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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 12, 2014 16:14:07 GMT -8
Actually, wett coast, if you ever read a newspaper or watched a television news program, you would know the E&N is about to undergo a 25 million dollar upgrade. The track work is out for bids right now to be awarded at the end of this month. Also don't forget all the pulp mills receive railcars-even Port Alice. The tone in your reply aside, I can assure you that the content of your post doesn't conflict with Wett Coast's earlier reply. Rail is close to dead here on Vancouver Island (I live here, for past 40+ years). If and when the E&N gets fixed, I don't think the mid-length trains of freight will ever occur on Vancouver Island. There is no industrial demand for anything more than a few rail cars at a time. Just a few cars here and there, destined for some industrial customer sidings. And the customers are few. Very few. The few rail cars that are currently being used here on Vancouver Island are transported by barge to/from the Seaspan dock at Wellcox (Nanaimo harbour). I don't think there'd ever be enough rail traffic on this Island to ever warrant a rail ferry such as what Carrier Princess or Princess Superior used to be. Rail cars to remote mills (Port Alice is very remote, far away from E&N Line) are best hauled by tug/barge, similar to how rail cars get to/from the mill in Powell River. ie. tug/barge direct to the mill's siding. Mills such as Harmac, Crofton, etc on Vancouver Island aren't linked to the E&N Line, and so they too would be best with tug-barge service. ie. Why would Seaspan use a big ferry to haul a few rail cars directly to a mill site, well away from their ferry routes? - this would be a huge waste of resources for Seaspan to divert their ships for 1 customer for a few cars, taking them out of regular service for a couple or more days to do that task. - ie. the Port Alice mill is so clearly not ever going to be a Seaspan Ferries customer - just consider it's location and that a Seaspan Ferry would need to round Cape Scott to reach it !! I could go one in similar fashion, for each other mill on Vancouver Island, but I think I've actually named them all. Unless you want to suggest service to long closed down mills such as at Elk Falls, Gold River, etc. - I think that Crofton, Harmac and Port Alice covers it all - oh wait, there's Port Alberni. Water access from West Coast, but there is the Alberni Subdivision of the E&N from Parksville, but that will never be upgraded for freight traffic. Never. It's not part of the upcoming band aid fixup work. For a list of Wett Coasts's regular news readings, you'd need to check with him. I think it's clear that he pays attention. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 18:17:24 GMT -8
Well your opinion and the facts are 2 different things.
Count the number of railcars at Harmac and Crofton to see how many are on site.
There is a lot more freight traffic coming.
I have very reliable railroad information (used to work for the railroad).
Maybe you want the railroad to die?
Have you not heard of the container port coming to Port Alberni?
Have you not heard of the not 1 but 2 coal mines coming in the Fanny Bay area?
The reason the freight traffic has died off is due to the 10 mph restriction on the rail line.
No point running to Courtenay or Victoria when it is 8 hours each way right now.
I have also live most of my life here (was born here).
I was here when the dayliner went from CPR to VIA, CN still had trains here, ect.
How far is Harmac from downtown Nanaimo?
Not very far last time I checked.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 12, 2014 18:31:26 GMT -8
How far is Harmac from downtown Nanaimo? Not very far last time I checked. Last time I also checked (yesterday), it hadn't moved. So I guess we have just agreed on something. That's a good start. ...but this quote is an example of something that could lead to good discussion, if you maybe opened it up a bit, instead of closing it off. ie. why is Harmac's closeness to Nanaimo downtown relevant? Are you suggesting that Seaspan's ferry calls-in at Harmac while on its way to/from Nanaimo harbour? Or are you suggesting a rail spur-line from Wellcox around the Nanaimo River estuary to Harmac? Your "not very far last time I checked" doesn't really indicate what you are intending to convey, and it doesn't really invite any discussion. ------------ So what are you actually suggesting should happen with Crofton & Harmac and Port Alice rail cars? Really, I'm interested to read what you think makes sense re rail connections for those mills. - no sarcasm or put-downs, I just want to know what you think about those issues. You obviously care about this issue, so without questioning whether someone reads a newspaper or watches the news, I invite you to participate in a productive discussion and contribute. I think we can all learn from each other, if we keep it civil. But if it's going to be more of the "...you obviously don't watch the news or read the paper" stuff, then there's no point in continuing this here. - There's a more constructive and polite way of getting a point across here, and that's the style that this here forum prefers. It's easy to do a counterpoint rebuttal without put-downs. You just need to clearly state your opinion with some justification so that people will understand the reason for your opinion. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 19:40:27 GMT -8
The new ferries they are getting could call at both wellcox and Harmac.
I am thinking about saving money and time if they could call at both places inbound and also collect outbound at the same time.
I think they should get 4 new ferries as, in MY opinion, all 4 of the current ferries they have are pretty much done. (Doris, Greg, Carrier Princess, Princess Superior).
Once rail freight traffic comes back up after the line is refurbished, I'm sure either 1 of the new ships or 1 of the barges will be used almost exclusively for rail traffic.
When the container port is built, I can see some of the traffic (containers) will be shipped to points on the island by rail.
Also coal will most certainly go by rail as Sourthern Rail actually released information that they alone will bear the cost of upgrading the port sub and the line between Fanny Bay and Parkesville.
Nobody will know for sure how quickly the freight traffic will grow until after the initial repairs are completed next summer.
Just like we don't know how the new route 9 and 17 ferries and the cable ferry wil actually perform till they are built and operating.
I'm hoping for the best for both the railroad AND the ferries.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 12, 2014 21:13:54 GMT -8
If 'friesngravy' has any information that the Port Alberni (actually Sarita) container proposal is any further along than an exploratory study by the Port Alberni port commission, and that it has found investors ready to pony up the billion-seven required to build it, I'm sure we'd be very interested in the details.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 12, 2014 22:20:37 GMT -8
To 'Fries & Gravy'
I would love very much to see the railway on Vancouver Island moving large amounts of freight like it did back in the 1950's. Am I a pessimist or a realist if I say that such is not likely to come to reality? You can be the judge of that.
In general, short line railways throughout North America are dying, one by one; dying for a host of reasons. The $25 million promised by the BC & federal governments to help rehabilitate the line has been promised for some time. I gather that the work is moving ahead, judging by what you (Mr. 'Fries&Gravy') have said. However, I had come to a conclusion that the governments were 'promising' that money not so much as to fix the rail line, but rather, to secure a few votes on the Island. At any rate, the line now is in such poor shape that $25 million is likely not nearly enough money to bring the line back into a reasonable condition for the operation of the Via Budd cars. I do believe that the former E&N Railway could have a future chiefly by providing commuter rail service (and a limited freight service as well) on the Island.
Just so you know, I hardly ever watch TV, but I do listen to the radio (mostly CBC) and do keep an eye on the news via the internet. I consider myself to be better informed than most, especially in the area of rail & marine transportation in BC. Also, I grew up in Victoria. Though I have lived in northern BC for almost 40 years now, I continue to know the Island, and its issues, pretty well.
WCK,
N. Van
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 13, 2014 10:54:59 GMT -8
Seaspan's Carrier Princess is included near the end of this "from Gabriola" video shot by me on Oct.11, 2014.
A case of perfect timing: as Quinsam left my sight, Carrier Princess appeared.
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Post by Dane on Oct 14, 2014 7:20:51 GMT -8
For all this "fact" talk it should be noted that the money available for the E&N is actually just a smudge about $20 million, and only about 13 or 14 would make it directly to the tracks in the first go round.
I love trains and rail is an amazing way to move commercial goods but with all the pressures at the three involved government levels Im questioning how the E&N was the project that got funded? Bizarre, but I will take it.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 8, 2014 21:55:35 GMT -8
The lyrical movement of Carrier Princess is captured here, against a backdrop of grey appreciation for the beauty of the ships.
Her pirouette departure is a beautiful thing.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Nov 8, 2014 23:10:51 GMT -8
The lyrical movement of Carrier Princess is captured here, against a backdrop of grey appreciation for the beauty of the ships. Her pirouette departure is a beautiful thing. There are ferry fans, and there are hard core ferry fans, and then there are the, umm... hard to categorize ferry fans who are willing to spend ages filming and then uploading unsung vessels like the Carrier Princess going about her business. Although I'm not one, I know I very much appreciate the third category.
So as not to do two posts on the same topic, I'll mention here that I also enjoyed the effects on the time lapse Powell River Queen video, where the tide made it look like one was either rushing northward or southward, though the landmarks didn't move. Cool, and something that only can be done when the videographer is willing to take the time.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 19, 2014 17:57:44 GMT -8
A www.tradewindsnews.com item on Seaspan's new ferries: Take a read of that last sentence, again. from HERE which is the front-page, so just for a limited time. But for now, it shows an illustration that may or may not be what the ship will look like. |
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 19, 2014 18:23:55 GMT -8
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Post by hullnumbers on Jan 28, 2015 14:51:14 GMT -8
It's been awhile for me, but whatever happened to the Seaspan Doris? Was she retired in 2013?
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 28, 2015 19:49:48 GMT -8
It's been awhile for me, but whatever happened to the Seaspan Doris? Was she retired in 2013? It was mothballed in one of Seaspan's North Vancouver facilities (just west of the 'automall'). Don't know if it is still there. It is not listed on Seaspan Ferries current fleet list (on their website). Its certificate expires later this year - see this. Check this out... uglyships.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/seaspan-doris/ |
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Post by hullnumbers on Jan 28, 2015 20:58:13 GMT -8
Ah thanks, Funny too on the second link.
Also looked back to previous posts on this thread and I conclude early 2012 or near the end of 2011 is when the Seaspan Doris was mothballed. My thought 2012 is my answer.
Interesting Oct 31, 2015 her certificate expires. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 30, 2015 8:30:34 GMT -8
Seaspan Greg has been working a regular shift for the month of January, while the Georgia Link barge has been in refit.
No photos or sightings by me, because I didn't realize this until yesterday, and because she's working graveyard shift.
ex Greg Yorke is the runt of the fleet and only gets used when needed, usually during refits.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 30, 2015 21:07:28 GMT -8
Seaspan Challenger tug, with her Coastal Spirit barge. - at Nanaimo harbour terminal on January 30, 2015. With vehicles on board the aft end of the barge, you can't see the full tug.  After those vehicles have been offloaded, you can see more of the tug, and see how she sits inside the notch of the barge.  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 30, 2015 21:22:15 GMT -8
Seaspan Challenger / Coastal Spirit departing Nanaimo. - 5:00pm on January 30, 2015 Her daily afternoon visit is a very efficient 1.75 hours. Just when Quinsam arrives, SC/CS leaves    ------------ The Coastal Spirit barge is Seaspan Ferries' highest capacity ferry. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 8, 2015 13:13:11 GMT -8
Here's my video of a late January afternoon at Nanaimo's waterfront. I was hoping to videograph the arriving and departing Seaspan Ferry. The Seaspan Challenger / Coastal Spirit combo is an interesting ferry to watch.
Firstly, a pusher-tug & barge is such a different thing from the traditional ferry. I'm always fascinated to watch it in action.
Secondly, because Coastal Spirit barge is the largest carrier in the Seaspan Ferries fleet, it sticks out into the harbour a bit more than does C'Princess or Princess Superior. So from my vantage point at the visiting vessel float, I actually got to see some of the deck space being unloaded and loaded. The shore team of hostlers does this in 2 hours.
The video also shows a log freighter being loaded, and then the ship departs. 2 ship-docking tugs are used for turning the freighter around.
....and then there's the Quinsam.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 11, 2015 19:13:17 GMT -8
Views of Carrier Princess at Swartz Bay's "berth 6" - 11:00am or so, on February 9, 2015 The view from C-Cell as we approach Swartz:  Looking rusty  CP about to depart:  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 13, 2015 22:07:43 GMT -8
Here is my video of Carrier Princess leaving Swartz Bay. It sounds simple, but I've never seen a Seaspan ship leaving Swartz Bay before, so this was a new thing for me to see, even though it happens a few times every day.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 21, 2015 18:11:24 GMT -8
Princess Supe, leaving Nanaimo on Saturday morning, February 21, 2015. - this sailing is scheduled for Carrier Princess, and the temp refit schedule was finished last week. So I'm not sure why the vessel swap for today, but I was just happy to see a different ship, for variety's sake. - with a Protection Island ferry  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 22, 2015 15:39:19 GMT -8
And here is my video of Princess Superior leaving Nanaimo harbour.
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Post by craigolio1 on Mar 11, 2015 13:55:25 GMT -8
Hello. Does anyone know where I could find a drawing of Carrier Princess. I'm planning to build a model of her.
Please contact me at craigolio13 at yahoo dot ca if you can help.
Thanks, Craig
Edited to correct email address.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 13, 2015 14:52:49 GMT -8
Nanaimo Daily News story on possibility of Seaspan Ferries moving from its historic old downtown Nanaimo terminal. My question is that if Seaspan closes this drop-trailer terminal, would the rail dock also close (same berth). If the rail dock closes, then where else would there be a rail dock on Vancouver Island? from HERE |
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