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Post by Starsteward on Oct 6, 2014 7:35:23 GMT -8
What's a ferry fan- and a mostly full time resident of a ferry dependent community- to do, when he finds himself getting too bogged down in the cynicism and politics of never ending fare increases, service cuts, and general governmental disregard for our marine transportation system?
Take a ferry ride, just for fun. To remind oneself that getting out on the water on a lovely autumn afternoon is worthwhile just in itself. Even if I have to give those lousy beggars a hefty parking fee and fares to do it.
Haven't taken the Queen of New Westminster in a while, since she's hardly ever found on my usual Duke Point route these days. The last of the raised Vs. Oh, I know, the purists will quibble about the 'V' thing, but I'm not one for tiny details. I've always really like how the 'New Westminster was redone after her last facelift; there's not a square inch of the vessel's interior that's wasted. Her cafeteria is cramped, and seating areas are put wherever they can be. Narrow walkways and stairways as well. This is not a boat from the modern German office building design. I like the layout of the outer decks four and five as well, with the covered areas and windbreaks. My only quibble is with the fact that you cannot access the stern. I don't recall if this was always the case with all the original nine 'major' vessels.
I think I set a personal record, taking about 115 photos on the 4:00 sailing from Tsawwassen, and the return. None worth posting, given my talents, and the fact that route one has been photographed to death... although I was happy to see that I did get the horizon straight in a handful. Maybe, sometime in the near future, I'll get bold and venture off the 'idiot proof' default setting my daughter was kind enough to set for me.
I notice that the 'New Westminster's vehicle deck layout is the same as it was when she was on route 30- three lanes one side, four on the other. This gives her an effective capacity of about 250 AEQ, not the 290 BC Ferries claims. Whatever. She's by far the oldest vessel left on the three main strait crossings, and I'll have to enjoy her somewhat dated personality periodically before she's sent to the rebar manufactory in India. She's an interesting and fairly speedy old gal who has served us well these forty nine years.
Your latest Queen of New Westminster posting is not undermined with a lack of photos. Your description of the old girl is spot-on and I chuckled at the shot you took at the 'purists'. The venerable 'V's' do have some negative design features when compared to some of the newer vessels, but as your eloquent tribute concludes: she, has served us well for forty-nine years. Not only has the Queen of New Westminster served us well, I'm of the opinion that all our V's were the backbone of the system for many years warts and all. Access to the stern of some of the original V's was possible until the buffets were added to the vessels on route 1 if my memory serves correctly. The route 2 vessels did have access across the stern on the sun deck, however as it has been eons since my last trip on either the Queen of Nanaimo or the Queen of Burnaby, that may have since been altered. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 6, 2014 7:40:22 GMT -8
The route 2 vessels did have access across the stern on the sun deck, however as it has been eons since my last trip on either the Queen of Nanaimo or the Queen of Burnaby, that may have since been altered. On the 'Nanaimo and 'Burnaby, there is crew access on the sun deck stern, but no passenger access in that area. |
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 6, 2014 7:48:15 GMT -8
I think after the thanksgiving weekend she is replacing the Alberni on route 30! I plan to ride her then'
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 6, 2014 18:53:25 GMT -8
What's a ferry fan- and a mostly full time resident of a ferry dependent community- to do, when he finds himself getting too bogged down in the cynicism and politics of never ending fare increases, service cuts, and general governmental disregard for our marine transportation system?
Take a ferry ride, just for fun. To remind oneself that getting out on the water on a lovely autumn afternoon is worthwhile just in itself. Even if I have to give those lousy beggars a hefty parking fee and fares to do it.
Haven't taken the Queen of New Westminster in a while, since she's hardly ever found on my usual Duke Point route these days. The last of the raised Vs. Oh, I know, the purists will quibble about the 'V' thing, but I'm not one for tiny details. I've always really like how the 'New Westminster was redone after her last facelift; there's not a square inch of the vessel's interior that's wasted. Her cafeteria is cramped, and seating areas are put wherever they can be. Narrow walkways and stairways as well. This is not a boat from the modern German office building design. I like the layout of the outer decks four and five as well, with the covered areas and windbreaks. My only quibble is with the fact that you cannot access the stern. I don't recall if this was always the case with all the original nine 'major' vessels.
I think I set a personal record, taking about 115 photos on the 4:00 sailing from Tsawwassen, and the return. None worth posting, given my talents, and the fact that route one has been photographed to death... although I was happy to see that I did get the horizon straight in a handful. Maybe, sometime in the near future, I'll get bold and venture off the 'idiot proof' default setting my daughter was kind enough to set for me.
I notice that the 'New Westminster's vehicle deck layout is the same as it was when she was on route 30- three lanes one side, four on the other. This gives her an effective capacity of about 250 AEQ, not the 290 BC Ferries claims. Whatever. She's by far the oldest vessel left on the three main strait crossings, and I'll have to enjoy her somewhat dated personality periodically before she's sent to the rebar manufactory in India. She's an interesting and fairly speedy old gal who has served us well these forty nine years.
On the whole, Neil, I rather like this post & your tribute to the old girl... On the other hand, I have bolded two sentences in the quote because I am a little surprised that a ferry nerd of your vintage would write such a thing (perhaps you were baiting us). All nine of the Spaulding majors (the V-0's, V-1's, V-2's, & V-3's) allowed (as built) ample passenger access to the stern on the sun deck. The V-0's (Sidney class) remain that way even today. All the others, however, (the Seven Sisters) lost access on the sundeck stern only following the stretching operations of the late 1960's & early 70's. When what were the aft sundeck lounges were redeveloped as restaurants (later buffets) the outside aft sundeck space became crew only galley/ servery space. There are plenty of old photos on this forum if one wants to look... WCK, New Denver |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Oct 6, 2014 21:18:27 GMT -8
Indeed, sir.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Oct 6, 2014 21:20:30 GMT -8
]On the whole, Neil, I rather like this post & your tribute to the old girl... On the other hand, I have bolded two sentences in the quote because I am a little surprised that a ferry nerd of your vintage would write such a thing (perhaps you were baiting us). All nine of the Spaulding majors (the V-0's, V-1's, V-2's, & V-3's) allowed (as built) ample passenger access to the stern on the sun deck. The V-0's (Sidney class) remain that way even today. All the others, however, (the Seven Sisters) lost access on the sundeck stern only following the stretching operations of the late 1960's & early 70's. When what were the aft sundeck lounges were redeveloped as restaurants (later buffets) the outside aft sundeck space became crew only galley/ servery space. There are plenty of old photos on this forum if one wants to look... WCK, New Denver Nope, no baiting... I just forgot about the earlier deck layout, so I appreciate your sorting that out. As for my 'vintage', I never claimed it was a particularly good year.  |
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Post by Dane on Oct 14, 2014 6:59:27 GMT -8
On Friday past, the first day of the long weekend I got to experience the New West in all her lack of glory.
Having made a really quick trip over to Vancouver, we got to the ferry terminal at seven pm, cautiously optimistic we'd make it back to the Island on the eight without a reservation.
It turns out we would make it, but the New West was seventy minutes late as the sewage system on the main passenger deck has backed up. They got it partially sorted out though and the ship thankfully stayed in service on this very busy travel day.
But, the forward lounge had to be closed. For those familiar with the ship this is one of only three larger swaying areas. And the foot passenger traffic for the nine pm sailing had also built up. This lead to an insanely busy ship. Kids were sitting under the phones, despite the cold weather there were lots of people outside essentially through necessity and the dog area had near twenty people in addition to the obvious pets. The cafeteria was over run and the lone stretched about a third of the vessel's entire length.
All in all it demonstrated why the ship is a poor fit for a busy route one day, and amusingly the SeaWest Lounge was only half full. Clearly that concept isn't winning over the masses.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 14, 2014 12:16:56 GMT -8
The New West is actually on route 30 today for the Alberni is out for a month! I am planning a few route 30 trips while she is on the route!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 11:15:10 GMT -8
While some Voyagers did a last-minute trip on the New West yesterday, I went out for a walk with my mom in Steveston, and enjoyed a late lunch at Pajo's, near the fishing pier. I challenge anyone to get a smaller photo of the Queen of New Westminster
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 29, 2014 18:41:57 GMT -8
Queen of New Westminster, northbound near the northern end of Active Pass en route from Swartz Bay with the 10 AM sailing to Tsawwassen - 27 December 2014  © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on Flickr
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Post by PeninsulaExplorer on Jan 6, 2015 19:50:29 GMT -8
How does the Queen of New Westminster have 4 engines and 2 propellers? Is she Diesel-Electric? |
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 12, 2015 20:30:01 GMT -8
Here are two more photos of the New West that I took while on Galiano Island a few weeks ago (27th of December to be precise). These show her heading north to Tsawwassen with the 10 AM sailing from Swartz Bay. These photos were taken from water level at the bottom of 'Shore Access #14', near Mary Anne Point. More on this following the ferry photos...  coming around Mary Anne Pt.
 @ the north end of Active Pass off Georgina Pt light
Both photos © WCK-JST by Wett Coast, on FlickrThis 'Shore Access #14 is found (hoping my memory is accurate) near the end of Mary Anne Point Road, very near the old CP Rail caboose there. That cabose belongs (I gather) to a Flickr member who calls himself elevation-media.   For more info on the network of shore access routes on Galiano see this. For more info on 'elevation-media' see this & this. For how that caboose found its way to Galiano, see this on elevation-media's Flickr site. Question: how many ferry geeks have seen an old CP Rail caboose on the main car deck of the Coastal Renaissance? |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 10, 2015 21:06:07 GMT -8
The New Queen of Westminster, seen idle at berth-4 in Tsawwassen. - morning of February 9, 2015  With Coastal Inspiration.  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 1, 2015 19:06:42 GMT -8
Queen of New Westminster departing Tsawwassen on Route-1, on a September 2014 day:   destined to be the final serving ship of the seven sisters. |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Apr 2, 2015 22:54:30 GMT -8
It's comforting to know that we'll at least have the New West around for a few more years. Maybe we should make our reservation on her this year for our annual Island trip. |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887 
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 3, 2015 10:31:37 GMT -8
Queen of New Westminster departing Tsawwassen on Route-1, on a September 2014 day: destined to be the final serving ship of the seven sisters. At least one of the two that were true queens because they were named after 'royal' cities. |
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Post by Dane on Apr 3, 2015 18:28:38 GMT -8
Has BCFS indicated anything somewhat recently on what the replacement plan is for the New West?
Certainly the odd ball and generally inappropriate for her current assignment (lack of AEQ, pax capacity & more importantly area for people to actually go)
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Post by Curtis on Apr 3, 2015 19:05:28 GMT -8
Has BCFS indicated anything somewhat recently on what the replacement plan is for the New West? Unless I'm mistaken, I believe the plan for the New West is to build her replacement around the same time the replacements for the Cowichan and Coquitlam are built. I believe it was mentioned somewhere in the last performance term report or a similar document that the New West's retirement would be around 2024. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 20:55:44 GMT -8
Retiring it with the Cow and Coq sounds so strange lol. Last I heard she was going to retire in 2019? That wouldn't make sense since as mentioned she would be replaced with the C1s though. Obviously she would be first of the series to be replaced.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 24, 2015 12:40:17 GMT -8
At 7:15am on a Monday morning, the Queen of New Westminster is just waking-up at berth-4 in Tsawwassen. She's an old girl who looks nice in the morning light.  Queen of New Westminster by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr |
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Post by crashlament on Jun 9, 2015 8:01:21 GMT -8
If you ask me I don't think that the new West is a great fit for route 1. Se would definitely do better at routes 30, 2, or 3.
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Post by Luke on Jun 11, 2015 15:57:54 GMT -8
If you ask me I don't think that the new West is a great fit for route 1. Se would definitely do better at routes 30, 2, or 3. Not sure about 2. I think (bear in mind I'm not exactly a BCF Expert) that the New West could work at 3 as the secondary vessel, bumping Coquitlim to the primary position. Then the Surrey could be moved to route 1. Surrey seems like it would work better on Route 1 than New West. My two cents. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2015 16:09:34 GMT -8
BTW: C class aren't going to route 1. As far as I know they've been banned from the pass since the 80s. New West wouldn't work on route 3 either, due to her turnaround time.
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Post by Luke on Jun 11, 2015 19:46:50 GMT -8
BTW: C class aren't going to route 1. As far as I know they've been banned from the pass since the 80s. New West wouldn't work on route 3 either, due to her turnaround time. What if New West went to 30, Alberni went to 3, Surrey to 2, and Renascence to 1? Also, what is the reason the C-Class is banned from Active Pass? |
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 11, 2015 21:18:49 GMT -8
There would be no point putting the Alberni on route 3 and Surrey on 2! If it was me I would put the New West on route 30 with the Alberni and the Inspiration on route 1!
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