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Post by NMcKay on Aug 16, 2005 11:57:44 GMT -8
i have pics (ill post on wednesday) of the three pacificats back where they belong, all beside each other on the north shore.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Aug 24, 2005 19:18:14 GMT -8
Just trivia:
Sydney, NS and Sydney, Australia were both named for a Colonial Secretary of the 18th century.
OUR Sidney's name seems to come from the earlier-named Sidney Island (1859) ... and confusion reigns.
Walbran says: "...after Sidney Thomas Franklyn" ; the Encyclopedia of BC credits "Frederick William Sidney, a hydrographer in the British Admiralty..."
Whatever, the BC Sidney is definitely our own, and spelled with an I.
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Post by Margo on Nov 10, 2007 18:55:21 GMT -8
does anyone know why the rusty old QUeen of Sidney is moored up in the Fraser River, approximately 2 miles or so upstream of the Mission bridge?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 10, 2007 20:04:24 GMT -8
does anyone know why the rusty old QUeen of Sidney is moored up in the Fraser River, approximately 2 miles or so upstream of the Mission bridge? ....It's as simple as "that's where her current owners have moored her". I think the ship's owners (and they own a few old rotting ships) also own that riverfront property....or at least use it as their boathouse.
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Post by margo on Nov 11, 2007 4:41:26 GMT -8
yes, there are several derelict-looking ships moored nearby the Sidney. What a shame to see such an important piece of BC history just sitting there rusting. BTW - I hear they are going to scrap the sistership Tsawassen - if not already
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 11, 2007 7:46:37 GMT -8
yes, there are several derelict-looking ships moored nearby the Sidney. What a shame to see such an important piece of BC history just sitting there rusting. BTW - I hear they are going to scrap the sistership Tsawassen - if not already re Q-Tsawwassen: not yet. She is scheduled to be used on the Tsawwassen - Gulf Islands route, later this month. Hopefully they will have a "retirement ceremony" of some sort, once she is decommissioned. We've heard reports of that promise, so we're hopeful that she'll leave BC Ferries with some dignity. But after that, who knows.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 11, 2007 8:13:06 GMT -8
Yes, Margo, it is a shame... one of those 'derelicts' is the SS San Mateo, the last operating double-ended steam ferry on the North American west coast. She's the one sitting on the river bottom, currently heeled over to about a 25-30 degree angle, and the superstructure's probably starting to collapse by now.
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Nov 11, 2007 15:31:19 GMT -8
Margo, Several pieces of Queen of Sidney live on; her steering gear is on the Coho that runs to Port Angeles and many Mirrlees engine parts are now aboard Queen of Tsawwassen.
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pscurr
Chief Steward
Posts: 204
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Post by pscurr on Nov 21, 2007 20:51:09 GMT -8
Hello, Just joined this forum. It is great to see so many people share in remembering the past and promoting the future of BC Ferries. My Boy Scout group was participating in the recent Remembrance Day Service in Ladner and we were discussing the BC Flag. It was mentioned that the flag first flew on the Queen of Sidney, June 14, 1960. We started to wonder if it would be possible to preserve the mast or at least the bow or stern flag poles before she is scrapped. Does anyone know the contact name or business of the present owners. If they are parting out the vessel perhaps the mast could be saved. Thanks for any help .
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 21, 2007 22:55:19 GMT -8
Pscurr,
Click on "Members" at the top of the page, and search for the member "Fivetwo". Fivetwo aka Bill, is a part owner of the Queen of Sidney. His email address is located in his profile. Not too sure if it is still a valid email, as it has been a few months since he has shown his existance on here.
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Post by LeafsFan on Nov 22, 2007 6:58:36 GMT -8
thank you will check out
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pscurr
Chief Steward
Posts: 204
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Post by pscurr on Dec 14, 2007 18:41:41 GMT -8
on this historic week, with the arrival of CR and the perhaps last voyage of the Tsawwassen, does anyone have or know of the whereabouts of the photo of WAC Bennett raising the first BC Flag on the MV Sidney, June 14, 1960? I have tried searching various archives without success. Thanks for any help. PS the photos all of you have submitted of the latest addition to the fleet are wonderful. Thanks for your dedication.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 14, 2007 19:19:45 GMT -8
I only just found out on Sunday night, when I was reading one of our members Newspaper cutouts from November, as we were sailing on the Queen of Tsawwassen. Maybe Airchime will post this at some point?
I recall reading a part in the article that had a flashback of the inaugural voyage of the First two BC Ferries, but focussing more on the Queen of Sidney. W.A.C. Bennet was of course aboard, seeming the Queen of Sidney would have been based on the Victoria side of the route, she would have been en route to Tsawwassen. I think it said just before the ship entered Active Pass, W.A.C. told the Captain to stop the ship, because he had something he wanted to show everyone. So he gathered everyone up on to the outer decks of the ship and said, "I have something to show you all". This was of course the unveiling of the new BC Flag. So he raised it up on the mast, then everyone cheered, and on they went for going through the pass.
In the article, it also noted that the Masts and Flag pole have all been "Spoken For" already unfortunately.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 14, 2007 19:36:15 GMT -8
Yes that flag pole would belong in a museum for sure then. Either the Maritime Museum or the Royal undoubtedly. It could also go on the grounds of the Legislature itself.
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 14, 2007 19:55:12 GMT -8
Yes that flag pole would belong in a museum for sure then. Either the Maritime Museum or the Royal undoubtedly. It could also go on the grounds of the Legislature itself. Of those three I'd, in jest, say that the Ledge would be the most fitting setting today as the BC "Liberal" party currently in power was born out of the roots of WAC Bennett's SoCred party and in fact to this day and since being elected has a majority of former SoCreds in their so-called liberal caucus.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 14, 2007 22:19:18 GMT -8
Of those three I'd, in jest, say that the Ledge would be the most fitting setting today as the BC "Liberal" party currently in power was born out of the roots of WAC Bennett's SoCred party and in fact to this day and since being elected has a majority of former SoCreds in their so-called liberal caucus. ....you forgot to mention that they were elected on the false promise of building 3 new northern ferries.
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pscurr
Chief Steward
Posts: 204
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Post by pscurr on Dec 14, 2007 22:53:40 GMT -8
Bill has indeed confirmed that the mast has been spoken for, hopefully it will be preserved in a secure location. The next question where is the flag? I have not done any research however, I am assuming it is also in a secure location. As for a photo of the historic event, there must be one around.
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Post by Curtis on Dec 14, 2007 23:15:06 GMT -8
Bill has indeed confirmed that the mast has been spoken for, hopefully it will be preserved in a secure location. The next question where is the flag? I have not done any research however, I am assuming it is also in a secure location. As for a photo of the historic event, there must be one around. I may have already said this sometime before, but. It's always good to hear they're preserving parts of a piece of BC Ferries History.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Dec 15, 2007 11:56:23 GMT -8
Of those three I'd, in jest, say that the Ledge would be the most fitting setting today as the BC "Liberal" party currently in power was born out of the roots of WAC Bennett's SoCred party and in fact to this day and since being elected has a majority of former SoCreds in their so-called liberal caucus. ....you forgot to mention that they were elected on the false promise of building 3 new northern ferries. You don't mean to tell me you actually believed them Flugel... They also swore up and down they would never sell BCRail. I guess they base that on the fact that the government still technically owns the right of way, but there's more to a railroad than just that. Anyway, I would be curious as to whether that flag continued to fly after the Sidney was in daily service, or whether they took it down again right after, and stashed it somewhere. Another integral part of the ship would be her bell. Anyone know if this key part of her identity has been safely kept anywhere?
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 15, 2007 12:25:48 GMT -8
Well what percentage of election promises are actually delivered? :X I think there should be an Elections Canada tariff on politicians who say things they don't follow through on. The party of the politician should have to pay a severe penalty to a "liar liar pants on fire fund"! In this case though the sinking of the QoftN sort of messed with the promise a bit to be fair. Needing a ship quicker than a new build necessitated another ship. I would have prefered to see at least two FSG ships on the routes. We will see what happens for the MidCoast. That kind of calls for a unique ship to drop off kayaks etc.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 15, 2007 14:44:15 GMT -8
Of those three I'd, in jest, say that the Ledge would be the most fitting setting today as the BC "Liberal" party currently in power was born out of the roots of WAC Bennett's SoCred party and in fact to this day and since being elected has a majority of former SoCreds in their so-called liberal caucus. ....you forgot to mention that they were elected on the false promise of building 3 new northern ferries. To clarify: I don't really care about that election-promise issue. I was just adding-on this phrase to Retro's "...so-called liberal" schtick. He usually adds that part himself, but left it off this time. I suspect that he's created a macro, so that he just types 1 keystroke and it automatically types his "signature phrase". I say all this in fun observation of people's behaviours.... On a forum, we become known by the regular habits of words and phrases that we use.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Dec 15, 2007 15:03:40 GMT -8
To clarify: I don't really care about that election-promise issue. I was just adding-on this phrase to Retro's "...so-called liberal" schtick. He usually adds that part himself, but left it off this time. I say all this in fun observation of people's behaviours.... On a forum, we become known by the regular habits of words and phrases that we use. I guessed that, I was just trying to carry on the jest... throw a little oil on the flames... I've been trying not to make too many unfounded political allusions recently when I know I have no grounding for them. For that sort of thing, I'd refer to other forum members or various friends I have that dot the spectrum and serve as political advisors to me. Back to the Queen of Sidney... It's not really a well-kept secret that I'm into writing about stuff, but the prospect of the historical significance being ignored has got me thinking I should maybe start doing some research, find some old crew members and such, and gather together a few stories and a general history of the Sidney class to maybe publish as a book. Robert Turner garnered great interest with books like the Pacific Empresses and Those Beautiful Coastal Liners: I wonder if Sono Nis press, or anyone else, would be interested in printing a book on 'the duo that started it all'. Although, I might eventually find out that my reading might be limited to the membership of this forum.
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pscurr
Chief Steward
Posts: 204
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Post by pscurr on Dec 15, 2007 16:37:44 GMT -8
I think it important that any information that we can gather about the first two would certainly be a good idea. How the information is shared in a book, on a website, a powerpoint or a display at the museum is something that could evolve. However touching base with any of the original crew, etc is something that should be considered.
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 16, 2007 0:54:38 GMT -8
To clarify: I don't really care about that election-promise issue. I was just adding-on this phrase to Retro's "...so-called liberal" schtick. He usually adds that part himself, but left it off this time. I say all this in fun observation of people's behaviours.... On a forum, we become known by the regular habits of words and phrases that we use. I guessed that, I was just trying to carry on the jest... throw a little oil on the flames... I've been trying not to make too many unfounded political allusions recently when I know I have no grounding for them. For that sort of thing, I'd refer to other forum members or various friends I have that dot the spectrum and serve as political advisors to me. Schtick or not, these are both facts, the former confirmed by an extremely reliable source, but of course all that I say should be taken automatically as hearsay and automatically be questioned because I'm known for my unreliable and inaccurate falsehoods. ;D Back to the Queen of Sidney... It's not really a well-kept secret that I'm into writing about stuff, but the prospect of the historical significance being ignored has got me thinking I should maybe start doing some research, find some old crew members and such, and gather together a few stories and a general history of the Sidney class to maybe publish as a book. ...I wonder if Sono Nis press, or anyone else, would be interested in printing a book on 'the duo that started it all'. This would be an idea worthy of atleast looking into, maybe even asking the member Evergreenfleet how well his book about Washington State Ferries did for sales and how he went about getting his publisher to sign onto the idea. I'm behind you on this idea for sure.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,192
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Post by Neil on Dec 16, 2007 12:33:06 GMT -8
but of course all that I say should be taken automatically as hearsay and automatically be questioned because I'm known for my unreliable and inaccurate falsehoods. ;D Well, at least that's better than being known for reliable and accurate falsehoods. Those are much more insidious.
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