Post by Retrovision on Jul 25, 2006 17:56:15 GMT -8
Ross said:
I'm a journalist over in Victoria who's interested in the fate of the Queen of Sidney. Fivetwo, I tried emailing you privately but the posted address didn't work. Could you drop me a line? I think a lot of people in Victoria would be very interested in getting an update on the ship and following its progress -- and the news might help with its sale to a local municipality as an artificial reef or historic artifact. rosscrockford@telus.net
I'm quite happy to hear about some possible media involvement.
I'd be very interested in volunteering my photography, or even getting out to Silverdale on a new photoshoot.
And a small portion of my collection of photographs of the 'Sidney' Class (which also includes the Queen of Tsawwassen), including the Queen of Sidney (there's much more where those came from), can be found here:
P.S. You might want to also contact the member who goes by 'cascade,' from this forum, as he was the one who first informed us of the potential scrapping of the 'Sidney.
Why doesn't someone give Global BC a call and explain to them that the first ship that ever sailed for bc ferries is going to be scrapped, and it was the first palce that the BC flag was ever flown. It would make a neat story.
Global BC Assignment Desk: 604-421-9494 CTV News: 604-608-2868 (press "1")
Queen of Sidney when it was just the Sidney - DOT collection
This vessel, along with its sister the Tsawwassen, gave the Dogwood Fleet its start on June 15th, 1960.
This photo is from a magazine print and was taken in the Sidney's first year of operation before the restaurant was added on the stern. For you youngsters out there note the old Canadian Flag, the Red Ensign; the flag that former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker fought to save.
Good question. Initially I thought maybe it was taken just off of Tsawwassen Terminal and what you see in the background is the causway or breakwater.
But on a second more serious look I have another idea. It is, I believe, just off the Victoria waterfront at Ogden Point and the distant mountains are the Olympics across Juan de Fuca St. Any other guesses?
The photo was likely taken just before service began in June 1960.
Post by Retrovision on Jul 28, 2006 2:56:13 GMT -8
Thank you, muchly, wetcoastkidjst; that photograph, as has been your 'standard' of sorts, is quite unprecedented on the forum, from what I remember seeing in the past.
Last Edit: Jul 28, 2006 18:12:22 GMT -8 by Retrovision
I remember, I used to come up every year to Comox, and I remember seeing that ship pop out from behind the point in Little River as I watched from my cabin, four times every day. And then, the overcast day came, and I read the name of the vessel as it made the second crossing of the day, it read "Queen of Tsawwassen" and I knew the Queen of Sidney was no longer our vessel. For a few months, the Queen of Tsawwassen made those four sailings every day, and then one day, I noticed a bigger, better, more roomy and higher capacity ship pop from behind that point, and it read Queen of Burnaby.
It really is wierd what can happen in a years time. I was excited when I heard the Queen of Burnaby was rejoining the fleet. These Photos were taken in her first few months on the route Coming into Westview
Side View
The Cafeteria wasn't open in those first months kinda inconvienient but it didn't matter
Anyways...back on topic. Does anyone know when the Sidney is being scrapped? I'm sure Bill knows when it's being moved down river, so if he is online anytime soon it would be nice to know. If I know a date I can get a few pictures of it, maybe from the Albion Ferry or Glenn Valley.
Post by poeticlives on Aug 23, 2006 23:31:16 GMT -8
dougubell said:
Does anyone know when the Sidney is being scrapped?
Can anyone tell me where those dreadful Pacificats are being scrapped? I know that's up to Washington Marine Now, but realistically, starved of service, these felines are better off put down... soon.
I hope you don't take this as disrespecting the Queen of Sidney, but I'd just like to know who put the funny mirror behind that V-class, condensing it's length... truth be told I had never seen a photo of the Sidney before, let alone viewed it in person.
I take it you aren't too familiar with BC Ferry history...?
The Queen of Sidney, as well as the Queen of Tsawwassen, were the original two ferries in the British Columbia Toll Authority Ferry System (BC Ferries), launched in 1959 and put in service in 1960. Unlike many ferry operations in the world, BC Ferries built their own ships to start with, rather than buying second hand and strictly depended on the "business model". But, like any government-run service, it's no big deal if it fails.
The "V" Class were built between 1962 and 1965. The Queen of Vancouver (built in Vancouver, stretched in early '70s, lifted in early '80s) and Queen of Victoria (built in Victoria, stretched in early '70s, lifted in early '80s) were built in 1962. The Queen's of Saanich and Esquimalt followed, both being built in Victoria in 1963 and stretched/lifted during the same period as the first two. The Queens of Nanaimo and New Wesminster followed in 1964. Both were stretched in the early '70s, and the New Wesminster was lifted in '91. The Queen of Burnaby, the last of the seven sisters, was completed in 1965 and stretched in the early '70s.
Post by bcfcbccsscollector on Aug 25, 2006 5:45:44 GMT -8
wetcoastkidjst said:
But on a second more serious look I have another idea. It is, I believe, just off the Victoria waterfront at Ogden Point and the distant mountains are the Olympics across Juan de Fuca St. Any other guesses?
I know I am late jumping in here, but you need no other guesses or suspicion. That is definitely, 110% Ogden Point. Being born and raised in Victoria and being down to the waterfront thousands of times, there is no mistaking the Olympic Range in the background, and the breakwater walkway directly behind.
Last Edit: Aug 25, 2006 5:46:29 GMT -8 by bcfcbccsscollector
I recently recieved an e-mail from someone saying the Queen of Sidney had been scrapped in 2006. I don't know who the person is... so can anyone confirm or deny this statement?
I wonder who sent you the Email Maybe it was some person who strolled by this forum and saw this exact topic. Or Worse...It was Biff. Are they Ever going to do something about her!?