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Post by WettCoast on Nov 16, 2006 22:57:01 GMT -8
The Bowen Queen arrives at Horseshoe Bay from Bowen Island. This was before the BQ was stretched; she appears 'as built' in the mid 1960's. Photo date: 9 April 1971 © WCK/JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 14, 2009 20:18:17 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 17:04:41 GMT -8
I just scanned a few images from my collection of photos and postcards.
Staying in Horseshoe Bay, here's a photo of a pre-stretched (I'm pretty sure) Bowen Queen.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 20, 2009 21:41:46 GMT -8
Nanaimo Harbour, taken from the Queen of New Westminster, just a minute after she left Duke Point:
The Bowen Queen is a long-term visitor to the harbour. The Spaulding sisters are marking the spot where the Port of Nanaimo's floating cruise-ship pier is supposed to open in 2011.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 5, 2009 15:00:11 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 3, 2010 20:01:16 GMT -8
On a dreary January 1, 2010, Bowen Queen sails around Gallows Point, Protection Island. A small tug is pulling a boom. When Bowen Queen arrives at the Nanaimo harbour berth, she becomes part of the harbourfront collage.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 23, 2010 22:38:40 GMT -8
Looking over-top of Protection Island, to see the Bowen Queen in her berth at Descanso Bay, Gabriola Island. - and a close-up Photos taken from Nanaimo cemetery on Jan.23, 2010.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 22, 2010 19:53:26 GMT -8
On Sunday March 21, 2010, I wanted to get outside and do some photography. So I headed to the Nanaimo waterfront, and walked along the harbourfront walkway. In front of the Cameron Island condos is a great vantage point to view the Gabriola ferry up-close, right beside the berth. The sky had some really interesting clouds, with sun peaking through. A great day for ferry photography. The Bowen Queen is a regular long-term guest on this route. It was nice to get some up-close pictures of her. ================ Here she is arriving, with Gallows Point light in the background. Almost ready to turn into the Nanaimo harbour berth. Turned and ready to dock. Standing on shore, even with mid-ships. For being completely outside the ferry terminal, you sure get close to the ship from the Cameron Island vantage-point. While the ship loads for her next trip, I take a look below the deck. Starting to load. I then found a better vantage point, where the Cameron Island walkway has some stairs to get you closer to sea-level. For departure from Nanaimo, she just pushes off sideways, much like a canoe with a paddle-push against the shore. Finishing her slide, she starts to move forward. ....And she's on her way back towards Gallows Point and Gabriola beyond that.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 22, 2010 20:03:13 GMT -8
Nice pics Fluge! I still hold fast to the belief that the BQ & the MQ are rather handsome little ferries... Not so, however, for their radically altered sister the PRQ.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 22, 2010 20:13:30 GMT -8
Nice pics Fluge! I still hold fast to the belief that the BQ & the MQ are rather handsome little ferries... Not so, however, for their radically altered sister the PRQ. Thank you, Sir. I like the outside decks on the ends of each saddle-lounge. It's like a box-seat / loge to see the action in the car-deck theatre below.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Mar 22, 2010 22:01:43 GMT -8
Nice pics Fluge! I still hold fast to the belief that the BQ & the MQ are rather handsome little ferries... Not so, however, for their radically altered sister the PRQ. Very much in agreement, as well as with Mr Horn's comment about the lower lounges. What I've always liked so much about the Mayne' and the Bowen' is the variety of prospects; three lounges and four accessible decks. You just know that when these vessels are retired, their replacements will be nowhere near as interesting. Like all BC Ferries' minor vessels, though, the less said about the inside decor, the better.
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 23, 2010 11:11:42 GMT -8
I too have the same feeling about the BQ and MQ. I recall in a past thread I ranked them both in my top 5 favorite BC ferries. I'm a big fan of the outer decks at the saddle lounge level. The Bowen Queen used to have a couple soft indoor chairs on one of those decks, which made it a nice, quiet and relaxing spot to sit. I like the BQ more because of her role as the mule of the fleet in its class, which has allowed me to ride her on a number of different routes.
Given the age of these two ferries, I wonder if they will ever receive a spruce up of their interiors, or if they will just ride out their lifetime with what's currently there.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 23, 2010 21:15:55 GMT -8
Here's the private-box of the Bowen Queen: ------------- -------- And as Neil pointed out, there are 4 decks accessible to passengers:
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Post by novabus9228 on Mar 25, 2010 11:50:56 GMT -8
I went for a ride on the Bowen Queen yesturday, March 24 and she was running very late as per normal when this ship is on the run. For example we departed Nanaimo at 12:09pm on her 11:40 am sailing and on the return we departed Gabriola a little after 2pm on her 1:20 pm sailing. They are doing a lot of work at the Garbiola side. The Waiting room is been repainted and BC Hydro is replacing Hydro poles and making a big mess. I took pictures which I will upload in the near future.
Nickfro, You will be happy to know that those "Comfy" chairs are still there. I sat in one on my way back from Gabriola. One thing is quite evident from the pictures above and from been aboard Sadly the BQ is looking like a rust Bucket. You sure notice it more onboard. I hope she will get some TLC done to her when the Quinsam returns on April 15.
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 26, 2010 10:21:34 GMT -8
One thing is quite evident from the pictures above and from been aboard Sadly the BQ is looking like a rust Bucket. You sure notice it more onboard. I hope she will get some TLC done to her when the Quinsam returns on April 15. It would be nice to receive some TLC, and soon. However, me thinks other ferries are closer to the front of the refit line than the Bowen Queen. See my post in the refit thread.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 3, 2010 17:15:33 GMT -8
The decks of the BQ, at Nanaimo harbour terminal.
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Post by Canucks on Apr 3, 2010 19:47:40 GMT -8
Nice shot Flugel! When did you take this , because I was just there this afternoon and took some pictures of the 3:45 sailing.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 3, 2010 20:34:44 GMT -8
Nice shot Flugel! When did you take this , because I was just there this afternoon and took some pictures of the 3:45 sailing. I was there around noon. We walked around the waterfront walkway, and some of the downtown streets. Sorry I missed you.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Apr 7, 2010 17:03:38 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Apr 11, 2010 18:18:06 GMT -8
Bowen Queen in Nanaimo Harbour this morning.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 11, 2010 20:38:48 GMT -8
Wow, the Bowen Queen's long substitute-gig at Gabriola has provided us Nanaimo photographers with a nice opportunity for different pictures. Here are some from Pipers Lagoon, showing the Bowen Queen on the Northumberland Channel part of her run, with the Harmac pulp-mill in the background:
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Post by dofd on Apr 16, 2010 23:02:35 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 19, 2010 18:35:17 GMT -8
More Gabriola-run photos of the BQ, but from a new vantage point: Jack Point park, which is just past Duke Point, and located with a view towards Nanaimo harbour from outside the harbour. - and she was a familiar sight for the afternoon, back & forth each half hour. View with Jack Point park shoreline on the right-side. Protection Island in the background, Nanaimo River delta on the left. Leaving Gabriola. Note the yellow house's staircase to the sea... With the Renaissance in the background, and the Industrial Revolution just around the corner.... The treed-point of Pipers Lagoon in the background. Arriving at Nanaimo harbour berth. The orange-roofed condo complex is at Cameron Island, which was once a real island. It was also the location of the old CP BC Coast Service dock. (the Bastion is photo-bombing me) Finished at Nanaimo, now heading back for Gabriola. Passing Gallow's Point at Protection Island. A glimpse of the east-side of Protection Island.
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 28, 2010 19:02:22 GMT -8
Donella and I did some ferry spotting today. It all started with sitting on the beach at Ruckle Park, until the Mayne Queen cruised by. But upon closer inspection we realized it was the Bowen Queen that was actually sailing by, not the Mayne Queen like we had first assumed. She must have just left Deas today for Sea trials. Later on, I had to drop Donella off at Fulford so she could head home on the Skeena Queen. The Skeena arrived in Fulford with the Bowen Queen following close by. The Skeena then discharged her traffic, and then a PA announcement was made from the ship saying, "We'll be right back....". The Skeena then departed empty, and the Bowen Queen slipped into the dock to unload one truck. At this point, we realized another forum member, ferryfanyvr, was standing near us, and we both shared our thoughts on how strange this was to see. Once the the truck was clear of the dock, the Bowen Queen departed into the bay so the Skeena could finally load. Take a closer look.....the Bowen Queen has gates at the bow and stern now, instead of chains.Anyways, Skeena loaded her vehicles, I said good-bye to ferryfanyvr and Donella, and off the Skeena went once again. Now the Bowen Queen heads back for the dock to unload a few more of the crew members vehicles. At this point, it was clear they were beginning to get ready to tie her up in the secondary berth, so I stuck around to see this happen. Tight fit! "Don't hit the little marina!" Fits like a glove "Finished with engines"
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Post by Mac Write on Jul 1, 2010 21:36:39 GMT -8
No video and no pics of the crew getting off? Great rare photos.
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