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Post by WettCoast on Oct 30, 2014 13:06:38 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 31, 2014 21:10:45 GMT -8
And another early Alberni item from the 'Mr. DOT' collection ... This photo would date from 1982 or 83, the period when the BC Spirit logos were on the ships, but before the Expo livery change. The Alberni was lifted [had its upper car deck added] in the spring of 1984. This appears to be shot just off Swartz Bay; I think that is Fir Cone Point, Coal Island in the distance. I don't believe the Alberni was a regular on route 1 by this date, but I reserve the right to be incorrect.  Queen of Alberni - post card - off Swartz Bay - c1983
J. Barnard post card, DOT collection by mrdot., on Flickr
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Post by northwesterner on Oct 31, 2014 21:34:31 GMT -8
And another early Alberni item from the 'Mr. DOT' collection ... This photo would date from 1982 or 83, the period when the BC Spirit logos were on the ships, but before the Expo livery change. The Alberni was lifted [had its upper car deck added] in the spring of 1984. This appears to be shot just off Swartz Bay; I think that is Fir Cone Point, Coal Island in the distance. I don't believe the Alberni was a regular on route 1 by this date, but I reserve the right to be incorrect. Queen of Alberni - post card - off Swartz Bay - c1983
J. Barnard post card, DOT collection by mrdot., on Flickr
Not too many trucks on board.... |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 31, 2014 21:44:34 GMT -8
Not too many trucks on board.... No, though there appears to be quite a few over height vehicles such as vans & RV's. I believe that the Alberni in this view was probably filling in for one of the V's on an even-hour sailing, a year or two after the dedicated truck ferry service ended on route 1. |
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 4, 2014 10:16:16 GMT -8
That J. Barnard Q Alberni photo shown above has had over 8000 'views' on my brother's Flickr site ( mrdot.) Apparently it got 'Explored', the second photo that Mr. DOT has had honoured in that way. Is this 8000+ hits a record for photos featured here on the WCFF?
Now, on to another early Alberni item, this time original artwork from David's pen. David drew this from the builder's plans, while the Alberni was under construction at Vancouver Shipyards. You will note that the drawing shows one life boat on each side of the ship. Boats were originally planned to go on each of the three original C-class vessels, but were eliminated while the ships were under construction in favour of going just with just life rafts. I'm not sure about the extra tall masts, perhaps David can tell us something about that. I know that this ship, and its cousins the Cowichan & the Coquitlam, were delivered with masts that look pretty much the way that they still do, except that they were all white, in the beginning.  Queen of Alberni as per builders plans
Original Artwork © Mr. DOT 1975 by mrdot., on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 4, 2014 10:35:34 GMT -8
David drew this from the builder's plans, while the Alberni was under construction at Vancouver Shipyards. ...sometimes the "like" button just isn't good enough. This drawing, and the story behind it (that it was based on builders plans of a yet-unfinished ship) is remarkable, and adds to the legend of David Thorne. I'm assuming that it's far easier to draw a ship when you have several angles of in-service photos to base your view on. Bravo sir. Thanks for your work, 39 years later. |
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mrdot
Voyager 
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Nov 5, 2014 0:22:09 GMT -8
:)with regard to the very early Alberni drawings, and the unusual masts, they have been subject to change, rite from my early days, when I worked on the very early days of the QPR and one of the jobs the bos'n had me working on was the first black paint job on the white mainmast. which was directly in line with the short twin funnels, which designers never gave any thought of keeping a brite white!  mrdot. |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Nov 5, 2014 11:45:40 GMT -8
And another early Alberni item from the 'Mr. DOT' collection ... This photo would date from 1982 or 83, the period when the BC Spirit logos were on the ships, but before the Expo livery change. The Alberni was lifted [had its upper car deck added] in the spring of 1984. This appears to be shot just off Swartz Bay; I think that is Fir Cone Point, Coal Island in the distance. I don't believe the Alberni was a regular on route 1 by this date, but I reserve the right to be incorrect. Queen of Alberni - post card - off Swartz Bay - c1983
J. Barnard post card, DOT collection by mrdot., on Flickr
Such a beautiful double -ender in her original state. So sad to look at her today.  |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Nov 5, 2014 19:08:00 GMT -8
That J. Barnard Q Alberni photo shown above has had over 8000 'views' on my brother's Flickr site ( mrdot.) Apparently it got 'Explored', the second photo that Mr. DOT has had honoured in that way. Is this 8000+ hits a record for photos featured here on the WCFF?
Now, on to another early Alberni item, this time original artwork from David's pen. David drew this from the builder's plans, while the Alberni was under construction at Vancouver Shipyards. You will note that the drawing shows one life boat on each side of the ship. Boats were originally planned to go on each of the three original C-class vessels, but were eliminated while the ships were under construction in favour of going just with just life rafts. I'm not sure about the extra tall masts, perhaps David can tell us something about that. I know that this ship, and its cousins the Cowichan & the Coquitlam, were delivered with masts that look pretty much the way that they still do, except that they were all white, in the beginning. Queen of Alberni as per builders plans
Original Artwork © Mr. DOT 1975 by mrdot., on Flickr
Extra tall masts: I think those are tall radio antennas added to the top of the masts. You need antennas to connect to radios when contacting "Vancouver Traffic" or "Victoria Traffic" in telling them your intended navigational movements. For example: TRAFFIC, QUEEN OF ALBERNI. QUEEN OF ALBERNI, TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC, QUEEN OF ALBERNI, THREE MILES NORTHEAST OF ACTIVE PASS, ETA PORTLOCK POINT 1300. QUEEN OF ALBERNI, TRAFFIC, ROGER, COMPANY TRAFFIC ONLY. THANK YOU TRAFFIC, QUEEN OF ALBERNI OUT. |
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 11, 2014 9:42:12 GMT -8
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Post by princessofvanfan on Nov 12, 2014 1:29:17 GMT -8
Funny how he Coquitlam and Cowichan remain virtually unchanged, yet the Alberni (for obvious reasons) has been butchered so terribly. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,314
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Post by Neil on Nov 12, 2014 10:40:19 GMT -8
Funny how he Coquitlam and Cowichan remain virtually unchanged, yet the Alberni (for obvious reasons) has been butchered so terribly. Like five of the original nine major vessels, the ' Alberni was raised to make it a more efficient carrier. It was a worthwhile project that added needed capacity to the fleet, so I don't see anything terrible in it. After all, this is a car ferry we're talking about. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 30, 2014 22:40:54 GMT -8
A video shot at Tsawwassen terminal, without any harassment from terminal security staff. (it must have been their Christmas present to me)
- this features Q'Alberni and SOVI.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 31, 2014 19:43:35 GMT -8
Here's my video of my trip on Queen of Alberni from Duke Point to Tsawwassen. Morning of December 27, 2014.
at the 2:56 mark, I have an on-board view of the main cardeck doors opening.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 10, 2015 20:58:27 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni in a petri dish:  And the actual photo. - 6:15am on February 9, 2015.  |
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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 Feb 16, 2015 8:20:21 GMT -8
can anyone tell me why the Alberni was running yesterday Sunday?  She is suppose to be out for maintenance till the 19th but we were on the 7pm from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay last night and the New West was sitting in berth 4 out of service. I saw on twitter too people were complaining there was no heat on the Alberni Sunday. Did the New West break down?? She is back running today and the Alberni is out of service again. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 5, 2015 19:08:42 GMT -8
If I were writing a post-card, I might say that "The graceful Queen of Alberni is especially pleasing in the evening light." Or that "here's the Alberni and Quinsam, to show that they can still run together" Here they are:  ------- And here's Alberni with the workhorse plane model of the Harbour Air fleet: a DHC-3 DeHavilland Otter  |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 17, 2015 21:27:37 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni en route to Duke Point, Vancouver Island. Seen here off DeltaPort container terminal (near BC Ferries' Tsawwassen Terminal) on 10 June 2015.  © WCK-JST by JST, on Flickr
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Jun 17, 2015 21:49:31 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni en route to Duke Point, Vancouver Island. Seen here off DeltaPort container terminal (near BC Ferries' Tsawwassen Terminal) on 10 June 2015. © WCK-JST by JST, on Flickr
This photo, with the silty water colour on the left, suggests one that I would like to see, but never have...
Depending on the tide, the route thirty vessel sometimes crosses a demarcation point between the Fraser River water and Georgia Strait water so abrupt that were you to be swimming, you could literally have one arm in each. I'd like to see the 'Alberni or the 'Inspiration crossing that divide, from the vantage point of another vessel. Couldn't do it from another ferry, so it would have to be from a pleasure craft.
Or maybe the Forum should go in on a drone, and get our own aerial shots.
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 18, 2015 8:41:33 GMT -8
This photo, with the silty water colour on the left, suggests one that I would like to see, but never have...
Depending on the tide, the route thirty vessel sometimes crosses a demarcation point between the Fraser River water and Georgia Strait water so abrupt that were you to be swimming, you could literally have one arm in each. I'd like to see the 'Alberni or the 'Inspiration crossing that divide, from the vantage point of another vessel. Couldn't do it from another ferry, so it would have to be from a pleasure craft.
Or maybe the Forum should go in on a drone, and get our own aerial shots.
That murky Georgia Strait 'sea' water is something I have been witnessing for as long as I can remember, particularly at this time of year when the Fraser River is discharging its silty load along with high country snow melt from the vast drainage basin of the river. I have seen the murky water all the way into Active Pass and I have seen it as a clear line in the water as Neil describes - ocean blue on one side & mud puddle brown on the other. It is very much in evidence to route 1 travellers as it is to those on route 30 (as Neil states), but not so much on route 2. Have a look at this photo shot from space. All the wanna be bridge builders out there need to 'have patience' as the Fraser River is slowly but surely doing the job for us. In a million years or so the strait will be completely filled in and there will be lush farmland all the way from Ladner to Galiano. One more last tidbit related to that murky water (& an apology to my American friends)... Many years ago I was on one of the V-class ferries heading toward the Mainland as the ferry emerged from Active Pass. I was at the bow, standing behind the wall that prevents passengers from getting up into the area where the anchor windlasses are located. There was a crew member there, doing what they continue to do to this day with the anchors on the older vessels such as the Nanaimo. There was also a tourist or two there. At any rate, on that day there was a very distinct murky boundary on the water, reached soon after exiting Active Pass. Tourist asked crew member "Why is the water so dirty?" (or something to that effect). Crew member's (cheeky) reply: "Mam, we have just entered US waters"... It is true that you do go through US waters for about half the distance between Active Pass & the Tsawwassen Terminal. The murky waters, however, are all Canadian and brought to you by the Fraser River. |
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Post by EGfleet on Aug 13, 2015 9:10:37 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 19, 2015 21:49:54 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni's horn and departure announcements, from a September 15, 2015 sailing.
- I was close to a speaker, so I was able to record fine audio for this.
If there's anything about this video that causes you concern, please report it to the nearest forum moderator. Thank you for surfing with West Coast Ferries Forum.
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Sept 19, 2015 22:34:53 GMT -8
Further to Mr Horn's post, above...
I always enjoy the greetings from one of the officers on the 'Alberni... a woman who adds a personal touch to the announcement about when we left and when we're arriving. Quirky remarks about the weather, the weekend, or whatever... she's not polished, but adds a very human touch.
Another amusement on the 10:15 sailing from Tsawwassen on Friday was a pickup truck that should not have been loaded on the upper car deck. Apparently it had cleared the ceiling when loading, but was not going to make it past the overhead clearance when offloading without a couple of crewmen climbing on the back and sort of dancing a jig while the driver inched forward and rattled through with minimal impact. |
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Post by Curtis on Oct 23, 2015 22:06:33 GMT -8
Whistle #3 of 3 this week: The Queen of Alberni.
We now return to your regularly scheduled Walkthrough uploads.
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Post by Curtis on Nov 12, 2015 18:06:46 GMT -8
Here's the Alberni's walkthrough. All the sights of the vessel without dealing with her cramped passenger cabin.  Oh, and no, I did not film this at any time in the last week.  Next Week's Walkthrough: Her Route 30 running mate, the Coastal Inspiration. |
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Queen of Alberni under construction in 1975 @ Vancouver Shipyards.
mrdot.
She is suppose to be out for maintenance till the 19th but we were on the 7pm from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay last night and the New West was sitting in berth 4 out of service. I saw on twitter too people were complaining there was no heat on the Alberni Sunday. Did the New West break down?? She is back running today and the Alberni is out of service again. 
