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Post by SS San Mateo on Dec 20, 2006 20:10:48 GMT -8
I see that the Nisqually's IFB has been awarded to Cascade General, Inc. I have not heard of this yard before. Where is it located and has WSF used them before? Here's their website: www.casgen.com/The actual yard wll probably be Washington Marine (in Port Angeles). Washington Marine is one of those companies.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Dec 26, 2006 16:42:12 GMT -8
I was curious to know how the progress is going on the Nisqually. Does anybody know her timeline for completion on her drydock repair?
I am wondering if Dakota found any problems while working on her.
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Post by Barnacle on Dec 27, 2006 8:13:13 GMT -8
She ought to be re-floated by the end of the week, I think. I don't know that they found any particular problems (or were particularly looking for them). Now I'd just like to know what the real plan is for her once she's up to speed again. I suspect that she will probably find herself doing a bit of relief work, just to keep her hand in as it were.
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Dec 27, 2006 22:31:29 GMT -8
For those who are interested, here is what the NISQUALLY looked like in the 1970s prior to steeling in 1987. This was originally placed on the "MV Hyak" thread this evening on the "Northwest US Ferries" section of this forum. One on the ILLAHEE is also on that thread as well as detailed information. I rode these vessels on the Mukilteo - Clinton run many times in the 1970s to 1982. Enjoy!
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Dec 29, 2006 12:49:58 GMT -8
I have added the layout of the ILLAHEE to this thread and the text from the "MV Hyak" thread on the "Northwest US Ferries" section of this forum as well. Felt it was appropriate to add historical notes on the Steel Electrics to this thread on the MV NISQUALLY. The illustrations show both sides of the vessels and the Saloon Deck layout. Only the heads (MEN and LADIES), purser's office (PUR OFF), crew day room (CREW), lockers (L), life preservers (LP), and storage space (STO) are labeled. Life preservers were also stored in benches on the Saloon Deck and overhead bins on the Main Deck as they are in today's configuration. The rest of the areas are self explanatory in giving you a clean drawing. Here are some neat notes: GALLEY AND DINING ROOM All four Steel Electrics' galleys were different. After the NISQUALLY and QUINAULT had their original counters with swivel stools removed in the early 1970s, the galley would be fully contained in a rectangular housing. The dining room would get red and yellow formed tables and seats and bright orange bulkheads and red flooring. I do not know when the dining space on the ILLAHEE and KLICKITAT were redone. These two were given an angled serving counter. The seating configuration of the dining room on all four were different. Only the ILLAHEE had an open door policy after hours and her galley's door was padlocked and the dots on the serving counter show where the steel screen folded down to. Her dining room's entrance doors were removed and vending machines were installed against the number two end bulkhead adjacent to the observatory. The other three had entrance doors remained and were locked up after hours, requiring everyone to go outside to get to the number two end observatory. PURSER'S OFFICE The purser's office on the NISQUALLY and KLICKITAT were installed adjacent to the galley and dining room. The office on the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT was located in the main lounge. A US Customs booth was located in the main lounge on the KLICKITAT (in the same area as the purser's office on the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT). CENTER LOUNGE This space was originally an amidships shelter. In the 1940s, the KLICKITAT and NISQUALLY received some lounge space in this area. In the 1950s, the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT had their amidships shelter completely enclosed and upholstered benches installed. About the turn of the 1960s, the KLICKITAT and NISQUALLY received the same treatment, with the seating configuration identical (except for the dining room entry as the KLICKITAT had benches and the NISQUALLY had vending machines and newspaper boxes). The configuration on the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT were slightly different. The fiddly was quite noisy from the exhaust from the powerful main diesel generators below decks. MAIN LOUNGE Except for the mentioned purser's office and the US Customs booth in the above paragraph, the main lounges on all four were basically the same minus a few details. Entrance doors were installed originally prior to the amidships upholstering (these were all removed). All benches in this lounge were upholstered during the amidships upholstering and were mounted at six feet increments (the main lounge originally had wooden benches at eight feet increments). OBSERVATORIES The observatories on all four were about the same, except for the window heights. The KLICKITAT and NISQUALLY had taller ones installed while the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT had ones the same hight as the others in the main body of the superstructure. All seats were movable to whatever arrangement was needed on each run. NIGHT SAILINGS ON THE MUKILTEO RUN It was fun for me in riding these vessels at night on the Mukilteo run. The observatories were dimmed at night. Only a few, if any, light bulbs were on and the room back-lit from lights in the dining room and main lounge. It was fun to see the lighted shoreline on the other side come closer and closer on the fourteen minute dock-to-dock trips these made (longer trips when landings were made using the north slip at Clinton). None of these sights were visible in fog except for the last minute, naturally! You can still see this on the newer vessels on this run. INTERNATIONAL RULES NAVIGATION LIGHTS If you are wondering about the long straight fixture located above the dining room, this was the aft masthead light in its resting state. This system was used when these vessels were in international rules (Canada) at night. The mast would be raised and guy wired when required. There is a picture of the KLICKITAT at Orcas with this up. The QUINAULT never had this feature until her steeling in 1987. All double ended ferries on Puget Sound used the inland rules with the 360-degree white light level with each other at each end and red and green side lights at the sides. All this changed in the 1980s with all ferries using the international rules system. The ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY were given mast alterations. The ILLAHEE, NISQUALLY, and QUINAULT had IRL's built-in during their 1987 steelings. The KLICKITAT has aft masthead lights on tall guy wired masts. Enjoy these drawings!
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Post by northwesterner on Dec 31, 2006 13:07:48 GMT -8
These drawings are really great.
Thanks for sharing.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jan 1, 2007 19:41:22 GMT -8
Thank you for sharing your drawings with us! It is great to see stuff like this posted every so often.
Does anybody know if the original configuration of the Steel-Electrics, before their upgrades in the 50's, were identical in the layout's?
Why weren't they standardized when they were modified?
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Jan 2, 2007 0:04:03 GMT -8
Thank you for sharing your drawings with us! It is great to see stuff like this posted every so often. Does anybody know if the original configuration of the Steel-Electrics, before their upgrades in the 50's, were identical in the layout's? Why weren't they standardized when they were modified? My pleasure! To answer your first question, I think the six all had the same cabin configuration (minus some shipyard's own details). There is a neat pic of the NISQUALLY's galley in the "Galleys "a mess"" thread in this forum. I remember riding in the dining area aboard the QUINAULT in my first ride on a Steel Electric on the Clinton run (we had the RHODODENDRON, KULSHAN, and VASHON back then). I sat in one of the swivel seats at the original counter. This was soon after my first ride aboard the NISQUALLY back from Camp Orkila in 1973 (us campers were not allowed in the dining area, so I don't know what her config was like then). To answer your second question, I believe it was the timing of each remodel and the cabin needs of each route. The first remodel was simple lounges built into the amidships shelter on the KLICKITAT and NISQUALLY in the 1940s. The QUINAULT would see time on the Seattle - Winslow run and her amidships shelter was completely enclosed. The ILLAHEE's amidships enclosure came next as she was to spend almost all her time on the Winslow run until 1968. There is a neat pic of the ILLAHEE on the Vashon run in the early 1950s in her near original config as shown in Steven Pickens book "Ferries of Puget Sound". The NISQUALLY and KLICKITAT came last in the amidships upholstering. Here is the original appearance of the NISQUALLY as MENDOCINO and my best estimated original layout. Both sides of the vessel are shown. Based on the NISQUALLY's dining room photo provided in the above forum thread and by my best photographic memory of my first ride aboard the QUINAULT, the dining area had an "R" shaped serving counter. The main lounge had wooden benches spaced eight feet apart as seen in a pic in one of my publication collections. I kept the heads about the same as well as the galley, minus a different food delivery "window". The ferries were originally colored with green hulls, white superstructures, buff canvas decks, red benches and railing tops, black steel tubular railings on the Hurricane Deck, a black stack, and red ventilator cowl interiors. I guesstimated the colors of the interiors, which featured wicker chairs in the observatories, and seats with back support in the dining room (later replaced by upholstered coasters). Enjoy!
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Post by NMcKay on Jan 2, 2007 13:13:29 GMT -8
did you ever hear the story about the steel electrics bathrooms and their desire to "Shoot Up" if they didn't get relieved before each sailing?
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Post by Barnacle on Jan 2, 2007 13:39:44 GMT -8
It wasn't every sailing, just the first flush of the morning. A mop handle was apparently of great use.
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jan 7, 2007 1:21:40 GMT -8
Here is one more posting with illustrations of the MV NISQUALLY! The above illustration shows the NISQUALLY as she looked when she was a bit younger. The top shows her in the 1930's with the Southern Pacific Golden Gate Ferries, Ltd. She was originally placed in SP's Northwestern Pacific subsidiary and operated from the Ferry Building to Marin County terminals. All automobile services of SP, NWP, Golden Gate Ferries, et al, were consolidated into one company of SPGGFL in around 1929. The middle shows her in Black Ball Line colors in the 1940's. She received makeshift lounges at each side of the fidly in the amidships shelter. Also, Black Ball replaced the screen on the Saloon Deck railings with horizontal steel or wood flat installations (probably for a fancier appearance). The bottom shows her with Washington State Ferries in the 1950's prior to lifting and widening. Her Main Deck windows were replaced by port holes and her end bulwarks were trimmed a bit. New makeshift international rules navigation lights were installed for operation into international rules waters at night (notice the aft masthead light in its resting state). Also, new ventilating apparatuses were installed. The above illustration shows the NISQUALLY as she looked after her 1958 renovations which widened her from 66 feet to two inches shy of 74 feet and raised her car deck clearance by two and a half feet to two inches shy of 14 feet (notice the seam on the side). The top shows her in the 1970s. Much changed during the 1958 renovation. New steel railings and new steering guides. Her amidships area was completely enclosed by the 1960s. The middle shows new international rules navigation lights installed. WSF replaced the inland rules navigation lights on all ferries in the 1980s with IRL's, which show better direction of the vessel at night. The ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY received new tall steel tubular masts in place of the wooden ones. The side lights were moved to the cabin corners. New stern lights were mounted at the end of each observatory. The lights change direction for each trip. Notice the WSDOT new colors on the NISQUALLY's stack (the NISQUALLY was the only pre-steeled Steel Electric to have this)! The bottom shows the NISQUALLY after the 1987 steeling with her new steel cabin. IRL's were built-in. Nice clean appearance. Notice the new elevator shaft behind one of the wheelhouse structures. The above illustration shows the NISQUALLY as she looked at night in her three phases of navigation light configurations. The top shows the original inland rules system. The only way you can tell which direction she is going is if you can see the side lights. Both white lights were even with each other. Not too good of a showing. The direction of the vessel on this illustration shows the vessel traveling to the right. The middle shows the new IRL's installed. Much better!!!! The aft masthead light is higher than the forward one. The direction of the vessel on this illustration shows the vessel traveling to the left. The bottom shows the NISQUALLY in her current configuration. IRL's can be seen well. Good directional showing! The direction of the vessel on this illustration shows the vessel traveling to the right. Enjoy!
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Post by Barnacle on Jan 7, 2007 13:24:15 GMT -8
I particularly enjoyed how you had the correct pilothouses darkened to match the direction in which she was travelling.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jan 7, 2007 13:52:03 GMT -8
Again, thank you for the fascinating drawings. I was wondering if anyone had other drawings or technical specs of any other older or retired vessels in the fleet?
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jan 8, 2007 9:09:03 GMT -8
Again, thank you for the fascinating drawings. I was wondering if anyone had other drawings or technical specs of any other older or retired vessels in the fleet? One on the MV VASHON is in work at this time on my instrument of bytes (she and the NISQUALLY were workmates in the San Juans for a good number of years). After gathering as many pictures as possible from my collection of books, and good study of them, one is planned on the STR SAN MATEO. All in the same scale as the above illustrations of the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. Look for these soon on this thread of the good ferry NISQUALLY!
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 8, 2007 10:40:04 GMT -8
Again, thank you for the fascinating drawings. I was wondering if anyone had other drawings or technical specs of any other older or retired vessels in the fleet? One on the MV VASHON is in work at this time on my instrument of bytes (she and the NISQUALLY were workmates in the San Juans for a good number of years). After gathering as many pictures as possible from my collection of books, and good study of them, one is planned on the STR SAN MATEO. All in the same scale as the above illustrations of the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. Look for these soon on this thread of the good ferry NISQUALLY! I have an interior shot of the Vashon if you need one. :)
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Post by SS Shasta on Jan 8, 2007 10:54:37 GMT -8
Does anyone have a update on where the old gal is these days? Has the yard work at Dakota been finished?
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jan 8, 2007 12:39:45 GMT -8
One on the MV VASHON is in work at this time on my instrument of bytes (she and the NISQUALLY were workmates in the San Juans for a good number of years). After gathering as many pictures as possible from my collection of books, and good study of them, one is planned on the STR SAN MATEO. All in the same scale as the above illustrations of the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. Look for these soon on this thread of the good ferry NISQUALLY! I have an interior shot of the Vashon if you need one. :) Would like to see the pic, please. Many thanks!
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 8, 2007 15:37:11 GMT -8
I have an interior shot of the Vashon if you need one. :) Would like to see the pic, please. Many thanks! I emailed it to you, if I can get through your spam blocker. ;)
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jan 8, 2007 18:10:26 GMT -8
Would like to see the pic, please. Many thanks! I emailed it to you, if I can get through your spam blocker. ;) Many thanks for the pic! Do I need permission to post it on this forum? I use web mail to filter out all the unneded emails and prevent my computer from downloading SPAM and virus attachments. You are now added on my address book.
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 8, 2007 19:09:32 GMT -8
I emailed it to you, if I can get through your spam blocker. ;) Many thanks for the pic! Do I need permission to post it on this forum? I use web mail to filter out all the unneded emails and prevent my computer from downloading SPAM and virus attachments. You are now added on my address book. Oh, no, go ahead and post it if you'd like.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jan 8, 2007 19:26:47 GMT -8
I see that round two of the Nisqually update and repair was to start today. I was wondering if anyone knows how she is doing and if they have seen her at Dakota?
If she is still at Dakota, how long will she still be there?
I see that the Illahee is scheduled to go in for drydocking early next month. Does anyone know if the Q-boat will take her place or will they let the E-state loose to fill in?
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 8, 2007 20:04:36 GMT -8
I see that round two of the Nisqually update and repair was to start today. I was wondering if anyone knows how she is doing and if they have seen her at Dakota? If she is still at Dakota, how long will she still be there? I see that the Illahee is scheduled to go in for drydocking early next month. Does anyone know if the Q-boat will take her place or will they let the E-state loose to fill in? She's not at Dakota Creek. She left...er, a week ago I think? Likely the Quinualt will fill in for the Illahee.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Jan 8, 2007 21:32:23 GMT -8
Again, thank you for the fascinating drawings. I was wondering if anyone had other drawings or technical specs of any other older or retired vessels in the fleet? One on the MV VASHON is in work at this time on my instrument of bytes (she and the NISQUALLY were workmates in the San Juans for a good number of years). After gathering as many pictures as possible from my collection of books, and good study of them, one is planned on the STR SAN MATEO. All in the same scale as the above illustrations of the ILLAHEE and NISQUALLY. Look for these soon on this thread of the good ferry NISQUALLY! As per request, here is a layout of another classic ferry of Puget Sound. This one is the MV VASHON. I first saw the VASHON in the spring of 1973 as my family was casing out the route my bus would take to Anacortes on my first trip to Camp Orkila that summer (I had just completed my fifth grade year in School). She was a small looking old ferry tied up at the ferry dock there. After asking the toll collector a few questions, we went to Deception Pass and Whidbey Island. Just as we were leaving, the big new WALLA WALLA was arriving. She dwarfed the VASHON as she is more than double the length of the 200 foot Lake Washington wooden masterpiece. Back then, I would never realize that the VASHON would be part of my life in the 1970's and 1980's. Sooner than later, the VASHON was on our Mukilteo run. Yes, she would be part of my life after all! My first ride on her was at night. There is something that brings the magic out of a classic wooden ferry at night. The light bulbs, et al. I fell in love with her and hoped this wasn't a guest appearance in place of the OLYMPIC. As soon as I learned that the OLYMPIC was to inaugurate WSF's presence on the Keystone run, I knew the VASHON was ours for a good while! She would be third vessel behind the RHODODENDRON and KULSHAN. I loved her wooden cabin, her horseshoe shaped serving counter with wooden coaster swivel stools, and the antique galley equipment. Then, I went to the open hatch to the engine room and could not believe what I saw. A beautiful engine with exposed rocker arms and flywheel clutches, all within view! This created a great habit for me every time I took this vessel on this run. I would stand at the engine room hatch at the dock end. The gate would come down. Then the clanging on the telegraph and the constant ringing of the wrong way alarm. The fun part came as I saw the clutch engage (the other end is disengaged for the trip) and away we went! I loved the beat the engine made. The service generator was noisy and its exhaust was constant popping from her stack (you could hear this about a mile away). I then enjoyed the rest of the trips on the Saloon Deck. The galley end touched Mukilteo. The galley was a static antique museum and was not to serve as there were no galley service on the third vessel on this run (the OLYMPIC's galley was closed on this run from 1970-1972 as she was third vessel then). This didn't keep me from looking through the screen and the neat galley equipment (and to imagine what my grandparents used for cooking long time ago). I had wished I had taken pics of this galley then! This illustration shows both sides of the MV VASHON and her Saloon Deck layout (until 1978). The VASHON had 29 wooden benches in her main cabin. All varnished stained wood. The Clinton end had the heads, an office, a miscellaneous room with steel screen "windows" (possibly a cleaning gear locker or something), and the engine uptake. The Mukilteo end had the serving counter. Kids had fun rotating the wooden seat coasters. The flooring was painted red in the public areas. The ends were shelters. There were six benches, two life preserver boxes, a steering rope casing, and the telegraph cable tube. Just in case you were wondering, the heads' windows were painted black inside (privy rules on this one!). WSF put three horizontal wood pieces on the Main Deck windows. I omitted the framed glass as these were eventually removed or neglected. As what the ILLAHEE, KLICKITAT, and NISQUALLY had, the VASHON had makeshift international rules navigation lights (as you can see the aft masthead light resting above the galley) and used when required. Programs changed in 1978. Everyone wanted more auto space on ferries. The VASHON would get a badly new paint job. A new pantry was installed in the galley and the coasters were gone (some orange paint was applied). The RHODODENDRON went to Keystone, the OLYMPIC returned to Mukilteo, the VASHON went back to the San Juans (new express runs on large vessels were begun there as the VASHON was an islands shuttle), the San Juan NISQUALLY went to Kingston, and the Kingston ILLAHEE got a full time job on the Mukilteo run (no more guest appearances as she was there to stay until 1982). We got two food ferries on the Mukilteo run in 1978 as the OLYMPIC's galley was dusted off and serving hot dogs and drinks (the ILLAHEE's galley was open as well). The VASHON was retired at the end of 1980. In 1985, a retired master mariner turned hosteler and tavern operator purchased the VASHON. A lot of scraping and painting was done. 10 of 29 benches were removed and bunk beds were installed accommodating 20 men at one side and 20 ladies on the other. Seats were installed at the serving counter and the orange paint covered over. A successful trial run was performed after five years of inactivity. She began her hostel business with live press coverage at Pier 70 and soon took a trip to Port Townsend for a two month stay. One night there, she was sold out as a bike group stayed the night aboard her (tours were given in the engine room). At the end of July of that year, she went to Ballard and was a viewing platform for the hydro races on Lake Washington for a company (a shuttle took the guests to the vessel from Mercer Island). After looking for permanent moorage in Seattle, it was decided to go to Alaska in 1986. She would have been a sports fishing lodge in Moira Sound and moored next to an outdated facility. MV VASHON LODGE was to be her name. Float planes would have taken her guests to and from Ketchikan. Fishing rods graced her cabin as well as a restored serving counter (the 1978 pantry was gone). The trip north to Ketchikan was successful. A fatal mistake was made when it was decided to sit outside the final berthing for a meal break on the crossing from Ketchikan. A gust of wind shoved her ashore and this concludes this writing as it is too painful for me to write about her ending.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2007 21:42:44 GMT -8
Your work is fabulous, sir.
Some time, I would like to hear what happened to the Vashon.
I assume from your story that she was grounded at Ketchikan harbour. Was she salvaged?
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 9, 2007 8:01:14 GMT -8
Your work is fabulous, sir. Some time, I would like to hear what happened to the Vashon. I assume from your story that she was grounded at Ketchikan harbour. Was she salvaged? No she was not. She eventually sank.
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