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Post by chinook2 on Dec 24, 2017 1:44:35 GMT -8
A few elevated memories..... The Victoria class were indeed built with the aft elevators. They were a little weird, with the outer door opening out (just a regular self closing hinged door, locked when elevator wasn't stopped and available on that floor, with a centred window which allowed one to see if the elevator was there or not, and the inner door a cargo elevator style folding mesh. They ran only from the car deck to promenade deck (don't think they modified them to serve the platform deck when those were added) and had electric button controls, but were manned during the boarding and disembarking periods of each trip. Summer schedules for routes 1 and 2 indicated which trips were done by the Sidney and Tsawwassen, and lack of elevator service associated with them. Off season schedules often often suggested to call ahead if elevator service was needed, as Queen of Sidney did the bulk of the relief work. Sidney and Tsawwassen didn't get elevators until much later, Tsawwassen in late 70s or early 80s, but IIRC Sidney didn't get hers till she was refitted to replace the Princess of Vancouver on route 17 in 1987.
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 16, 2017 14:07:44 GMT -8
Can anyone shed any light/history on the old BC Ferries Lighters? Issued by E. A. Morris Made in Japan RD 13,4,64 Well, they were sold in the newsstands on the Victoria and Sidney class vessels in the 1960s and perhaps into the 70s, each vessel sold lighters with its own name on it, and they were used to light cigarettes, which were available from a vending machine on the promenade deck, and one could smoke the resulting lit cigarette in any of the interior or exterior passenger areas until non smoking areas were created some time in the mid 1970s.
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 4, 2017 18:27:31 GMT -8
We're the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? Just wondering 'Mr. Wett Coast'. Great shot of yesteryear there for sure. if this is c.1995 it would most likely be the Victoria, first surplused by the spooks, or the Esquimalt, the newly appointed grunt of the class.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 30, 2017 16:29:43 GMT -8
Berth 3 is double decked, but has no overhead walkway (that fits any current BCF vessel), so using berth 2 allows the overhead to be used. As for the Coastals not using berth 1 at Swartz Bay, I believe the answer to this lies in the early days of the CCel's discussion thread. Just to add to your answer about the Coastals (and any other major vessels) using berth 3; the ramps at berth 3 are the older conventional lift ramps so they need to be cleared of traffic to make minor ramp adjustments. Smaller boats like the Cumby and Skeena usually don't need adjustments during loads and can use berth 3 without issue but unloading a full Coastal requires a few ramp adjustments. This morning's 0800 sailing had light to moderate pax and vehicle traffic. So, they loaded in Berth 3. Got these shots on the fly. Attachments:
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 18, 2017 19:51:38 GMT -8
When the 'Burnaby was operating as the Royal Victorian or the Maggie 3, she docked sternwards at Ogden point, using facilities installed for the BC Steamships' Vancouver Island Princess, and briefly used by the Crown Princess Victoria. The passenger facilities have been adapted to be the primary cruise ship terminall
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 18, 2017 19:22:23 GMT -8
Have thought for some time, since the spooks entered service, something is missing..... why not install the salvaged airchimes on the spirits?? (after both horns and ships have been refitted)?
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 18, 2017 17:24:17 GMT -8
This morning, between 0815 and 0830, some unique operations at SB. With two coastals on route 1 and their need to use berth 2, sometimes navigation routes are affected. This morning the Bowen Queen was tied up in berth three awaiting a transfer crew to take her north. As it happens, the BQ filled in for Mayne Queen for much of yesterday's schedule. Also, Queen of Cumberland was behind schedule on her way back to SB, which meant that her and Mayne Queen were arriving at roughly the same time, around the Skeena Queen's arrival. The Renny was late leaving, the CC was pretty much on time. So, what happened was, 5 ships in transit used all of the navigational routes in and out of Swartz Bay more or less simultaneously. The Renny left about 5 or so minutes late, since the Celebration was arrived more or less on time, on its regular approach, the CR used its alternate departure route via shutte passage. With Berth 3 unavailable and the Mayne and Cumbie following each other through Gosse Passage, the Skeena shocked a full load of Saltspringers by looping around Piers Island and approaching Berth 1 via Colbourne Passage. Well into this display of operational pluckiness before I realized I had a phone in the car and should have shot video.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 18, 2017 17:04:46 GMT -8
Bowen Queen did some pinch hitting for the Mayne Queen yesterday (2 or 3 afternoon turns), as MQ had an issue, according to service notice with a fire pump. tyed up in SB Berth 3 overnight, and sailed north sometime between 9 and noon. See my post in the Swartz Bay terminal thread.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 14, 2017 17:32:27 GMT -8
I just realized in the 1965 photo of Horseshoe Bay Terminal that the big concrete structure (where vehicles wait to load presently) is in it, when was that built? Looking closely, it looks like parking. My suspicion is that it was rebuilt in 1976 for the Cowichan Class. Does anyone know? The "Big concrete structure" was built to double deck the holding area in the terminal c. 1963-64, ie in conjunction with the fleet build/expansion of the time. Berth 2 would have been added around this time, and by 1965 the normal usage of the upper deck of the Big concrete structure would be the holding area for route 3. The only berth rebuilt for the first 2 C Class chips was berth one, Ticket booths for route 3 would have been moved back by then, but operations did not change, the lower levels were for route 2 and Bowen.
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Post by chinook2 on Jul 31, 2017 10:26:26 GMT -8
service notice has been extended to Aug 2.
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Post by chinook2 on Jul 29, 2017 23:00:13 GMT -8
....and now she's arrived at Deas. Not at a drydock. Not at a terminal. She's going to be near her sister the 'Burnaby. They can reminisce about old times on Route-2. Events suggest a parts transplant?
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Post by chinook2 on Jul 25, 2017 1:43:36 GMT -8
Low tides yesterday meant the Queen of New Westminster had to use alternate course when arriving and departing its Noon sailing from Swartz Bay. Video of her approaching berth 2 from Coburne Passage.
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Post by chinook2 on May 26, 2017 0:33:05 GMT -8
Alright: one more historical photo scan from me. This one is credited as being the provincial archives, but I couldn't find it in a search of the archives website catalogue. Anyway, the version that I found in an old book was nice and big. So, here we have the Motor Princess, docked and loading cars at Tsawwassen of all places. Now this is, of course, not the Tsawwassen terminal out on the end of a causeway that we know today. Back then, the ferry docked right at the beach, near the town of Steveston. (I dunno if i've ever typed the word Tsawwassen so many times before. At least when I'm typing, no one can complain about how I'm pronouncing the word. It's funny to see how few cars are waiting to the ferry. Tiny compared to now, even pretty small compared to the Albion ferry in her last years of operation. This must be Sidney. Nt. Newton in the mid ground, Malahat in the back.
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Post by chinook2 on May 18, 2017 23:03:07 GMT -8
Neil, Believe it or not, reservations are free of charge on Route 9, and they have been for quite some time. This was done in an effort to encourage people to book a spot to not only guarantee their spot on board, but also for the Chief Officer to build a stowage plan in advance for the multi-port loading with knowing what to expect will be coming at each port. There has been a reservation system on route 9 at least since I learned to read in 1969, and possibly since beginning of service in 1963. With the smaller ships doing more round trips got the cars to the sailings at the right times as well. Limited supplementary service options back then; Queen of Sidney made scheduled calls at OB and VB in her summer schedule; have seen a late 60s schedule that had a Sunday evening route 1 sailing calling at Village Bay; remember being on of those trips. All Tsawwassen-Saturna trips involved a transfer at VB to Mayne Queen, which ran a fixed route--Swartz, OB, Lyall, VB, Montague and return.
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Post by chinook2 on Mar 8, 2017 0:05:51 GMT -8
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Post by chinook2 on Mar 7, 2017 11:01:23 GMT -8
I have been working on putting together some BC Ferries route and vessel histories, and a portion of the Queen of Sidney's history is a bit fuzzy for me. Specifically, I know she started on route 1 (obviously), and then she worked on route 2 (alongside Queen of Tsawwassen) until 1964/1965, when she was replaced by the last of the Victoria class vessels. The next for-sure point I know of is in 1986, when Queen of Sidney began operating full-time on route 17 after replacing Princess of Vancouver. Sometime in that 20+ year gap she operated on a few different routes. I have seen fleeting references to being a replacement vessel on route 2 when the V-class was being stretched, and operating as a summer extra on route 1 and 3. I also know that she operated for a while on route 9 before being replaced by Queen of Nanaimo. If anyone knows some more information on the assignment history of Queen of Sidney during this time period, I'd be very interested to hear it. Thanks in advance! The information is all in the posts here, but will summarize as best I can. Beginning in 1965, Sidney's summer duty was as the third boat out of Swartz Bay. Most or all trips included a stop at either Village Bay or Otter Bay. Between 1965 and 1968 she was the relief ship for the Tsawwassen and all seven Victoria class vessels. From 1968-74 her duties were roughly the same, but as Sechelt Queen was now available, and the Victoria class ships were spending longer times out of service when being stretched, Sidney and Sechelt shared relief duties on route 1 and 2. Not sure, but likely still doing summers on route 1 1974-76. When the Sunshine Coast Queen and Langdale Queen were retired in late 1976, the sidney and tsawwassen were reunited on route 3, until the Queen of New Westminster took over the first ship role at Langdale. Tsawwassen was the second ship there, but mainly in peak season in those years. It was at this point in 1977 that the Sidney became the primary boat on route 9, working there until 1982. Previously, Sechelt Queen had worked the route in summer, Queen of the Islands in off peak. From 1982-86, Sidney saw less active service, but with the Ministry of Transport service coming under Bc Ferries jurisdiction, moving the Sidney to route 17 made total sense, as it freed the underutilized Princess of Vancouver to become the Vancouver Island Princess for bc steamships. In 1994 Queen of Sidney was identified as having structural issues in her hull, and received steel replacements to address this. I presume at this point, she was identified as being the first of the two originals to go. By the fall of 2000, according to a Monday Magazine article, engine crew had to wear respirators to deal with the oil her Mirlees engines were spurting. Hope this helps. My favorite ferry, btw.
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Post by chinook2 on Feb 17, 2017 17:27:14 GMT -8
I find it puzzling why she's docked bow-in at Swartz Bay, if she's on a regular route. Maybe she's being stored there in old berth #3 until she's needed, and then she moves to berth 1 or 2 ? I suspect that the Sidney was either 'in storage' or in service only as the #2 vessel on route 1 at the time of this photo. In other words she would have been doing only the extra even hour weekend sailings. To this day, they still do the same thing at Swartz Bay. When I was last there on the 14th of December I saw the SoVI berthed 'bow-in' in today's berth 3. At the time, the SoVI was doing only the extra Friday & Sunday even hour sailings. The more the world changes the more it stays the same ... At that time of year, in the year 1971, Route 1 would be operating 4 ships seven days a week. If Sidney was one of the active ships, it would be in service, or ported stern in in Berth 1 or 2. Likely just out of service after relieving a Victoria class ship, and by the date I am guessing on its way for refit, having done more or less continuous relief assignments since just after Labour Day.
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Post by chinook2 on Dec 10, 2016 4:09:04 GMT -8
historical footnote....... it was Saltspring Queen and Nicola doing the shuttle......
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Post by chinook2 on Nov 2, 2016 0:39:51 GMT -8
Queen of Nanaimo arriving at Long Harbour, Salt Spring Island, where a fresh crew awaits - 9 September 2016. The berth here at Long Harbour is another (excellent) example of a berth built to facilitate the berthing of single-ended ferries like the 'Nanny' via their tail ends. Nevertheless, next spring double ended vessels will take over and the 'Nanny' will be gone. Any ideas as to how the new boats will be operated in & out of Long Harbour? Maybe we will see operations similar to what some of us have seen at Balfour on Kootenay Lake with the Osprey 2000. © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr Long Harbour was not built for ships like the Nanny, it was built as cheaply as possible to open the route, using new build Queen of the Islands. the bigger ships came later, and all were single enders. The new gen of ships will bring new operational challenges.....
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 11, 2016 23:52:44 GMT -8
Yes, the CCel was in berth 3. Saturday schedule brings all 3 SGI ships in at same time, and I happened to be there. For a few short minutes, the berth status was: 1/. Sovi, unloading 2/. Skeena unloading 3/. Celebration, not in service 4/. Cumberland, loading and 5/. Mayne, loading. Cumbie left about 0640.
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Post by chinook2 on Aug 14, 2016 14:31:28 GMT -8
The last few times I have been on the Coastal Celebration's 4pm sailing out of Swartz Bay we have departed and started sailing out the way the Spirit's usually come in but we then turn to port and go towards SSI then turn to starboard and head down past SSI the way the Spirit's go. I know the SOBC both times has been inbound to Swartz Bay on her 3pm sailing but there have been times where we have passed the SOBC on that same sailing. I saw her 8pm sailing tonight too go that different route out of Swartz Bay as I was inbound on the SOBC. I thought maybe they go that way if they are late. Anyone know why?? depending on how well the ships are keeping schedule, if the Celebration is leaving late and the following )Spirit) sailing is on time, the CC will make an turn to port and cut between Knapp/Pym islands and Portland Island, then pick up the course used by outbound Spirits. If the CC is on time, it will generally leave the regular route.
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Post by chinook2 on Jan 7, 2016 22:29:18 GMT -8
Considering the Cumbie was scheduled for mid life this year hanging onto the Chilliwack one more year would have made total sense. not money wise but ensuring adequate reduncancy to meet the needs of emergencies like this.....
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Post by chinook2 on Dec 1, 2015 22:40:34 GMT -8
Looking more closely to the picture I can see now that all three berths were there! indeed. perhaps Mr. Dot can explain the unique perspective of this shot?
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 12, 2015 1:28:54 GMT -8
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 1, 2015 23:45:36 GMT -8
All seven Victoria class vessels were built with 1. A restaurant on the promanade deck at the aft of the vesssel, and 2. a coffee shop/snack bar facing into the aft lounge. The Sidney class were built with a restaurant upstairs on the sun deck, but on first refit gained the restaurant space downstairs, the old rest. became the coffee shop.
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