Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Feb 25, 2008 1:29:58 GMT -8
As it was these heightening jobs were done in periods of about 5 months; a little longer for the Esq. & Saanich which also were re-engined. Compare this with the time required to do the MLU's on the 'C' class of recent years. A very interesting set of posts... I've learned a lot more about the V-class upgrade in the past few minutes. One question: when were the Vancouver and Victoria re-engined prior to lifting? I was under the impression the four original ships that were lifted had their engines replaced during that upgrade, but the newspaper story suggests the Victoria and Vancouver had their engines replaced earlier. The Bannermann book indicates that the Vic, Van, Saanich and Esquimalt all had very unreliable engines at first. Yes, the Vic and Van had their troublesome Paxman Twins ripped-out in 1978 and replaced with MaK 9M551AK. This made their lifting surgeries a little cheaper than the Saanich and Esquimalt as, they recieved their MaK's when lifted.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Sept 4, 2007 12:57:45 GMT -8
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Post by Airchime on May 5, 2008 20:58:08 GMT -8
I've scoured the photo section looking for a photo tribute to the venerable old Queen of Vancouver. Having not found one, I plunged into my collection to get the ball rolling! Please feel free to add your photos of her here as well. First, some baby pictures........ City of Vancouver photo by W.J.L. Gibbons. Stan Wright p/c Queen of Vancouver photo by BC Jennings. Stan Wright p/c Queen of Vancouver photo/postcard by John L Barnard The first good quality photo I took of the Vancouver was back in 1991 at Swartz Bay. I was actually aboard an extra sailing of the Burnaby. This was still a couple of years before the two S-Class ships entered service, and Route 1 was busy all the time! Some early '90s photos of the Queen of Vancouver. The two sisters, The Vic and The Van tied up at Tsawwassen. This plaque on the inside wall states the Vancouver was re-engined in 1978. I've always wondered if she was the first to get the MaK's before the other three in her class, or they, maybe, tried another manufacturer then switched her to the MaK's? Bringing her into dock smoooooothly. The Commonwealth Games logo from 1994. The outside appearance of the Vancouver's funnel has always been a little different from her other sisters. They have a thick black stripe which covers the trumpets, then the white line fits between the trumpets and air vents. The Vancouver's black stripe is a little thinner, so the white line passes under the trumpets. Even today, her black stripe is thinner than on the other funnels. The first time I recall seeing the Vancouver in Horseshoe Bay was back in 1995. The ship on Route 3 had a bit of a steering problem and ran into one of the large dolphins as they entered berth 3. Needless to say, she was removed from service and the Vancouver filled in for the duration of her abscense. That's all for Part 1 of our story.
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Post by Ferryman on May 5, 2008 21:40:43 GMT -8
Alan,
You've made my night. Thank you.
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Post by WettCoast on May 5, 2008 21:58:15 GMT -8
Q of Vancouver backing out of Tsawwassen. This photo is from ~1981, soon after upper car deck lift, and prior to nose job. DOT photo ©This photo was displayed earlier in the historical BCF photos thread. I will add more later. WCK
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 6, 2008 7:06:07 GMT -8
Thanks WCK. I liked the lifted ferries before getting their nose jobs. Looked less like a bull dog or pug - as much as I like them as dogs - like the look less for ferries ;D
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Post by Balfour on May 6, 2008 19:13:47 GMT -8
Holy smokes guys those are awesome!
Thank you very very much for posting all of those and keep coming.
I'd like to get on the Queen of Vancouver and the Queen of Saanich at least once before they are retired.
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Post by Mike C on May 6, 2008 20:22:01 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on May 6, 2008 22:04:52 GMT -8
Another oldie of the Vancouver, c1974, post stretching, off of Salt Spring. Looking very good in Pastel Blue... JST photo ©[/color] The Vancouver @ Tsawwassen - soon after lifting; a stern view... DOT photo ©[/color] Q of Vancouver funnel, mast and solarium lounge - 2 June 1972 JST photo ©[/color]
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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 May 6, 2008 22:17:24 GMT -8
This photo is from Sunday of the Vancouver tied up at berth 4 as I came in on the SOBC.
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Post by Ferryman on May 6, 2008 22:38:21 GMT -8
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Post by Nickfro on May 7, 2008 8:01:33 GMT -8
Excellent tribute photos, everyone! I'm always fascinated by all the physical changes that the V Class ferries went through, and these collaboration of photos show the evolution of this class to a tee! Just one for now. . .
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pscurr
Chief Steward
Posts: 204
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Post by pscurr on May 7, 2008 11:55:28 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on May 7, 2008 21:58:35 GMT -8
The Vancouver, fresh from lifting, coming out of her namesake harbour under the Lion's Gate Bridge - ~spring 1981 DOT photo ©
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Post by WettCoast on May 8, 2008 17:05:46 GMT -8
The Vancouver @ Departure Bay, 17 May 2003 JST photo © from my Flickr
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Post by Airchime on May 8, 2008 19:12:59 GMT -8
Wow you guys! All those images are excellent!! Thanks for adding all the interior shots, Chris!! Amazing stuff. Q of Vancouver funnel, mast and solarium lounge - 2 June 1972 Check out her blue trumpets!! Cool! Thanks WetCoastKid for the colour pastel blue photos. This one here especially because the black stripe looks to be as thick as the ones found on the other ships. I wonder when the change to the current stripe happened??
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Post by Airchime on May 8, 2008 20:17:52 GMT -8
Airchime's photo tribute Part 2 As we entered the new Millennium, the Queen of Vancouver still carried on her role as the second ship out of Tsawwassen. She bid a fond farewell to her sisters The Queens of Sidney and Victoria, and welcomed the new Fulford Harbour ferry. In this photo, the Skeena Queen is seen chasing the ol' Vancouver into Swartz Bay. Out on the Strait, full speed ahead!! She filled in for the Queen of Esquimalt on her triangle runs during the May long weekend in 2003. The Eskie was working full time on the Langdale run after the Surrey's second, more crippling, engine room fire. Backing out of Berth 3 on an extra Langdale trip. While she was doing the Langdale run, I grabbed the next sailing to Departure Bay to await her arrival. The creation of the "new" company, BCFS, saw this rather unattractive paint scheme and emblem applied to our beloved ships. The Dogwood Fleet was quickly being erased, and in it's place came "...the wake of two ship's passing"!! The Queens of Nanaimo and New Westminster are busy loading as the Vancouver rests in Berth 2 at Tsawwassen. Not all the photos are happy ones. This one shows the Vancouver, crippled by a busted gearbox, and the Burnaby, brought down to replace her, during Easter weekend, 2004. A rare visitor from the North stops to chat with the Vancouver before heading to a Victoria shipyard for a fresh coat of paint. This photo was taken a week or two before the sinking of the Queen of the North. In service on Route 30. And, finally, the Queen of Vancouver approaching Swartz Bay on Route 1 in April, 2008.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 8, 2008 20:23:29 GMT -8
Airchime:
I'm thinking that the ship that you've identified as Queen of the North is really the Queen of Prince Rupert.
But then you haven't really said that this ship is the QotN, you just said "Northern Visitor", and the QPR was indeed down-south "just a few weeks before the 'North's sinking".
......so I'm just babbling
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Post by Ferryman on May 8, 2008 21:04:45 GMT -8
Great pics everyone! This is probably my favourite thread right now, as the Vancouver is my favourite V-Class. This photo of Airchimes, is one that brings back good memories for me. It reminds me of the first time (that I can remember anyway) of being on the Queen of Vancouver going through Active Pass. I was about 9 years old at the time, and it was the summer of 1997. We were coming back home to the Island from a trip to visit my Grandparents in Nelson. Initially we tried to catch the Queen of New Westminsters 3:15pm sailing to Duke Point, but missed it by mere seconds. We didn't feel like waiting, so I was excited to be put on the 4:00pm Queen of Vancouver to Swartz Bay. She was running about 10 mins late, as I remember having to stop just outside of Sturdies Bay, to allow for the Queen of Saanich exit the pass. I was standing right at the exact position that Airchime has captured in the above photo. It was at that very moment where I heard the Vancouvers horn for the first time, and had realized how nice it had sounded. One by one, the chimes would sound to form that 3 note chord I'll never forget, sending chills up and down my spine. At the time, I had just thought it was the Captain being cheeky, and saying "hello" to the other Ferry. Thanks for the flashback, Airchime.
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Post by Scott on May 8, 2008 21:35:39 GMT -8
This one is on my website too, but I thought I'd share it here too. From 2002 or 2003 at Horseshoe Bay. Chris - I agree, she's got the most beautiful sounding horn:) Whenever I've been on Galiano, I've kept my ear open for that sound. P.S. - thanks for the sound clip:)
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on May 8, 2008 21:41:03 GMT -8
Man, she looked so much better in the expo livery than the mating slugs of today.
I miss that dogwood funnel.
Great photos everybody, I especially like the one with the Skeena chasing her into Swartz Bay.
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Post by WettCoast on May 8, 2008 22:00:22 GMT -8
Q of Vancouver - Active Pass - Summer 1985 DOT photo ©
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on May 8, 2008 22:02:38 GMT -8
Chris, you must have had a particularly well developed sense of ferry fascination if you were that aware of it at age 9.
You didn't by chance get splashed with radioactive Dogwood ferries paint, or scrape yourself on an exposed piece of steel that allowed the ferry's DNA to mix with yours at all.
But I agree, the Vancouver photos are artful to the highest degree of quality. Thanks to Alan and JST in particular for providing us with these intimate views of the daily lives of the Vancouver.
The green dogwood leaf scheme has always been the most enchanting. Green is the color of hope and renewal and new life and if definitely gave the ferries a sense of life and vitality when they wore it.
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Post by Scott on May 8, 2008 22:16:52 GMT -8
Here are a few more I scanned tonight: One from my collection... not taken by myself: Queen of Vancouver departing Tsawwassen... probably mid 1990s: Late 1990s from the Bluffs on Galiano Island: From Bellhouse Park on Galiano.. again, mid 1990s:
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