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Post by Mike C on Jan 22, 2020 21:21:04 GMT -8
An eastbound train of empty coal gondolas is seen here being pulled by a very enthusiastic engineer, who was excited to point out his then fresh-out-of-refurbishment 7000-series SD-90 in tow behind the lead locomotive. This scene is on a grey fall day in Revelstoke, next to the train museum, looking northwest. Some who view the Virtual Railfan live YouTube stream of that same crossing may recognize this location (though this photo was taken across the street from the webcam). CP Coal Gondolas - Revelstoke, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr
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Post by Mike C on Jan 18, 2020 16:25:37 GMT -8
Interesting timing with this move. It leaves one to speculate that this is to accommodate the Island Class arrival in some way?
That said, I expect BC Ferries has been aiming to free up the space occupied by the Burnaby for some time. I’m sure their preference would be for her to not return to Deas, such that they have some extra space for either the Island Class or other ships going through their seasonal refits.
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Post by Mike C on Dec 24, 2019 9:54:17 GMT -8
Air Canada just took delivery of its first Airbus A220-300, formerly Bombardier CS300. Whether Airbus or Bombardier, it was still built in Quebec, and it's North America's first 300 series A220, the longer of the two variants. Delta Airlines was the first North American operator to receive the A220; in their case, the smaller A220-100 model, some of which are based in Seattle. They've been getting good reviews and I think may outperform Embraer in many key areas. The A220 will be a good addition to Air Canada's fleet. Here is the official Airbus press release: www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/12/air-canada-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a220.htmlInteresting side in the press release: Air Canada announced they will be flying Montreal to Seattle using the A220. That's a flight I would surely love to do some day. AC’s experiences with the E190 were not positive in their roughly decade long run in the fleet. My recollection is that they swapped several of them for A320s over the years due to their poor performance, and I don’t believe they have any left. AC Express still operates E175s in several locations in the east, on the large urban centre short-haul commuters, but they don’t operate in the west. Looking forward to seeing the A220 in the west!
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Post by Mike C on Oct 23, 2019 21:21:26 GMT -8
Arriving in Tofino today, I of course looked to see if the local paper is still alive... and it is. All of sixteen pages, the Westerly News comes out on Wednesdays. Intrigued to see an ad for consultation on a proposed transit service for the Tofino - Ucluelet area. Wouldn't have thought BC Transit would be looking at a region with less than 5000 people... but they have been, for several years, and the process is developing. BC Transit is in some surprisingly small markets. There is regular service in towns like Bella Coola, Ashcroft, Clinton, among others. The funding model of 50/50 split between province and local jurisdictions makes it far more accessible, plus BC Transit specs things like signage, bus stops, manages administration and provides buses (leased to local governments).
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Post by Mike C on Oct 3, 2019 10:36:59 GMT -8
I was looking at the route 1 schedule posted in the Vancouver Sun today, for the period of September 3 to October 14th. For that short period, there were fourteen symbols below the departure times, indicating exceptions on certain dates. Fourteen. That indicates to me that BC Ferries either has to stop fine tuning their schedule to the point of incomprehensibility, or they need to have an option on their website where you can get the schedule for a given date, with no weird little symbols. A ferry schedule should not be rocket science. During the summer months I leaned entirely on the reservation system for all Route 1/2 travel; the mental gymnastics required in reading their published schedule is crazy these days. It would be nice to just select a day to see the schedule without going through the reservation booking prompts. The Air Canada online PDF system schedule has fewer symbols, and that is far more complex with different operators, specific days of the week, more stops etc.
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Post by Mike C on Sept 23, 2019 19:34:18 GMT -8
Based purely on observation, the Adams Lake II appears nearly identical to the Glade II. I expect that this is the same standard design that we can expect to be applied to Arrow Park, as that ferry comes up for replacement within the next year. (The Harrop II is larger, and has a small passenger lounge, and is therefore set apart from the other two, soon to be three new cable ferries.) The Adams Lake II is seen here, approaching the east side of the lake, on September 14th, 2019. Adams Lake II - Adams Lake, BC by Michael Coulson, on Flickr
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Post by Mike C on Sept 15, 2019 18:07:05 GMT -8
Interesting video. Having never travelled this route, I'm quite surprised to see that travellers in Bella Coola have to check in 2km away in town. In the old "Queen of Chilliwack Days," the check-in was at the Co-op parking lot. The traffic then waited in town until called by the ship. A pilot-car would then lead the ferry traffic to the dock, convoy style. The experience queueing for the Nimpkish with the car was much less formal - line up along the road adjacent to the berth, and back on. Senior master came knocking on your window with an iPad to check you in. I drive a small SUV, but I will say, backing on to the ship and down the narrow Port side tunnel was very tight.
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Post by Mike C on Aug 9, 2019 18:52:40 GMT -8
It looks like part of the solution will be to rename the Island Sky to something else. Also, every vessel will be named the "Island____" in line with the "Coastal" or "Salish" prefixes. Would it not be difficult to rename the Island Sky?There’s a lot more that goes into it than just new paint on a corner of a ship; there’s an exponential amount of time that goes in to re-registration of the new ship’s name with the authorities. This takes staff, and it’s expensive. Not to mention the fact that ferry-dependent communities often attribute a sense of identity to a ship, and that identity can be captured in a name, so there’s a necessity to be mindful of what you’re renaming. I am cautiously optimistic that the new name will follow along the coastal First Nations themes that we’ve been seeing with the Salish class and NSW. There is no shortage of local indigenous identities and place-knowledge to choose from in that area.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 9, 2019 22:24:58 GMT -8
Hopefully, I have worked out an itinerary. 10:35 to Galiano, where we transfer to go to Saturna, staying on to Swartz Bay. From Swartz to Galiano, and with a break of an hour or so, a visit to Bellhouse Park until our ride back shsows up. Just need weather to cooperate. I think I did my due diligence, and haven't found anything on this forum about what to look for on an outing to Saturna. Hasn't anyone been there? I would be staying two nights, to allow for at least a full day of exploring. I’ve done cycling day-trips around Saturna and found it to be certainly the nicest of the ferry-served islands. No particular activity stands out as a “must-do” per-se, but every beach is top-notch and every corner of the island is another spectacular viewpoint. The fact that it is the least populated with the fewest sailings means that you won’t be competing for space on trails and beaches. If I had to choose one spot, East Point Lighthouse and surrounding area is a must visit.
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Post by Mike C on May 4, 2019 22:45:10 GMT -8
With Northern Sea Wolf almost ready to start service, the Nimpkish is presumably nearing the end of her BCF career. Schedules show both Nimpkish and Northern Sea Wolf in service, last half of September, with Nimpkish taking over the Bella Coola-Bella Bella connector for the rest of the fall and into winter. The Queen of Potable Water isn't ready to retire just yet. This confused me a bit... We’ve been told several times now that the retirement of the Nimpkish is imminent. The reservation system is usually a pretty reliable source for vessel placement information, but do we have any sure clarity on this?
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Post by Mike C on Apr 27, 2019 7:57:59 GMT -8
United unveiled their new livery this week: www.airliners.net/photo/United-Airlines/Boeing-737-824/5505417/LMy opinion: it's a bit boring, but I think it looks better than the adopted Continental livery they've been using. Yes, this is an evolution of that Continental livery - I mean, they're still using Continental's globe - but getting rid of the yellow, increasing the font size, and introducing the swooping cheat line, gives it a fresher look. They could have done worse (ahem...looking at you, American). Sorry UA fanboys - it doesn't look like Saul Bass's iconic "Tulip" logo is coming back. Oh well. Agreed... it kind of left something to be desired. More of a brand “refresh” than anything. Note that YVR’s Instagram recently had a March Madness bracket for best livery that flies in/out of that airport. After weeks of voting and various brackets involving all airlines, Air Canada’s recently adopted livery won handily. United (with their old livery) was eliminated in the early rounds.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 20, 2019 8:14:18 GMT -8
Maybe, it is time for a drone! I think that flying a drone over a ferry terminal just might get you in trouble. Drones are a neat tool but there are some places where their use may be inappropriate, maybe even illegal. This is a good opportunity for us to note rules for Drones going forward. In this case, it’s likely that the 5.6 km no-fly zone around any airport would interfere with images of the Nicola or at Fairview. Additionally note that as of June 1st, anyone flying a drone will need to be licensed, with their drone registered.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 17, 2019 18:06:17 GMT -8
I kinda agree with that but BC Ferries should limit the drinks pre-customers based out on age. I think the they allow it Seawest lounge because it seems like it would suit the name. BCF should limit liquor sales based on age? You are aware that this law already exists...?
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Post by Mike C on Apr 10, 2019 8:59:32 GMT -8
Looking at a road trip from the south to the north this summer. Planned route: Vancouver - Prince George - Prince Rupert - Dease Lake - Whitehorse - Dawson City - Eagle Plains - Inuvik - Tuktoyaktuk. Back to Rupert and ferry to Hardy to Victoria (to visit friends). Then back to Vancouver. Looking for any info from people that have drove in this area. I did this drive last year - you are welcome to send me a PM with any questions Bring a car with good ground clearance, that’s reliable, and bring at least two full size spares.
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Post by Mike C on Mar 28, 2019 22:16:28 GMT -8
The Osprey 2000 cannot physically operate due to low water levels in the West Arm - so even if she was not in refit, she would still be inoperable. Talk about bad timing... Maybe they should have moved that terminal, or at the very least do some dredging ... Rewinding a couple years, the MoTI proposed moving the Balfour terminal to Queens Bay. My recollection is that the MoTI wanted this move to lower crossing times, such that it would eliminate the need for a second vessel in the summer months. This project was axed at the behest of nearby residents in Queens Bay and the west side of the lake. The compromise was to modify and expand the existing terminal at Balfour with dredging operations in West Arm, but that work has yet to take place.
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Post by Mike C on Mar 28, 2019 19:08:38 GMT -8
This should put pressure on the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing ...
Edit: The situation is made much worse as only the 28-car Balfour is in service. Highway 3 is down for 24 hours and only the small ferry is in service. I guess the Osprey 2000 is having a refit.
The Osprey 2000 cannot physically operate due to low water levels in the West Arm - so even if she was not in refit, she would still be inoperable. Talk about bad timing...
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Post by Mike C on Feb 2, 2019 12:46:54 GMT -8
Long term, there might have to be a province wide strategy to cover the disappearing long haul routes operated by companies such as Greyhound with transit systems. This is needed A.S.A.P. There needs in my opinion to be two strategies. One led by each province for surface transportation on major (and some secondary) highways within the province. The second strategy would be led by the federal government for east-west across Canada surface transportation. Perhaps integrating highway & rail should be part of this. I believe that passenger rail service should be re-established on CP's mainline & improved on CN.
Lack of transportation options just makes it more likely that people will do risky things such as hitching rides. Remember the "Highway of Tears".
There is a direct correlation between the safety and security of the most vulnerable in small communities, and affordable transportation (or lack thereof, in this case). Rider Express, the lone company that operates between Vancouver and Calgary, currently operates once weekly. The bus company that was supposed to begin operating to Prince George through Quesnel and Williams Lake has been granted yet another 30-day extension to get their act together. This is unacceptable and should be rectified by the Province, who possess jurisdiction over this matter. There is no need to reinvent the wheel: provincially and federally subsidized bus (BC Bus North) and rail (VIA) services currently exist in Northern BC, and I can’t idenfity a reason why it would be unfeasible to expand this initiative province-wide.
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Post by Mike C on Feb 1, 2019 11:01:18 GMT -8
As a quick note: Pacific Coach Lines (PCL), former operator of the Vancouver-Victoria bus services, will officially cease operations on March 31st of this year.
PCL lost the contract for the Vancouver-Victoria service, their “bread and butter” route, in 2016. However, the final blow came as they lost the YVR-Whistler SkyLynx route late last year. The end of PCL marks yet another significant blow to the intercity bus industry, after Greyhound pulled out of Western Canada last year.
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Post by Mike C on Jan 2, 2019 19:04:06 GMT -8
How is tourists paying regular fares to use our transit system not their "fair share"? They don't live here and can't be expected to pay extra taxes. Because why should tourist be one ones to benefit from local taxpayer when buses and SkyTrain are full during most day that money should be use to expand service which help both local and tourist. I don’t see how having an out deck refit on SeaBus would help local residents. You are aware that tourism generated approximately $1.1 billion in tax revenue in 2016, and has consistently gone up year over year? You are additionally aware that tourism spending in BC was approximately $17 billion that same year? The premise of this argument is bizarre. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but tourists pay substantially into our transit system - as Tim said, likely more than the average commuter, and additionally so when they fly into Vancouver Airport and pay the $5 AddFare. Consider that most (all?) transit-operated ferry systems in North America have outer decks on their ships, from San Francisco to New York. I can’t speak to the design viability, but I do genuinely think that making the SeaBus more of a tourism draw and creating additional revenue in our transit system is a very good thing.
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Post by Mike C on Dec 6, 2018 22:46:44 GMT -8
BC Ferries has not seen anywhere near the promised savings with the cable ferry, given the breakdowns and TC's insistence on four crew instead of the proposed three, and it may get even more expensive for the province. A TC document forwarded to me by a former member of this forum suggests that Transport Canada is planning on changing manning requirements for the 'Baynes Sound Connector'. A discussion draft of revised regulations for cable ferries travelling more than a kilometre and carrying more than one hundred passengers indicates that those vessels will have manning exemptions removed. Stakeholders have until late February to submit their objections. It's not clear exactly what this might mean- would the BSC be required to carry a full fledged captain and engineer, and/or six crew instead of four? No doubt BC Ferries will be very vigorous in arguing against any increased manning, or increased qualifications for existing staff. It's a bit hard to understand why a vessel like the Denman cable ferry would need a full fledged captain, and engineer, if that is the intent of the revisions. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. On the plus side, it’s nice to hear that these jobs will come back to Denman. I can’t speak for the islands, but on a holistic level, in the era of rural-urban flight, our rural areas are losing jobs at a high rate. The BSC’s rollout did not help this.
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Post by Mike C on Nov 30, 2018 13:33:13 GMT -8
Okay - mark "WettCoast" down, as not a true Ferry Friend. Sounds like something else is going on here ... Wait. What? You’ve been a member here for two weeks, berate members that have been participants here for over a decade, and expect us to be your “Ferry Friend”. Additionally, it seems that you truly cannot help yourself but to get the last word in on a discussion that has effectively gone nowhere. It comes off as trolling and flaming our members, and it reflects badly on you and whatever ideas you decide to represent. Consider ending this nonsense, and choosing your battles more carefully in the future.
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Post by Mike C on Nov 24, 2018 23:45:48 GMT -8
Considering how all 3 ships have sat unused since their sale, I guess their sale value at the time was no better than scrap value because no one could find a use for them. I think their only use, looking back, was to sit pretty for 2.5 terms of Premiership or the time Gordon Muir Campbell had to serve as the greatest Premier of BC. The .5 stands for the PacifiCat Voyager ;-). I mean, think about it! Those PacifiCats were quite the visual reminders of the 1990s' BCNDP: Sleaze, gross incompetence and socialism bordering on the Soviet Union. There’s a lot to unpack here, but ultimately this really does come off as political trolling. You’ve come at our forum with a barrage of hot takes this evening, I would strongly suggest some moderation.
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Post by Mike C on Sept 22, 2018 22:29:54 GMT -8
Did BC Ferries do due diligence when they purchased this thing - because it sure doesn't look like it.
I would bet dollars to donuts that this has prompted a review of BCFS procurement practices and policies. It is a difficult situation for BC Ferries, but also breaks a commitment that the provincial government made to the Central Coast, and has real economic impacts on those communities. It will be interesting to see how everyone moves forward from this; if anything positive comes from this, it will be a good hard look at how BCFS manages asset procurement (and maybe an indefinite moratorium on purchasing ferries from Greece).
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Post by Mike C on Sept 16, 2018 19:51:45 GMT -8
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Post by Mike C on Aug 27, 2018 16:05:37 GMT -8
I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is based on a conversation that was overheard and is not verifiable at this point in time. As such, avoid treating this as “fact” until we get verifiable evidence that BCF is pursuing such action. I am well aware of the dangers of 'jumping to conclusions' and treating as 'fact', subjects of "information" that in a court of law would be labelled as "hearsay evidence". That said, my post was reflective of a collective 'opinion', reactionary, yes, but not to be construed as a directive to BCFS and/or any legal counsel they may in retain in the future. To the point of 'fact(s)', I am able to report that the discussion allegedly 'overheard' was not 'overheard' and at this point I will leave it to my learned members of this forum to join the dots on that statement. I'm not entirely sure what you mean in this paragraph(s). I don't think that your post was reflective of a collective opinion for a couple reasons: 1) members of this forum typically don't like to be spoken for as a "collective" with a consolidated opinion; and 2) it treated the quoted post and report as a series of factual statements that happened. Your post then goes on to say that the statement was not, in fact, "overheard" and therefore leaving it to the rest of us to "join the dots". This is a vague statement and it's unclear to me what you are alluding to. Surely, we are all well aware of the dangers of speculative posting. We have to work together to ensure that the content posted here is either factual and true, or shown as an implied opinion. The reporting of the Northern Sea Wolf from the AGM was peppered with both, but largely contextualized around unverifiable speculation.
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