FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 9, 2010 12:20:02 GMT -8
Was the galley open on your sailing aboard the OLYMPIC? Was the galley ever open after she was unretired in 1983 or so? I never saw any indications that the galley was even there (no menu or "Welcome To The Olympic Galley" (or similar) sign. There was something that looked like a stretcher placed in front. I believe her galley was open when she was on the Port Townsend to Keystone Harbor at Coupeville run in 1985. That was when the VASHON was in Port Townsend as a hostel. I took a couple of rides aboard the RHODY when I was staying aboard the VASHON. The RHODY's galley end was touching Port Townsend as was the KLICKITAT's and the VASHON was brought into the old Quincy Street dock with her galley end touching that dock for her hostel operations there. The VASHON's stay there was two months and left for Seattle at the end of July of 1985.
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Aug 9, 2010 12:22:32 GMT -8
I remember when the Issy's were new and on the Clinton aka (Columbia Beach) - Mukilteo run, that they both broke down and we have the Rhody as our sub.. she was the only boat we had for a few days almost a week. I remember one subbing she did on the Mukilteo run in the early 1980s. I believe the ILLAHEE was on this run as well. There was something very strange about the RHODY's appearance, though. Her galley end was touching Mukilteo instead of CB. It was customary for the Whidbey Island riders to find the galley end at the CB end aboard the RHODY. I just wonder how many people tried to find the heads on this subbing! ;D That was when the RHODY was real and had that familiar sounds and inside looks with red tiles on the flooring and green benches and a sign that read: "WELCOME TO THE RHODY GALLEY". I remember her well. This time when she was used there was only her, I remember the lines very very well. I am looking for pictures, as I am sure I have some somewhere...
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on Dec 15, 2010 13:11:53 GMT -8
I think as soon as the KdT's get on line, these two ought to be sold while thay still have their cerificates and some value, especially the Rhododendron.
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Post by EGfleet on Dec 15, 2010 13:58:40 GMT -8
I think as soon as the KdT's get on line, these two ought to be sold while thay still have their cerificates and some value, especially the Rhododendron. That has always been the plan for the Rhody. I think the state is going to hang onto the Hiyu for a bit longer as in a pinch they can still use her for the inter-island or even at Point Defiance if need be. She has better height clearance than the Rhody does which makes her a little more useful, even with her smaller carrying capacity.
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 17, 2010 22:53:17 GMT -8
I Probably my favorite in the fleet, the venerable Rhododendron, coming into Point Defiance. Enjoy! Jody
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Post by northwesterner on Jan 4, 2011 1:22:54 GMT -8
What? No comments on how she looked like a bathtub toy at Colman Dock Slip 2 on Sunday?
Totally dwarfed by the infrastructure there and her sisters.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 9, 2011 22:04:32 GMT -8
I have seen a fair few exterior shots of the Rhody here on the forum, but never once a single interior shot, current or historic. Does anybody have any they'd be willing to post?
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Post by Mike on Jan 9, 2011 22:40:49 GMT -8
I have seen a fair few exterior shots of the Rhody here on the forum, but never once a single interior shot, current or historic. Does anybody have any they'd be willing to post? EGFleet has some on his website. www.evergreenfleet.com/rhody.html
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Rhody
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by Rhody on Jan 9, 2011 22:44:42 GMT -8
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 9, 2011 22:58:10 GMT -8
Thanks for those prompt responses! I like that skylight above the stairwell. We need those in our newer ships too. Didn't the Sidney-Class twins have something like this in one of their lounges, or am I mistaken?
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Jan 10, 2011 7:50:41 GMT -8
Thanks for those prompt responses! I like that skylight above the stairwell. We need those in our newer ships too. Didn't the Sidney-Class twins have something like this in one of their lounges, or am I mistaken? The Sidney class featured the stern facing windows in the upper sundeck lounge, as well as the wonderful feature of windows around three sides of that lounge. All of the original V/B class also featured these well appointed upper deck lounges and panoramic views when they were originally built, but they lost the view out the stern windows with the addition of the upper deck kitchens that served the buffets in the sundeck lounges. The Rhody definitely has a classy look, though, but her windows appear to be like what you could find in any cabin style home. It's a nice touch, but I'm sure if they were on a ferry up here, they'd long ago have been replaced by fire rated windows. It's nice to see she has kept her brass handrails, and it looks like there are even still some wooden rails in some spots on the outside deck.
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Post by Kahloke on Jan 10, 2011 8:21:04 GMT -8
I have seen a fair few interior shots of the Rhody here on the forum, but never once a single interior shot, current or historic. Does anybody have any they'd be willing to post? Here are my Rhododendron pics: www.pbase.com/bswanplsbo/rhododendron
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Jan 10, 2011 12:51:23 GMT -8
Well from a talk I had with a friend of mine that works on her, he said she is really in much better shape then everyone things.. He also was saying that many of the crew are concerned that the State will lie to everyone again like they did with the SE's..
He Jokes that the Rhody is really more like the Rhody II because of all that was done to her in the rebuild..
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Post by Barnacle on Jan 10, 2011 16:51:11 GMT -8
Well from a talk I had with a friend of mine that works on her, he said she is really in much better shape then everyone things.. He also was saying that many of the crew are concerned that the State will lie to everyone again like they did with the SE's.. He Jokes that the Rhody is really more like the Rhody II because of all that was done to her in the rebuild.. Wouldn't have been A.N., would it? Yes, I was stunned to hear that she had such a wastage problem at the waterline. When I heard she needed extensive steelwork on the hull a few years ago, I said aloud, "what are they going to do, replace the last four plates they didn't in 1992?"
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Jan 10, 2011 22:18:36 GMT -8
Well from a talk I had with a friend of mine that works on her, he said she is really in much better shape then everyone things.. He also was saying that many of the crew are concerned that the State will lie to everyone again like they did with the SE's.. He Jokes that the Rhody is really more like the Rhody II because of all that was done to her in the rebuild.. Wouldn't have been A.N., would it? Yes, I was stunned to hear that she had such a wastage problem at the waterline. When I heard she needed extensive steelwork on the hull a few years ago, I said aloud, "what are they going to do, replace the last four plates they didn't in 1992?" Yes Barnacle, it is A.N. Known each other most of our lives... Yeah good question what are they doing...
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Mar 16, 2011 14:01:22 GMT -8
Well it looks like the HIYU is going to replace the Rhody for a time. No other info from WSF except that she will replace her this afternoon until further notice.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 17, 2011 8:01:47 GMT -8
Just wanted to add to the discussion, since I haven't really been venturing over to this side of the forum too much. It seems that I've been studying the WSF fleet more and more as of late...
The Rhododendron is probably one of my favourite looking WSF vessels, simply because it's amazing she's still in service as a functioning ferry of her age. The SE's lost their antique charm with me with the newer passenger lounge conversion. But this one is a blast from the past of the decade she was built in. Well done, for the crews that have kept her going and assumably in great shape as well!
PS: I guess the trade off to having MES stations/Assembly Stations on the car deck, is so higher fire rated windows wouldn't be needed on the passenger deck. This would be because no passengers are mustered outside of those windows during an emergency...The only other huge disadvantage to that is losing a number of parking spots for cars to allow room for egress routes to the MES stations.
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Post by Barnacle on Mar 17, 2011 9:31:51 GMT -8
Just wanted to add to the discussion, since I haven't really been venturing over to this side of the forum too much. It seems that I've been studying the WSF fleet more and more as of late... That's because any maritime museum is interesting. ;D The crews that work the Rhody are very proud of their vessel and they certainly do the best they can with the equipment at hand to make the old girl look sharp and clean. She is the end of an era at WSF--she's the last "porthole" boat. Even though the entire superstructure was replaced in 1992, they retained the original lines. I don't know about the "fire-rated" windows that you all keep speaking of. Not knocking, just don't know. That having been said, no windows on the passenger level are actually exposed to the car deck, save for a bit of exposure to the pilothouses (and even they are set back about four feet from the forward railings). That having been said, the MES stations on the Rhody are a bear to load around--and they eat up about twelve parking spaces. That is actually a typical number of spaces lost to the slides, but it's a lot more noticeable when the original capacity of the boat was only 60 cars. We're talking 20% capacity loss. I'll miss the old girl when she's gone (though 'gone' is relative; the Olympic has been 'gone' for fourteen years and she's still around).
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 17, 2011 12:06:19 GMT -8
Re: Fire Rated Windows I'll use the vessels that I'm familiar with as an example. On the Queens of Nanaimo/Burnaby, they have fire rated windows on the Promenade Deck (Deck 4 - covered outer decks) This is due to the fact the the MES stations are positioned in these areas. The Queen of Burnaby is a little different though, with her MEC stations kitty cornered to each other, therefore only the windows near those stations are fire resistant. But I'll try and keep the Burnaby out of this since she's a little different. Anyways, these fire rated windows are installed in these areas, as well as fire rated insulation in the bulkheads. The idea is to create an A-60 quality bulkhead which essentially means the bulkhead can withstand the heat and flames for at least 30 minutes before it begins to break down, at which point it would take another 30 minutes of heat and flames until the bulkhead was destroyed and no longer providing resistance. This totals overall, 60 minutes of protection from fire, therefore why it is called an A-60 bulkhead. I'm not sure what the rating was on the original windows though, which are still used in other areas away from Assembly stations. The legal amount of time to evacuate a ship is 30 minutes from the time the verbal 'abandon ship' announcement from the Master is given. Here's an example of Assembly Station B or the Snack Bar lounge, on the Queen of Nanaimo www.pbase.com/ferryman/image/102250505
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 23, 2011 10:03:59 GMT -8
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on May 23, 2011 10:51:02 GMT -8
I personally think, when the time comes, they ought to keep the Rhody and surplus the Hiyu.
From what my sources tell me, it's in better shape than the Hiyu and hauls more cars. The only drawback I could see is the height limitation, and I think it would be a better training platform. Because of the distances from land, it should be an OK replacement Inter-Island boat, although I do not know how well how well it would do the "spin', although I don't know how well the Hiyu does it either, the two are the same width.
Anyone care to comment?
Jim
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Post by Barnacle on May 23, 2011 14:08:07 GMT -8
The Hiyu does the 'spin' reasonably well because of the large quantity of unobstructed auto deck. The Rhody should theoretically be able to do about as well, except for the stanchions holding up the house that divide the outer lane from the inner two lanes. (They're placed to make the outside lane rather narrow.)
However, the language passed a couple of years back is (in theory) supposed to retire a boat at the age of sixty, and the Rhody's already 64. The Hiyu is only 44. The Rhody also has retrictions on her Certificate of Inspection limiting her operational status to 8/10 of a mile offshore (remember, the Evergreen still pinch-hits when a boat breaks down and also makes a regular Sunday crossing), and restrictions on her Stability Letter regarding the amount of overheight (commercial) traffic she can carry, which renders her only slightly more useful than the Hiyu.
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Post by Kahloke on May 23, 2011 14:28:15 GMT -8
I would think Rhododendron will be retired once Kennewick is in service, and one of the Kwa-di "Tub Toys" (whether it's Kennewick or Chetzemoka) replaces Rhody at Point Defiance. Is that still the current plan, as far as anyone knows?
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Post by EGfleet on May 23, 2011 15:01:20 GMT -8
I would think Rhododendron will be retired once Kennewick is in service, and one of the Kwa-di "Tub Toys" (whether it's Kennewick or Chetzemoka) replaces Rhody at Point Defiance. Is that still the current plan, as far as anyone knows? That is indeed the plan. The Rhody is currently on its last full year of service.
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Post by chokai on Jul 4, 2011 9:14:56 GMT -8
This nice little pencil drawing of the Rhody arriving at Clinton is posted on the wall at the family beach cabin on South Whidbey. The artist is listed as R. Davenport (perhaps fort) and is dated '73. I know nothing else about it. I've never seen it for sale elsewhere on the island though but I would love to buy another one for my own place. :-)
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