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Post by Variable Pitch on Dec 5, 2016 14:54:12 GMT -8
An interesting find I made today... I have been dealing in vintage postcards for the past 13 years (1900s through 1960s). I came across this real photo postcard of the MV Tsawwassen approaching the dock (likely berth 1) at Tsawwassen and what appears to be the terminal still under construction. This is likely 1960 when service first began. You can still see the original logo on the funnel and all the debris pile on the shoreline, which leads me to suspect the very early days. I have only come across one other photo postcard of BC Ferries in the past 13 years, which was an originally built Queen of Saanich. Safe to say this is a pretty rare item. Thought you guys would like a sneak peek at it before I put it up on the auction block in January.  |
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 6, 2016 22:21:51 GMT -8
An interesting find I made today... I have been dealing in vintage postcards for the past 13 years (1900s through 1960s). I came across this real photo postcard of the MV Tsawwassen approaching the dock (likely berth 1) at Tsawwassen and what appears to be the terminal still under construction. This is likely 1960 when service first began. You can still see the original logo on the funnel and all the debris pile on the shoreline, which leads me to suspect the very early days. I have only come across one other photo postcard of BC Ferries in the past 13 years, which was an originally built Queen of Saanich. Safe to say this is a pretty rare item. Thought you guys would like a sneak peek at it before I put it up on the auction block in January. My brother David ( mrdot) called me to discuss this photo. He thinks that it dates not from early 1960 (prior to the start of operations), but probably a year later. The berth under construction is likely the second berth (today's berth 1). David says that the big clue is that the plating at the bow has already been removed. Initially it was solid (without railing) all around the bow (just above the bow car deck doors). They removed the plating as it interfered with visibility from the wheelhouse while approaching the dock at Tsawwassen. I have looked closely at the photo and I believe David is right. The ship is not as sharp as one might like. If it was a year later it should also be possible to see the tail end of the ship & whether or not an expanded restaurant can be made out. |
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Post by Variable Pitch on Dec 7, 2016 7:05:46 GMT -8
Hi Jim, You would know the timeline better than me, but I re-scanned the card and made an attempt to zoom in the ship. you're right about the bow, but I can tell using a magnifying glass that the restaurant has not been expanded. Hopefully this view will help. Just learning about my new scanner!  |
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Post by mybidness459 on Dec 7, 2016 14:25:18 GMT -8
Just came across this website today of the Inlet Explorer for sale. Some pictures here I never seen before. Even Helicopters on her bow and interior shots. Enjoy! infilm.inlocation.ca/location/1746 |
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Post by Variable Pitch on Jan 15, 2017 21:29:22 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,308
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Post by Neil on Apr 14, 2017 20:13:44 GMT -8
Don't know the linking/sharing protocol, but there's a video near the top of the BC Nautical History facebook page showing the bridge and the Mirrlees in action... very cool.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 14, 2017 20:25:27 GMT -8
Don't know the linking/sharing protocol, but there's a video near the top of the BC Nautical History facebook page showing the bridge and the Mirrlees in action... very cool. Thanks Neil VIDEO HERE |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,308
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Post by Neil on May 29, 2017 22:53:50 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on May 30, 2017 8:56:31 GMT -8
Keep in mind that those original Spaulding car deck lanes were just a tad bit narrow ... |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 28, 2017 14:22:29 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jun 28, 2017 15:26:04 GMT -8
We're the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? Just wondering 'Mr. Wett Coast'. Great shot of yesteryear there for sure.  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 28, 2017 15:56:41 GMT -8
Were the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? They stayed until 2003. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 28, 2017 16:34:23 GMT -8
Were the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? They stayed until 2003. The 'Expo' livery got its start in late 1984, though most vessels were not redone until 85. The end came in 2003 with the attack of the 'slugs'. A few vessels hung on to the Expo scheme into 2004. Today, only the Tsawwassen's twin sister still has the Expo paint! In the first two years of the Expo scheme there was one important difference, that being that the Dogwood house flag on ship's funnels was replaced by the Expo 86 logo. |
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Post by hullnumbers on Jul 24, 2017 16:58:03 GMT -8
When did the fire windows on the Queen of Tsawwassen get installed? I believe that was the time the curved window under the bridge wing beside the side door was removed. It would have between 2003 and 2004. Which year was it?
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jul 24, 2017 19:22:14 GMT -8
I don't know, but she might as well have been retired after they were installed. Terrible view through those things, and why on earth did she need fire windows in that location, anyway?
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Post by hullnumbers on Jul 25, 2017 21:41:27 GMT -8
I think I found the answer. Thank you Curtis. It was 2004. |
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seasalt
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by seasalt on Sept 4, 2017 14:12:05 GMT -8
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 4, 2017 18:27:31 GMT -8
We're the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? Just wondering 'Mr. Wett Coast'. Great shot of yesteryear there for sure. if this is c.1995 it would most likely be the Victoria, first surplused by the spooks, or the Esquimalt, the newly appointed grunt of the class. |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Oct 4, 2017 21:02:31 GMT -8
I liked this livery the best.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 4, 2017 21:41:25 GMT -8
We're the blue and red lines left over from Expo 86?...and would they have been in use as late as c1995? Just wondering 'Mr. Wett Coast'. Great shot of yesteryear there for sure. if this is c.1995 it would most likely be the Victoria, first surplused by the spooks, or the Esquimalt, the newly appointed grunt of the class. I disagree. Though it might be the Victoria, it is most likely its twin sister, the Vancouver. This is why I think that is the case ... After the Spirit class came along one V class vessel remained at both of the Route 1 terminals serving as the #2 route one vessels out of either terminal. The Saanich was based at Swartz Bay, & the Vancouver at Tsawwassen. During low demand periods those #2 vessels mostly were idle. The Vancouver, when idle, was usually parked at berth 1. The Tsawwassen was not a regular on route 9, except during refits for the Nanaimo. The Nanaimo refit was always done during lower demand times on route 9. So this photo was almost certainly taken in fall, winter or spring when demand was low and the Vancouver would be parked. I notice also that one life boat has been removed from the port side of the V-class and the original wooden doors have been replaced leading me to think that the photo is probably a little more recent than 1995. |
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Post by nannyman on Oct 23, 2017 21:59:41 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Oct 24, 2017 5:30:17 GMT -8
The new price of $900,000 is very appealing, especially considering this price is competitive with Vancouver condo pricing. Great business opportunity.
Amazing how utterly divergent the fates of the first two new-builds of the BC Ferry fleet came to pass. The poor old 'Sydney' rots away on the banks of the
Fraser river, yet her sister remains a valuable asset that appears to have a useful timeline remaining in her nautical career.
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Post by mvsidney59 on Nov 22, 2017 22:06:05 GMT -8
If only, if only... Nice to see that she has life left, unlike most her sisters going to see the recyclers... Inlet Explorer would make an excellent large group guiding ship... Thoughts?
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,308
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Post by Neil on Nov 22, 2017 22:56:09 GMT -8
If only, if only... Nice to see that she has life left, unlike most her sisters going to see the recyclers... Inlet Explorer would make an excellent large group guiding ship... Thoughts? Not clear on what you mean. What is a "large group guiding ship"? |
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Post by mvsidney59 on Aug 31, 2018 21:10:40 GMT -8
If only, if only... Nice to see that she has life left, unlike most her sisters going to see the recyclers... Inlet Explorer would make an excellent large group guiding ship... Thoughts? Not clear on what you mean. What is a "large group guiding ship"? I mean like... Offer large-number expedition trips... Vessel travels to some remote inlet or island on the coast and offers mountaineering, sea kayaking, etc etc. WOuld open up something new along BC's coasts I would think? |
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en of Tsawwassen (berth 2) with a V-class (berth 1) @ Tsawwassen Terminal c1995 
