19 GMT -8
A new thread for photos, information and discussion on the Needles-Fauquier cable ferry on Lower Arrow Lake.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 14, 2013 20:17:10 GMT -8
Here are some shots from my September 2011 trip to the Arrow Lakes.: M.V. Needles arriving at Fauquier. Her Builder's Plaque.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 15, 2013 18:50:36 GMT -8
Needles cable ferry loading at Fauquier side. - morning of September 11, 2013.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 22, 2013 21:25:04 GMT -8
My video of the Needles cable ferry, seen by me on the morning of September 11, 2013. - I enjoyed a couple of hours on the Fauquier shore side, and riding the ferry. Then I got into my car, drove onto the ferry and rode it like a normal person and continued on with my journey.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 12, 2013 19:55:09 GMT -8
The dock area on the Fauquier side of the Needles ferry, on Lower Arrow Lake. - morning of September 11, 2013. The simple shore-structure, which the ferry nuzzles up to This shows how low the lake level was.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 15, 2013 18:02:19 GMT -8
A typical 15 minutes on the Needles cable-ferry, on Lower Arrow Lake. - this typical quarter-hour was seen by me on September 11, 2013, in the morning, from the Fauquier side. ps: If you're wondering what that little yellow sign on the right-side of the shore berth structure says, it is: " Remain In Vehicle Until Ferry Underway"
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 16, 2013 10:25:58 GMT -8
Some more shots of the Needles cable ferry, from a few different angles. - Sept.11, 2013. From beside the ramp, on the Fauquier side. -------------- And from down the beach:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 25, 2013 9:26:56 GMT -8
Some on-board (or about to board) views of the CF Needles: - seen by me on September 11, 2013. I like the red/white 2-tone of this ring. Lifesaving plan shows a good outline of the hull She's still young, by BC Ferries standards But here's an old lady of the lake: Waiting to load, on the Fauquier side
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 12, 2013 10:55:43 GMT -8
Some on-board shots of Needle cable ferry, from morning of September 11, 2013 Showing what the dock looks like as we approach it, and meet it (Needles side of the lake): ==================================================== The car deck from both sides of the ship, looking eastward into the morning sun. The elevated walkway on the port-side of the vessel is where I did my on-board filming from
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 16, 2014 8:05:37 GMT -8
Arrow Lakes 'cable' ferry Needles at Needles - Faquier crossing on Hwy 6 between Upper & Lower Arrow Lakes, BC interior - 6 June 2014. The cables on either side of the hull keep the ferry in place only (i.e. on the 'straight & narrow'), while the centre cable is the one the on-board propulsion gear 'pulls on' to draw the ferry toward either shore. The cable ferry that is to connect Vancouver Island to Denman Island should look much like this, only larger, and the crossing will be much longer. © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 16, 2014 8:10:14 GMT -8
The cable ferry that is to connect Vancouver Island to Denman Island should look much like this, only larger, and the crossing will be much longer. ...except that the Denman ferry will have a centre console, not a bridge-on-the-side ================ (copied from the Denman thread) Western Mariner magazine has a diagram of the ship design profile. The closest thing that I could find on the internet (to give us a link here) is this item, from a Gabriola advisory website. I draw your attention to the centre console, running the length of the barge. 2 lanes on either side of the centre console. HERE for the DIAGRAM
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 16, 2014 18:58:48 GMT -8
Needles - Arrow Lakes 'cable' ferry on the Needles - Fauquier crossing (Highway 6) between Upper & Lower Arrow Lakes - 6 June 2014. That is the Fauquier (east) side of the lake visible in the distance. This view clearly shows the three cables that make this a 'cable ferry'. The outer cables are to guide the ferry, while the centre cable is the one that the propulsion system 'grabs' to pull the vessel across the lake. The Needles has a capacity of 30 cars & 144 passengers. © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 31, 2014 12:47:28 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on May 27, 2016 13:05:50 GMT -8
Another photo of the first M/V Needles making the Hwy 6 crossing from Needles east to Fauquier - Arrow Lakes, BC - 14 September 1987. This ferry was replaced by the current cable ferry (also named Needles*) a few years later in 1990. The vessel pictured here was then renamed Shelter Bay, & moved north to Upper Arrow Lake to supplement the service provided by the Galena. *Why did they recycle the name? Maybe they should have named the cable ferry Fauquier, or even Arrow Lakes Connector. Higher Res© WCK-JST - Konica 87-10-33 by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Ignacio
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Post by Ignacio on May 31, 2016 12:13:06 GMT -8
This was the first cable ferry I'd ever been on and wish I had previously Googled how they worked. As I queried staff about the basic mechanics of how it and cables interacted they politely said, "You could look over the side and see..." So, I did and suddenly understood the principles of an inch thick cable (seemed about the same as a ski lift), sheaves at least on four corners of the boat (a slightly bulked up version of something on a ski lift, and a supremely undramatic crossing.
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Post by Wolf on Jul 28, 2016 17:34:14 GMT -8
m.flickr.com/#/photos/122623807@N08/28512839622/View of the wheelhouse of the MV Needles, the ferry is currently in drydock at shelter bay undergoing painting and small upgrades. She will be lifted out again in november for major upgrades and repairs. Dont ask me why they arent doing it now, i already asked that question. The costs to move it from fauquier to shelter bay is expensive plus the lift out, factoring in the trip the DEV galena has to make to take its place and then come back.. Major waste of money imo
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 1, 2018 8:17:22 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Aug 1, 2018 9:01:05 GMT -8
These two pictures really demonstrate how to operate a ferry, albeit a cable-jobbie, with virtually 'Zero' infrastructure gumming up the works. A steel ramp plopped down on the sandy beach, drive on, cables pull the ferry to the other side, plop down the ramp, exit the 'barge' and voila!...done. Love the lack of infrastructure drama as compared to that other cable thingy over on Vancouver Island.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 11, 2019 12:11:37 GMT -8
I might be taking this ferry on a Wednesday in September. It will be from the Needles side as I will be driving from Kelowna to Nelson. I want to check out the rest area at the Needles side as it seems to have a good view of the ferry before I actually go across. I am just curious when cars line up if anyone knows do most people block the entrance to the Rest Area?? Or are there signs stating you shouldn't do that?? I am just wondering if I can access the Rest Area if there is a big lineup without having to drive down the oncoming lane??
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 11, 2019 13:47:32 GMT -8
I might be taking this ferry on a Wednesday in September. It will be from the Needles side as I will be driving from Kelowna to Nelson. I want to check out the rest area at the Needles side as it seems to have a good view of the ferry before I actually go across. I am just curious when cars line up if anyone knows do most people block the entrance to the Rest Area?? Or are there signs stating you shouldn't do that?? I am just wondering if I can access the Rest Area if there is a big lineup without having to drive down the oncoming lane?? I went to Google Maps street-view, and found your answer. There are "No Parking" signs in front of the entrance to the rest area. So you can access the rest-area and park in the rest area.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 11, 2019 14:03:17 GMT -8
Any tips Mike for doing a footie trip or 2?? I think you have done a few before and I think two round trips would be less than an hour. If I did the footie trips it would be from the Faquier side. I know they don't get walk ons on this crossing so I am just curious.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 11, 2019 14:14:36 GMT -8
Any tips Mike for doing a footie trip or 2?? I think you have done a few before and I think two round trips would be less than an hour. If I did the footie trips it would be from the Faquier side. I know they don't get walk ons on this crossing so I am just curious. I did a few footie back&forth trips on the Needles cable ferry; no issues or problems. Just park somewhere and do some back and forth trips. If traffic is light, drive onto the ferry, and drive up to Arrow Park to see either the ferry there. The new ferry is supposed to go into service sometime in summer 2019. ...or later.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 12, 2019 7:12:07 GMT -8
I will be driving over on the ferry as I will be heading to Nelson that day so I was gonna maybe do a round trip or two after if the weather is decent. I might check out the Arrow Park ferry not sure if I will have time to ride it though. It is very beautiful in that area.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 16, 2021 17:48:23 GMT -8
In past year in half the Needles has been wearing the new cable ferry livery.
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