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Post by WettCoast on Oct 12, 2007 21:56:07 GMT -8
The Usk Ferry... This is a reaction ferry that crosses the Skeena River just upstream from Terrace, BC. That red 1980 Jeep Cherokee was once mine. I am driving it in the photos. In the left background of the top photo you can see the cable car that is used during winter when the Skeena freezes over.   both photos by DOT |
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Post by WettCoast on May 27, 2010 18:02:54 GMT -8
On Victoria Day Monday (May 24th) Mr & Ms WCK went for a return trip cruise on what just may be the the best reaction ferry in BC (maybe the best one on earth). I am talking (of course) about the Usk Ferry which crosses the Skeena River about 15 km above the town of Terrace. Here are a few photos and videos that I took that are especially for those of you who have never had the thrill and historical experience of riding on a reaction ferry.  The view here is from the south (Hwy 16) side of the river across to the north (CNR) side. The community of Usk is on the north bank although the collection of houses on the south bank is also known as Usk. This photo was taken when the river is running fairly high with spring snow melt. When the river is too high or low the reaction ferry is withdrawn from service and replaced with the passenger only cable tram visible on the right side of the photo. The view here is from the north (CNR) side of the river across to the south (Hwy 16) side. The passenger only cable tram is visible on the left side of the photo. The ferry's 'wheelhouse' - there are actually two wheels one just out of site behind the operator's back.Video 1 - the operator's workout!  Video 2 - Docking on south bank  Video 3 - View from the north bank as ferry comes in.  |
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Post by lmtengs on May 27, 2010 18:16:28 GMT -8
Great photos and videos!!!!
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on May 27, 2010 22:26:16 GMT -8
I have been on a few reaction ferries! Well actually I think only one! The ferry north of Kamloops I forget the name of it right now!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 14, 2013 7:02:03 GMT -8
A new thread for the Usk cable ferry on the Skeena River.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 30, 2013 18:26:52 GMT -8
100th anniversary....  Clipped from the Northern Connector (Black Press) e-edition; photo by M. Speirs
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 3, 2013 19:02:44 GMT -8
The Usk reaction ferry viewed from the south bank of the Skeena River, about 15 km NE of Terrace, BC - 3 November 2013. There has been a reaction ferry operating across the Skeena at Usk since October 1913, 100 years. At some time in the perhaps not so distant future a road on the north (west) bank of the Skeena will reach Usk and the ferry will disappear into history as most other ferries of this type have already done. In this view the reaction ferry is tied up & out-of-service, I gather, due to the low water level on the river. In any case, ice on the river which will likely come soon, will put the ferry out of operation until next April. On the upper right of this photo you can see the cable car which provides a passenger only connection across the Skeena when the reaction ferry is closed down. Usk residents keep their vehicles in a parking lot beside the south bank terminal over the winter months. Residents can also catch Via's Skeena train which passes right through 'down town' Usk three times per week in each direction.  photo © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr Higher res view |
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 8, 2013 8:56:33 GMT -8
Mr. Horn it is nice that you liked the above photo of the Usk ferry but you didn't study the photo closely enough to see just what a transportation hub Usk really is. You might have to click on the link to the large version, though. For more on the Usk ferry centennial of operations check out this: tranbc.ca/2013/11/07/saluting-a-century-of-usks-skeena-river-ferrymen/ |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 8, 2013 9:13:36 GMT -8
Mr. Horn it is nice that you liked the above photo of the Usk ferry but you didn't study the photo closely enough to see just what a transportation hub Usk really is. You might have to click on the link to the large version, though. For more on the Usk ferry centennial of operations check out this: tranbc.ca/2013/11/07/saluting-a-century-of-usks-skeena-river-ferrymen/Oh I did notice the VIA Skeena train. But now you've got me taking a closer look at the trees to see if this is also a Sasquatch migration corridor. |
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 8, 2013 11:41:33 GMT -8
Did you catch the photo of a winter crossing of the river before they added the cable car?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 8, 2013 11:50:46 GMT -8
Did you catch the photo of a winter crossing of the river before they added the cable car? Oh my, that's a crazy crossing. ICE ICE FERRY |
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Post by WettCoast on May 31, 2014 12:08:31 GMT -8
The Usk ferry & the Skeena River viewed from the north (west) side of the river @ Usk,15 km NE of Terrace, BC - 30 May 2014. The Skeena was running high & fast with spring snow melt & runoff from recent rain. 
Both photos © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 10, 2015 7:20:34 GMT -8
Usk reaction Ferry - crossing the Skeena River about 15 km north east of Terrace, BC - 7 June 2015. The view here is from the side of Hwy 16 about one km up the river from the tiny village of Usk.  © WCK-JST by JST, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 10, 2015 8:16:33 GMT -8
Usk reaction Ferry - crossing the Skeena River about 15 km north east of Terrace, BC - 7 June 2015. The view here is from the side of Hwy 16 about one km up the river from the tiny village of Usk. © WCK-JST by JST, on Flickr
Is the river running high, because of freshet (spring melt water) ? Or is the Skeena suffering from the same low-flow that our Vancouver Island rivers are experiencing, re a dry winter? |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 10, 2015 12:44:36 GMT -8
The snow pack up in the Skeena watershed was actually a little above normal. That plus warm spring weather gives you your answer.
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Post by gogostop on Dec 30, 2016 19:38:21 GMT -8
It has been maybe 40 years since the incident...but our family lost our vehicle as boarded the Usk Ferry. We were residents of the west side of Usk at the time. My parent had 2 children in the vehicle with them....the ferry unhooked itself from the dock....my parent was able to save one child and thank goodness for the quick thinking of the Ferry Operator that day...as they jumped the railing and saved my other sibling. Then the truck slid into the Skeena river loaded down with a couple of barrels of grain. My family was never compensated by BC Ferries or the Department of Highways...the two fought over who was responsible for the accident. There was never an apology either for the trauma the incident the caused the family.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 22, 2019 20:59:50 GMT -8
Aerial tram that crosses the Skeena River at Usk, about 15 km upstream (north-east) from Terrace, BC - 8 March 1978.
This cable car is part of BC's inland ferry network. It is used only when the reaction ferry that takes cars & passengers across the river is out of service, such as during the winter when the river is iced over. Though this photo is 41 years old, I believe it remains much the same today. I just might get a new version of this photo next winter. Are there any other cable car ferries still operating elsewhere in BC?
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 28, 2020 14:54:44 GMT -8
Skeena River Reaction Ferry @ Usk, BC - 25 August 2020 Reaction ferries used to be quite common, decades ago, but there are not many left. This one at usk, BC, is one of a handful left in Canada. It is shown in this video crossing a rain-swollen Skeena River, about 15 miles upstream from Terrace, BC. In BC's Pacific north-west, the fall monsoon this year began in June.
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 27, 2021 11:37:30 GMT -8
Usk Ferry, in the winter, with arial passenger only service in operation. Skeena River, about 15 km upstream (north-east) from Terrace, BC. See also the close up attached. I imagine masks are required when crossing in this cabin.
26 February 2021
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patb
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by patb on Jan 29, 2023 2:02:14 GMT -8
It has been maybe 40 years since the incident...but our family lost our vehicle as boarded the Usk Ferry. We were residents of the west side of Usk at the time. My parent had 2 children in the vehicle with them....the ferry unhooked itself from the dock....my parent was able to save one child and thank goodness for the quick thinking of the Ferry Operator that day...as they jumped the railing and saved my other sibling. Then the truck slid into the Skeena river loaded down with a couple of barrels of grain. My family was never compensated by BC Ferries or the Department of Highways...the two fought over who was responsible for the accident. There was never an apology either for the trauma the incident the caused the family. |
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patb
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by patb on Jan 29, 2023 2:03:06 GMT -8
Wow, I think my dad may have been the ferryman. Tom
Brophy? He told me a story a lot like this.
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