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Post by WettCoast on Jun 27, 2022 21:52:37 GMT -8
So basically, this was a short lived livery and configuration, as she received Expo colors and a passenger deck rework by 1986. The livery was changed to the 'Expo' scheme about a year later. The attachment below shows her in ~1985 with the new livery but I don't see any reconfiguration of the passenger space. When they did enlarge it, they never went far enough, in my humble opinion.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 27, 2022 22:22:57 GMT -8
So basically, this was a short lived livery and configuration, as she received Expo colors and a passenger deck rework by 1986. Why did BC Ferries rework her passenger deck in 1986? |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jun 28, 2022 12:09:29 GMT -8
Are you ready for something awesome? Some history to fill in the gaps. Alberni to route 2 in 1981, after lifting of two of the sisters for route 1. I sure remember those triangular seats. They were quite narrow, you sort of just slipped into them. Great pix! |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 28, 2022 22:17:39 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 30, 2022 10:16:46 GMT -8
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Post by markkarj on Jul 2, 2022 13:14:44 GMT -8
I wonder if BC Ferries could have turned back the clock, would they have done the Alberni the same as the Cowichan and Coquitlam? Would the ship have been more versatile than the original intended role as a truck/overheight-only vessel?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 2, 2022 13:21:03 GMT -8
I wonder if BC Ferries could have turned back the clock, would they have done the Alberni the same as the Cowichan and Coquitlam? Would the ship have been more versatile than the original intended role as a truck/overheight-only vessel? I don’t understand what you mean? |
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Post by markkarj on Jul 2, 2022 15:01:59 GMT -8
I wonder if BC Ferries could have turned back the clock, would they have done the Alberni the same as the Cowichan and Coquitlam? Would the ship have been more versatile than the original intended role as a truck/overheight-only vessel? I don’t understand what you mean? Sorry for not being clear. Should BC Ferries have built the Alberni like the Cowichan and Coquitlam… two car decks right from the start, maybe maintaining the extra over height capacity (without the middle car decks on the port and starboard sides), and full passenger facilities rather than the sort of two-thirds passenger deck that the ship has? Sort of like how the Coastals are basically all identical. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 2, 2022 15:32:36 GMT -8
I don’t understand what you mean? Sorry for not being clear. Should BC Ferries have built the Alberni like the Cowichan and Coquitlam… two car decks right from the start, maybe maintaining the extra over height capacity (without the middle car decks on the port and starboard sides), and full passenger facilities rather than the sort of two-thirds passenger deck that the ship has? Sort of like how the Coastals are basically all identical. So basic Queen of Cowichan and Queen of Coquitlam design minus the gallery deck. I think that would have work way better for BC Ferries because it would have kept all the vessels in class the same basic design. Would Queen of Alberni get gallery decks if under height capacity called for her to get them? |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jul 2, 2022 16:55:50 GMT -8
I wonder if BC Ferries could have turned back the clock, would they have done the Alberni the same as the Cowichan and Coquitlam? Would the ship have been more versatile than the original intended role as a truck/overheight-only vessel? To me, the most inefficient aspect of the ' Alberni as a truck ferry was the division of the cardeck into three 'tunnels' Too much wasted space... should have had one central casing. |
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Post by markkarj on Jul 2, 2022 18:22:37 GMT -8
Sorry for not being clear. Should BC Ferries have built the Alberni like the Cowichan and Coquitlam… two car decks right from the start, maybe maintaining the extra over height capacity (without the middle car decks on the port and starboard sides), and full passenger facilities rather than the sort of two-thirds passenger deck that the ship has? Sort of like how the Coastals are basically all identical. So basic Queen of Cowichan and Queen of Coquitlam design minus the gallery deck. I think that would have work way better for BC Ferries because it would have kept all the vessels in class the same basic design. Would Queen of Alberni get gallery decks if under height capacity called for her to get them? That's a good question, and I don't know. I'm trying to think what BC Ferries was thinking when planning the Alberni, Cowichan, and Coquitlam... I would have thought one-off vessels would have been a nightmare for planning, even if there was commonality between engines and mechanical systems. |
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Post by markkarj on Jul 2, 2022 18:24:25 GMT -8
I wonder if BC Ferries could have turned back the clock, would they have done the Alberni the same as the Cowichan and Coquitlam? Would the ship have been more versatile than the original intended role as a truck/overheight-only vessel? To me, the most inefficient aspect of the ' Alberni as a truck ferry was the division of the cardeck into three 'tunnels' Too much wasted space... should have had one central casing. Also a good point. I guess it would have been a bit complicated to do the two casing design for two ships, and a single casing for the third ship. I'm figuring if the Alberni had been more like its C-class sisters right from the start, it would have been a more versatile ship and involved a lower expense than subsequent expansions. |
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Post by Dane on Jul 2, 2022 19:16:39 GMT -8
So basic Queen of Cowichan and Queen of Coquitlam design minus the gallery deck. I think that would have work way better for BC Ferries because it would have kept all the vessels in class the same basic design. Would Queen of Alberni get gallery decks if under height capacity called for her to get them? That's a good question, and I don't know. I'm trying to think what BC Ferries was thinking when planning the Alberni, Cowichan, and Coquitlam... I would have thought one-off vessels would have been a nightmare for planning, even if there was commonality between engines and mechanical systems. BC Ferries was thinking they'd be on a 45 minute crossing from basically YVR to Gabriola Island, and that route 2 would definitely be gone, and likely route 1. With a projected hourly service and available vessels at the time the C class, 2 Cowichan and 1 Alberni would easily handle projected traffic. Around the time steal was being cut, the Gabriola plan stopped for a myriad of reasons. |
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Post by Ollie on Jul 3, 2022 14:33:30 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni at Horseshoe Bay, July 3 2022
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 3, 2022 14:42:07 GMT -8
I like the Alberni I was on her yesterday from Departure Bay. It was not full but I was outside most of the time so not too bad. I do prefer it when it’s not full. What is the reasoning for it being on route 2? Not a smart choice much better suited for route 30.
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 3, 2022 17:59:07 GMT -8
To me, the most inefficient aspect of the ' Alberni as a truck ferry was the division of the cardeck into three 'tunnels' Too much wasted space... should have had one central casing. Also a good point. I guess it would have been a bit complicated to do the two casing design for two ships, and a single casing for the third ship. I'm figuring if the Alberni had been more like its C-class sisters right from the start, it would have been a more versatile ship and involved a lower expense than subsequent expansions. The Alberni as built was basically identical to its sisters from the (main) car deck down. Same hull design, width, length, engines & gearing. The superstructure, however, was a much abbreviated version of its sisters, but nevertheless similar too. I am fairly sure the design would have permitted a reconfiguration to make it identical to the Cowichan/ Coquitlam. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 4, 2022 9:58:23 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni arriving @ Horseshoe Bay at end of run across Georgia Strait from Nanaimo. Although variety is sometimes a good thing, putting this vessel on route 2 is perhaps not the best sort of 'variety' one might wish for.
I am thinking that the Alberni should be the first to go when new builds start arriving in a few years time.
24 June 2022
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Post by markkarj on Jul 4, 2022 12:55:21 GMT -8
I remember being onboard the Alberni on route two in/around May 1990 for a school band trip, and then returning to the mainland days later and just after route 30 began service.
The return trip was very long on a beautiful spring day. We toured the wheelhouse, and the captain signed my copy of The Ships of British Columbia.
The Alberni didn't have doors on the over-height car deck. I think those came a few years later. It was rather cool being on the car deck as the wind rushed in.
Maybe it was that trip that sparked my on-going interest in the Alberni. That and I suppose the various mis-adventures it's encountered along its service life :/
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 4, 2022 21:19:24 GMT -8
I wonder if crew shortage has something else to do with Queen of Alberni being on route 2 because it better to have smaller vessels and secondary vessel cancel sailing due crew availability.
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 12, 2022 15:16:16 GMT -8
The lovely Queen of Alberni arriving @ Horseshoe Bay at end of run across Georgia Strait from Nanaimo
7 July 2022
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Jul 12, 2022 20:12:33 GMT -8
A great picture, but “beautiful”? As built she looked so sleek, and yes beautiful. Just an opinion!
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jul 13, 2022 10:57:12 GMT -8
A great picture, but “beautiful”? As built she looked so sleek, and yes beautiful. Just an opinion! I agree...she was once a beautiful double ender, now she's an awkward looking barge.  |
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 13, 2022 16:02:17 GMT -8
A great picture, but “beautiful”? As built she looked so sleek, and yes beautiful. Just an opinion! I agree...she was once a beautiful double ender, now she's an awkward looking barge. To the both of you ... I said 'lovely', not beautiful. Ever heard the word lovely use in a 'tongue-in-cheek' sort of way? Yes, you are both right about how she looks since her many visits to the chop shop. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jul 24, 2022 20:43:42 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jul 24, 2022 21:29:19 GMT -8
Gee, who would have thought this would ever happen. The ' Alberni already has the lowest pax capacity of any 'major' vessel, and they've put her on the second highest pax route in the system. Add crew shortages to the mix, and maybe you've got another reason why Mark Collins is looking for a new job. |
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