|
Post by chinook2 on Apr 7, 2024 18:40:48 GMT -8
My typo, meant rte 5....... The Chilliwack did do rte 5 for it's first year in the fleet or portion thereof, tenaka and Nicola's years on the route were in the 87-89 or 90 range.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Mar 31, 2024 10:15:11 GMT -8
Checking some of my own photos from Port McNeill and I think you are right Mr BBF. Now, if someone has info on which route Tenaka was doing in 1986 that would be good. We really need a data base covering the period 1960 to the present showing which vessels were on which route. That would be a project ... This would definitely be Port McNeill. According to Wikipedia, the Tenaka was moved from its original route (Powell River-Comox) to the Port McNeill-Sointula-Alert Bay route in 1979 to replace the Nimpkish. She remained there until 1994 where she replaced the Nimpkish yet again, this time on the Cortes Island route. Tenaka did a few summers as second boat on rte. 6 in late 1980s, with Nicola taking its place in the off season. This ended around 1990 when tachek took over year round till the cumbie entered service.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jan 13, 2024 16:45:04 GMT -8
Princess of Vancouver did work route 17 through 1986. Queen of Sidney had been idle for a bit before expo, she was put back into service as a supplementary/spare in summer 1986. After expo she was alongside for a bit at point hope, where she got an elevator installed, then she was sent up to Comox. Princess of Vancouver had at least some of her conversion/upgrade work done at Point Hope also, and emerged from the yard as Vancouver Island Princess, joining the Margeurite on the Seattle route in Summer 1987.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Nov 30, 2023 10:13:59 GMT -8
Last intermediate sized ship on the route iirc was the tsawwassen in July 1995. The Victoria was assigned as third sb ship that summer but was redeployed to cover a broken c class for a couple of weeks. Tsawwassen filled in, possibly the first time on r1 since 1962 since she went to route 2 that year.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Mar 5, 2022 6:31:17 GMT -8
I said it before will say it again. As built, and after stretching, all seven ships were known as the Victoria class. The V and B class designations came about when the Victoria, Vancouver, Saanich & Esquimalt were lifted. We will have to disagree about that. When I was a kid they were all simply "The Seven Sisters". I have known those vessels since the first ones entered service in 1962. Furthermore if the Alberni is a 'C' class, then there is/was no reason to consider the 'B's as a separate class from the 'V's. When I was a kid in the 1970s, "Stretch" class , or stretch ferries was a common term used..... but, the name given to this class of ships by BC Ferries was the Victoria class, following the tradition of naming the class after the first launched in the group. Suppose all seven could have kept the class designetion, but it was BCF's decision to make two classes out of the group in the 1980s, and break with the naming tradition by designating the unlifted group the "B"s after the last built, leaving the "N" designation for the Nicola class.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Mar 4, 2022 4:35:41 GMT -8
What are the differences between Queen of Nanaimo and Queen of New Westminster? Is the extra car layer the only difference? I have never been on the Queen of New Westminster so I do not know. As built, the QoNWM was identical to the Nanaimo & Burnaby (together known as the 'B' class), and all but identical to the 'V' class ( Victoria, Vancouver, Saanich & Esquimalt). All seven were known as the 'Seven Sisters'. Over the years there were various changes that made each one a little different than its sisters. An example would be the engines that powered each one. I said it before will say it again. As built, and after stretching, all seven ships were known as the Victoria class. The V and B class designations came about when the Victoria, Vancouver, Saanich & Esquimalt were lifted.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 7, 2021 0:59:32 GMT -8
from June 2017: the New West arrives at Berth 2 at swartz bay at low tide via Coburne Passage.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Apr 5, 2021 17:49:28 GMT -8
The schedules I have for that period don't generally state which ships were on the Langdale route. However, the summer of '83 has two round trips by the ' Alberni, and the summer of '84 saw only eight daily round trips with a forty minute crossing time, so I'm assuming that would also have been the ' Alberni. I have an information package from the BC Ferries traffic statistics department for 1978, and it lists the three ships that would have served Langdale that year as the ' Burnaby, ' New Westminster, and ' Nanaimo... obviously not all three at the same time. The Burnaby and New West served Langdale after the SSCQ and LQ were retired, with QoN running on Route 2 along with the Cowichan and Coquitlam in the summer months. This arrangement remained in place until the Surrey and Oak Bay joined the fleet. actually during that period the Burnaby and Nanaimo were both route 2 ships year round; they ran 7 days in the summer, Fridays and Sundays in the off season, and when one of the C's was in refit, the other c plus the two stretchies ran a modified 3 ship schedule. Quite possible either Burnaby or Nanaimo subbed for the New Westminster during refit. The second ship on route 3 during this period was the Tsawwassen.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 6, 2020 17:13:47 GMT -8
How about..... preserving and repuurposing the SUPERSTRUCTURE of say, the new west??
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 6, 2020 16:18:28 GMT -8
The Gabriola/Iona Island route was going to be a reality, and the C's were meant for that route, hence their original interiors and seating, which were designed for a shorter route - those cube style seats were not terribly comfortable to sit in for more than an hour or less! As well, the cafeteria was originally designed for basic, snack bar style food service only, which was woefully inadequate for route 2 (anyone old enough will remember the endless lineup for food in the first few years of the C's existence, and how much smaller the cafeteria was back then). We also had property on Mudge Island, and used to go for walks along the area that was cleared for the new thruway that was supposed to connect the bridges crossing Dodd and False Narrows, and on to Gabriola. The Gabriola/Iona route and ships were meant to be fast, efficient, and strictly utilitarian. I suppose that is why the C's originally had escalators connecting each deck as well. Indeed, the Iona-Gabriola route was the intended use for the Cowichan and Coquitlam...Vancouver Sun, Oct 22, 1975 Had forgotten about that bit of history, the iona/ Gabriola part..interesting looking back .... fun going back into the news archives....
Some years ago I was chastised by some, perhaps written off by others within this site, for suggesting that there were 5 ships operating on route two in the 1974 and 1975 summer seasons...my only defense at the time was I was there back then... now.....from the Vancouver Sun June 29 1975......
Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 6, 2020 16:05:29 GMT -8
Dane, it's possible. Knowing the general mindset of the Barrett government though, I really doubt that they were fixed on imposing a terminal on an island community that would have gone so much against their wishes. I distrust the assertions presented in those articles. I could be wrong. The Gabriola/Iona Island route was going to be a reality, and the C's were meant for that route, hence their original interiors and seating, which were designed for a shorter route - those cube style seats were not terribly comfortable to sit in for more than an hour or less! As well, the cafeteria was originally designed for basic, snack bar style food service only, which was woefully inadequate for route 2 (anyone old enough will remember the endless lineup for food in the first few years of the C's existence, and how much smaller the cafeteria was back then). We also had property on Mudge Island, and used to go for walks along the area that was cleared for the new thruway that was supposed to connect the bridges crossing Dodd and False Narrows, and on to Gabriola. The Gabriola/Iona route and ships were meant to be fast, efficient, and strictly utilitarian. I suppose that is why the C's originally had escalators connecting each deck as well. Indeed, the Iona-Gabriola route was the intended use for the Cowichan and Coquitlam...Vancouver Sun, Oct 22, 1975 Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 5, 2020 18:21:08 GMT -8
Here's an interesting photo of Departure Bay. Photo credit to Tourism Nanaimo. -Berth 1 had a full gantry, and berth 2 has been double decked. Berth 3 is still non-existant: Not sure if this his been discussed on the site, but as of January 1976 when the C class were months away from entering service, there were no plans to modify the docks and add loading ramps for the second car deck on the Cowichan and Coquitlam. There was an election late in 1975, and Bill Bennett's Socreds took over the reigns from Barrett's NDP government. Jack Davis became the minister responsible for BC Ferries, and these news clippings address the oversight.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on May 2, 2020 21:26:19 GMT -8
the biggest shake ever was the sidney backing out of Tsawwassen..... or the Tsawwassen backing out of Horseshoe Bay.....restaurant staff didn't put beverages on the the tables till the turn was made...
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Apr 13, 2020 11:23:57 GMT -8
any one know why the Oak Bay is scheduled for a single sailing at 1010 pm from Departure Bay tonight??
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Apr 4, 2020 13:42:50 GMT -8
happened to be at Swartz for the arrival of the SoBC at 8 30 this morning in my capacity as essential worker for Yellow Cab of Victoria. Vessel approached Berth 2 via Coburne passage, and made a slow but precise berthing. Looked like a medium sized vehicle load, number of Foot passengers..... about 10.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Apr 3, 2020 12:05:52 GMT -8
the MV Tsawwassen had the hand rails too, but was retrofitted in the late 70s.... The Sidney kept hers.... the period this schedule represents is the time when 1/ The Sidney was essential , the only full time relief ship in the off season for routes 1 and 2, , and 2/. in peak summer service, important in not only supporting capacity on route 1, but also route 9. This ad was from what I can see designed to encourage travellers to aim for the extra sailings....
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Mar 29, 2020 11:53:55 GMT -8
1968 newspaper ad highlighting the Sidney's supplemental status in the fleet.....
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jul 23, 2019 12:48:24 GMT -8
They realized after a few year of operation on Earl's Cove-Saltery Bay that they need overheight lanes more than passenger lounges.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Aug 24, 2018 1:10:47 GMT -8
Very cool and extremely rare pose....... Tachek, as Tenaka and Nicola did before her, did a number of seasons as the second rte 5 ship, but, all three always docked bow in at Swartz.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Aug 2, 2018 17:07:22 GMT -8
I can confirm that the Salish Eagle re-routed to Fulford Harbour instead of Long Harbour today because of a serious head-on crash that closed down Long Harbour road. By the time traffic had discharged from the Eagle, the road was re-opened to single lane, alternating direction. The Eagle proceeded to Long Harbour with only foot passengers who still needed to go to Long Harbour, and has carried on the rest of the afternoon schedule from there.
I was aboard today I think that still might qualify as a first for any Salt Spring terminal: revenue sailings by three different vessels, in one day. Quite open to being corrected on that. If it happened in the past, would have been ages ago--but if/when in the past has route 9 operated a trip in or out of Fulford??
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 26, 2018 15:13:53 GMT -8
I also recall seeing a published crossing time of 1:10 or 1:15--perhaps in the Sidney's days on the run??
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on Jun 26, 2018 15:08:26 GMT -8
Tachek, yes, but I don't recall Nicola or Tenaka ever serving in the Gulf Islands. Do you have some more information on that? There is at least one picture I have seen in a book, somewhere, of Tenaka loading at Village Bay. Both Tenaka and Nicola served as the second ship on route 5 in the late 1980s. Tenaka in summer, Nicola in the off-season. Tachek took the spot over c. 1990, and once the Cumberland was settled in the first spot, Mayne Queen was the summer second boat, Tachek the off peak choice. Mayne Queen was the refit grunt until the Skeena was delivered, then Mayne Queen became year round second boat. Sometime around 1990ish the Tachek took over year-round as the second, and remained the off season boat until some time mid 1990s.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on May 7, 2018 12:46:21 GMT -8
Cool to see the pics of Tachek at Swartz Bay. Tachek was a regular on route 5 in the early 90s, as Tenaka and Nicola were in the late 80s. Both berths 4 and 5 have been rebuilt since those days: those berths may have still been single lane loading at the time (maybe someone can confirm or refute??)
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on May 5, 2018 14:04:00 GMT -8
Yesterday the web site showed Raven doing route 9, Eagle on route 5 and Quinitsa doing one round trip on route 4, and one extra on route 5.
|
|
|
Post by chinook2 on May 1, 2018 16:19:43 GMT -8
I talked to terminal staff on Sunday night at SB and Qunitsa is indeed doing MDS on the weekends out of Swartz Bay till the Cumberland is back, so the Eagle can maintain schedule levels out of Tsawwassen. Quinitsa did some summer supplimentary service in the early 80s after Quinsam took over Gabriola service, and also in the mid 80s some winter work on route 4, freeing up the Bowen Queen to relieve Mayne Powell River and Howe Sound Queens.
|
|