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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2015 6:48:15 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jul 28, 2015 7:21:48 GMT -8
Thanks for correcting my error to which I plead having a 'senior moment'
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Post by Wolf on Aug 28, 2015 19:08:46 GMT -8
The forum isnt letting me post photos for some reason, but i found a couple photos in my house of the day the osprey 2000 first launched, taken from inside the site
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 20, 2015 22:47:08 GMT -8
The size difference between the two ships is very apparent here. Also the Osprey-2000 looks more natural running in the opposite direction than what she's doing in this photo (ie. she looks better if she would be running in same direction as the Balfour is)
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Post by WettCoast on May 12, 2016 20:34:08 GMT -8
M/V Anscomb - former Kootenay Lake Ferry en route across the lake - 11 August 1988. The shot was taken from her running mate, the Balfour (slide 88-03-10). This ferry was replaced after decades of service by the current ferry, the Osprey 2000, in the year 2000. A few years later (2004) the Anscomb sunk near Ainsworth Hotsprings. It is possible now for divers to explore her though she is down at the limit of recreational diving. © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
Full size
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Post by Mike C on May 22, 2016 23:45:49 GMT -8
Whew, found an Inland ferry service that isn't attached to a rope, just the way the Founding Fathers would have intended. This is a pre-refit Osprey 2000, taken while going back and forth between our campsite over two different weekends in April and May. What a neat boat. I wish BC Ferries would derive something like this for future Century Class vessels. On board, passengers find some early-2000s decor and reasonably nice seating, with a snackbar which has a pretty impressive selection of snacks, given the size of the ship. She doesn't exactly operate at light speed, though - I don't think we made it over 6 or 7 knots... Osprey 2000 - Kootenay Bay, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr Here she is, doing a donut just before coming into Kootenay Bay. MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr And one final obligatory shot of the Balfour, which begins relief for the Osprey 2000 starting Tuesday the 24th. Her regular summer service on the run does not begin until mid-June. Thank the heavens that she was not filling in on the Friday before the Long Weekend, we would have been left behind for sure. MV Balfour - Balfour, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr
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Post by Wolf on May 23, 2016 10:40:08 GMT -8
Whew, found an Inland ferry service that isn't attached to a rope, just the way the Founding Fathers would have intended. This is a pre-refit Osprey 2000, taken while going back and forth between our campsite over two different weekends in April and May. What a neat boat. I wish BC Ferries would derive something like this for future Century Class vessels. On board, passengers find some early-2000s decor and reasonably nice seating, with a snackbar which has a pretty impressive selection of snacks, given the size of the ship. She doesn't exactly operate at light speed, though - I don't think we made it over 6 or 7 knots... Osprey 2000 - Kootenay Bay, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr Here she is, doing a donut just before coming into Kootenay Bay. MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr And one final obligatory shot of the Balfour, which begins relief for the Osprey 2000 starting Tuesday the 24th. Her regular summer service on the run does not begin until mid-June. Thank the heavens that she was not filling in on the Friday before the Long Weekend, we would have been left behind for sure. MV Balfour - Balfour, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr Its top speed is rated at 12 knots which is usually how fast it goes
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Ignacio
Oiler (New Member)
Posts: 37
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Post by Ignacio on May 31, 2016 12:22:37 GMT -8
This was my third, final, and most crowded crossing. I arrived in Balfour about 40 minutes before departure and found myself the last in line of Lane #2. Being out of WiFi contact for most of the day I exchanged $7 for a warm bowl of lentil soup and WiFi password at the dock restaurant. Mmmm....good. At the dock was the decent-sized Osprey and assumed the other ferry would be a similar scale. As the ferry boarded I was a bit surprised that the attendant had stopped the line three cars in front of me and puzzled as there were nearly two full lines of cars that came after me. After watching a full sized pickup and larger SUV do a U-turn with angry looks on their face I was even more puzzled. Cluing in that the ferry was full I was a bit surprised as the attendant counted off paces of the CR-V in front of me as well as my Volkswagen GTI. Then she told me to pull around and board the ferry! I was literally the last one on, had about six inches between my rear gate and the chain, and trusted the attendant I wasn't going to scrape the cars on either side of me. Part of me wanted to get out the sunroof, but I did like the vast majority of passengers and chose to ride the 35 minute adventure from inside my car..which I think is a first for me.
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Post by Wolf on May 31, 2016 14:39:58 GMT -8
This was my third, final, and most crowded crossing. I arrived in Balfour about 40 minutes before departure and found myself the last in line of Lane #2. Being out of WiFi contact for most of the day I exchanged $7 for a warm bowl of lentil soup and WiFi password at the dock restaurant. Mmmm....good. At the dock was the decent-sized Osprey and assumed the other ferry would be a similar scale. As the ferry boarded I was a bit surprised that the attendant had stopped the line three cars in front of me and puzzled as there were nearly two full lines of cars that came after me. After watching a full sized pickup and larger SUV do a U-turn with angry looks on their face I was even more puzzled. Cluing in that the ferry was full I was a bit surprised as the attendant counted off paces of the CR-V in front of me as well as my Volkswagen GTI. Then she told me to pull around and board the ferry! I was literally the last one on, had about six inches between my rear gate and the chain, and trusted the attendant I wasn't going to scrape the cars on either side of me. Part of me wanted to get out the sunroof, but I did like the vast majority of passengers and chose to ride the 35 minute adventure from inside my car..which I think is a first for me. Last time i rode the balfour, it was just as packed, and i was right underneath the exhaust pipes, all i smelled was hydraulic fluid, engine oil and couldnt hear anything over the 3 noisy engines. Not the nicest boat to ride at all
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Post by Mike C on Jul 13, 2016 1:00:11 GMT -8
On my most recent trip last Friday on the Kootenay Lake ferry, I decided to change it up and take the Balfour. As reported in the previous post, I was at the terminal at the normal time I would arrive for the Osprey, but I found myself to be the third-to-last vehicle on. The tight squeeze was well worth it, though - the engines roared a recognizable tone for us transit enthusiasts, as she used the same type of engines used on both old transit buses and older highway coaches (two-stroke Detroit engines). The retro feel of the ship (teak doors, tight corridors) added to that effect all the more. While on board I only took a couple photos off the side, here's one... MV Balfour by Michael Coulson, on Flickr ...and took full advantage of the opportunity to get some takes of the Osprey. Holy moly, that ferry has some of the nicest lines of any modern ferry (built within the last 20 years) here in BC. MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr MV Osprey 2000 by Michael Coulson, on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 13, 2016 12:14:53 GMT -8
Nice report & photos from Mike C in the post above this one ...
Now for something not completely different as it involves the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing; specifically shortening it. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kootenay-ferry-1.3677002I have wondered why this was not done ages ago ... Apparently some people are against the plan and are stridently voicing their opposition. If this happened here on the coast they would be branded as "self-entitled lefties who expect everything for free".
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Post by Starsteward on Jul 13, 2016 16:29:25 GMT -8
Nice report & photos from Mike C in the post above this one ...
Now for something not completely different as it involves the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing; specifically shortening it. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kootenay-ferry-1.3677002I have wondered why this was not done ages ago ... Apparently some people are against the plan and are stridently voicing their opposition. If this happened here on the coast they would be branded as "self-entitled lefties who expect everything for free". Residents of the rural, small mid-island communities once served by route 40, know very well the debris field created as a result of the insulting attitude displayed by the current Liberal government in it's dealings with 'rural' isolated communities. Oh yes, then there's the whole Hornby/Denman mess, almost forgot. The cost of preparing a tomb 'report' of 172 pages while not insignificant, the time-line for community input resembles a very compressed 'homework' project for the citizens of the Balfour area to fathom an obvious MOTI conclusion; which might well be interpreted as: "Here you go folks, just love it OK? Perhaps I'm being a tad cynical about all of this, but the process of lengthy consultation, done in good faith, without rigid time-lines would project a more open, attitude on the part of government to arrive at a plan that is beneficial to all parties, yes, that's satisfying the 'lefties', 'conservatives', and those folks whose mind-set is somewhere in between. The MOTI has listed several ongoing 'problems' with the current ferry operation, which, if we are to be good obedient citizens agree can only be solved by packing the existing operation in and relocating it to a location that also has some inherent imperfections. I have no blessed idea what lies within the MOTI's 172 page "report", nor do I have the time to become an 'expert' on it's contents. That said, there's usually a few obvious, hard to disguise end results that highlight the MOTI's wish-list, as well as a larger number of subjective or elusive items to which the MOTI can offer up as 'consultation bait' to the local citizenry. So let's get real here. In the words of Detective Joe Friday of yesteryears' 'Drag Net' fame: "Just the facts Maam", "Just the facts". What's the tab for those extensive dock repairs at Balfour? How much for dredging a deeper channel to mitigate against recurring propeller damage? Why does the current body of water pose navigational "difficulties"? Have there been accidents as a result, if so where, when, outcome(s) of investigations. I would also expect the MOTI's dissertation to include any other clearly defined big ticket items that along with the aforementioned suspects, swing the cost pendulum into the 'gotta-move' segment on the scale. Being the resolute Detective that he was, Friday now hopes to elicit some 'facts' about the proposed 'shorter' crossing location, and, he senses that there's some cost factors to be explained here as well. Cost of land acquisition for the terminal and access roads. Who presently owns these lands? Any obvious or 'arms length' cronies of the current government?...just wondering, eh? Why the push for a shorter crossing? Maybe operate this service with a reduction of assests, ie. one less vessel, less crew? Maybe. Perhaps the evil suspect in this relocate the crossing tale is the advent of a user pay system when all is said and done? This elusive plan would seem to fit with all the other new projects being reeled out by the current government. User fees, tolls,..maybe eh? With a few scant minutes left in this Dragnet episode, Detective Friday is struck by a queasy premonition, maybe....all these problems with the current system could be solved if this operation went "cable". Nah, can't be?. Friday has a better idea, "Hey Gannon let's go for a beer". Helluva thought!
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Post by Dane on Jul 13, 2016 18:28:18 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 13, 2016 18:42:06 GMT -8
Just bumping this forward, from 21 months ago. Here's an interesting story from the Nelson Star newspaper, based on an FOI request that they did. The issue is the POSSIBLE relocation of the west-side ferry terminal. What prompted a 2012 study on this issue is the impending cost of re-building the trestle/dock at Balfour. So before they spend the money on that rebuild project, they want to step-back and think about whether Balfour is the best west-side location for this route. Hey, that sounds like a familiar exercise.... ---------- The news story HEREThe link to the 2012 consultant report on alternative west-side locations: Consultant Report HERE
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Post by Wolf on Jul 13, 2016 19:03:46 GMT -8
Nice report & photos from Mike C in the post above this one ...
Now for something not completely different as it involves the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing; specifically shortening it. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kootenay-ferry-1.3677002I have wondered why this was not done ages ago ... Apparently some people are against the plan and are stridently voicing their opposition. If this happened here on the coast they would be branded as "self-entitled lefties who expect everything for free". Residents of the rural, small mid-island communities once served by route 40, know very well the debris field created as a result of the insulting attitude displayed by the current Liberal government in it's dealings with 'rural' isolated communities. Oh yes, then there's the whole Hornby/Denman mess, almost forgot. The cost of preparing a tomb 'report' of 172 pages while not insignificant, the time-line for community input resembles a very compressed 'homework' project for the citizens of the Balfour area to fathom an obvious MOTI conclusion; which might well be interpreted as: "Here you go folks, just love it OK? Perhaps I'm being a tad cynical about all of this, but the process of lengthy consultation, done in good faith, without rigid time-lines would project a more open, attitude on the part of government to arrive at a plan that is beneficial to all parties, yes, that's satisfying the 'lefties', 'conservatives', and those folks whose mind-set is somewhere in between. The MOTI has listed several ongoing 'problems' with the current ferry operation, which, if we are to be good obedient citizens agree can only be solved by packing the existing operation in and relocating it to a location that also has some inherent imperfections. I have no blessed idea what lies within the MOTI's 172 page "report", nor do I have the time to become an 'expert' on it's contents. That said, there's usually a few obvious, hard to disguise end results that highlight the MOTI's wish-list, as well as a larger number of subjective or elusive items to which the MOTI can offer up as 'consultation bait' to the local citizenry. So let's get real here. In the words of Detective Joe Friday of yesteryears' 'Drag Net' fame: "Just the facts Maam", "Just the facts". What's the tab for those extensive dock repairs at Balfour? How much for dredging a deeper channel to mitigate against recurring propeller damage? Why does the current body of water pose navigational "difficulties"? Have there been accidents as a result, if so where, when, outcome(s) of investigations. I would also expect the MOTI's dissertation to include any other clearly defined big ticket items that along with the aforementioned suspects, swing the cost pendulum into the 'gotta-move' segment on the scale. Being the resolute Detective that he was, Friday now hopes to elicit some 'facts' about the proposed 'shorter' crossing location, and, he senses that there's some cost factors to be explained here as well. Cost of land acquisition for the terminal and access roads. Who presently owns these lands? Any obvious or 'arms length' cronies of the current government?...just wondering, eh? Why the push for a shorter crossing? Maybe operate this service with a reduction of assests, ie. one less vessel, less crew? Maybe. Perhaps the evil suspect in this relocate the crossing tale is the advent of a user pay system when all is said and done? This elusive plan would seem to fit with all the other new projects being reeled out by the current government. User fees, tolls,..maybe eh? With a few scant minutes left in this Dragnet episode, Detective Friday is struck by a queasy premonition, maybe....all these problems with the current system could be solved if this operation went "cable". Nah, can't be?. Friday has a better idea, "Hey Gannon let's go for a beer". Helluva thought! The way i see it, its a long channel and only one spot the osprey can go through. They could increase traffic flow by moving the dock to queens bay, shorter trips and more vehicles per day, reduction in fuel and increase in flow. It takes close to 10 mins for the osprey to navigate the west arm both ways, not to mention the boat traffic in the area can be a hazard. If the channel needs to be dredged, it will have to be done frequently to keep the osprey from dragging bottom. The study was that queens bay would only be dredged once and that was all. In my opinion it makes more sense to have it at queens bay, no channel and the ferry doesnt have to make a 360 turn and then line up to dock. This also makes it challenging for novice captains and more room for damage externally to the vessel. It would reduce the travel time to about 20-25 mins which would guarantee the vessel a 90min turn-around time. Moving the terminal would also remove the need of the mv balfour entirely and a possible replacement down the road. Moving it all to a new location makes perfect sense. 1 business will lose some revenue, and in all honesty why should the govt keep the terminal where it is just for 1 business when the bigger picture is reduced cost for the govt and us. We pay taxes to operate the inland vessels, the govt can reduce expenses by making this change and we arent burdened as much. The business owner at the terminal can still make money because people driving by will stop in anyway. If they are worried about lost business then they could make the old balfour terminal a heritage site or build some sort of historical attraction, like say a small scale wooden model of the old anscomb ferry?
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,172
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Post by Neil on Jul 13, 2016 22:32:47 GMT -8
One rather scary phrase jumps out at me in the story above, in reference to a new terminal... "cost estimates unclear".
New ferry terminals are very, very expensive. You simply cannot point to the cost of the current service and refer to the savings in cutting fifteen minutes off the crossing. Road construction and terminal infrastructure costs have a way of ballooning when considerations beyond the imagining of laymen and various proponents come into play. It could take decades to gain the 'savings' in altering the existing route. It's also important to maintain a very strong skepticism when considering said savings, as witnessed by the fact that the cable ferry project to Denman Island was touted as saving $80 million over forty years, now downgraded to $70 million... but only after ignoring the $40 million project cost.
Sometimes, the rather unsexy but sensible option of making the best of what you already have is the most cost effective plan.
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 4, 2016 10:47:35 GMT -8
It appears that the "self-entitled lefties who expect everything for free" will get their way, or perhaps that the 'BC Libs' saw this 'issue' as an impediment to electing BC Liberal candidates in the upcoming election (next May). The difference in the BC government's attitude toward inland ferries as compared to the coastal variety is breath-taking.From: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/balfour-ferry-relocation-1.3836050
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 16, 2017 21:31:50 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 19, 2017 17:40:50 GMT -8
More photos by my brother, mrdot , taken during that pivotal Kootenay Lake summer of the year 2000, when big changes were occurring. These shots of the Balfour show her with her old 'Highways' livery, and her modified car deck. The berths at both Kootenay Bay & Balfour Landing were modified to make them compatible with the the new Osprey 2000 which entered service in late August of that year. The berth modifications made it necessary to do car deck modifications on both the Balfour and the Anscomb so that they could continue to use those berths. Those wooden ramps continue in use on the Balfour today, though they are painted to match the new livery and don't look quite so 'jury-rigged'. MV Balfour near Balfour terminal, Kootenay Lake west arm - summer 2000
MV Balfour near the terminal @ Balfour, Kootenay Lake - summer 2000
Both photos © Mr DOT by mrdot., on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 19, 2017 22:01:23 GMT -8
Osprey 2000 underway from Kootenay Bay for the west side of Kootenay Lake @ Balfour - 19 March 2017 The Salmo-Creston Highway (#3) was closed today due to a mudslide. That meant that this ferry crossing (Hwy 3A) was busy like summer time with overloads & no extra vessel. My wife & I experienced a one sailing delay which meant lunch at the pub beside Balfour Landing. It was a beautiful day to be out on Kootenay Lake. © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 2, 2017 20:57:00 GMT -8
Two photos of the Kootenay Lake ferry Balfour, in winter lay-up @ Balfour Landing, Kootenay Lake, BC - 19 March 2017. At this time of year only the Osprey 2000 sails, except if she is pulled for a refit or something else. The Balfour has only about 30% of the car carrying capacity of the O2K so its no surprise that they avoid using it unless absolutely necessary. I was thinking that they would operate both ferries if there is a prolonged closure of the Salmo-Creston highway (Kootenay Skyway, Crow's Nest Hwy #3). That highway is the main link between the East & West Kootenay regions of south-east BC. The Kootenay Lake ferries are the secondary link. The Salmo-Creston traverses one of BC's highest highway passes and gets a lot of snow, and sometimes difficult avalanche conditions. Occasionally there is a long shut down. I was not able to determine if that ever leads to both ferries being 'in service' in the off-season ...
Both photos © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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John H
Voyager
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2,919
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Post by John H on Apr 15, 2017 20:49:22 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on May 3, 2017 12:30:17 GMT -8
Osprey 2000, Kootenay Lake ferry, making the big pivot turn on departure from Balfour Landing, near Nelson, BC - 19 March 2017 [© WCK-JST] The back end of the second ferry, the Balfour, can also be seen in this video. That ferry is normally out of service except over the busier summer months.
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Post by Mike on Aug 19, 2017 19:47:40 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 20, 2017 6:57:30 GMT -8
As part of my holidays last month, I photographed and rode both Kootenay Lake ferries, having never been on them before. Here is a sampling of shots from a very hot July 25, 2017. Great idea to shoot from the Proctor/Harrop side of the lake arm. But of course that makes sense, because that's where the railway is.
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