QUEEN OF TSAWWASSEN - Photos & Discussion

[Retrovision]

As I have mentioned in another thread, David Hahn, according to a crew member aboard the 'Tsawwassen recently, agreed with the idea of having a decommissioning ceremony for the venerable lady.

[Coastal Drought]

Those shots look excellent Graham. Keep up the good work.

[Mirrlees]

This is my tribute to the 'Tsawwassen this was taken in July,1989 at Swartz Bay while doing the Gulf Island run in the summers.



Photo Copyright Mirrlees National

[WettCoast]

My contribution to this thread begins here...

Q of Tsawwassen on run from Nanaimo arriving @ Horseshoe Bay - April 1971

JST Photo

Vancouver Harbour - October 1971

DOT Collection

Gulf Islands - ~late 1980's

DOT Photo

Active Pass - winter sometime in the early 1990's

DOT Photo

Tsawwassen at Tsawwassen - Nov 2006

JST Photo

Backing into the berth @ Salterey Bay Terminal, Sunshine Coast - 8 August 2007 [© WCK-JST]

[Curtis]

Great Photos of one of our two First Ferries, and Longest Serving BC Ferry. It'll Be a Sad Day when the Queen of Tsawwassen Makes her Last Sailing. And then Retires.

[Airchime]

Hi Guys,

If you haven't lost interest in this subject already, I've got a few images to share.....

Route 7 - 2001

Arriving at Earls Cove.



Looking forward from the starboard bridge wing.



Looking aft from the starboard bridge wing.



In the Wheelhouse.




Engine Room - 2002

Engine Controls. The engines on the "Tsawwassen" aren't controlled from the
wheelhouse as on the other ships. Each time a command comes down, it has to be
logged in by hand on the pieces of paper beside the brass handles.



Looking towards the massive V-16 starboard engine. One of the steam boilers
is visible on the right.



There are three Cat generators in the Engine Room and an emergency
generator in front of the funnel. They need two running (one for all the
lights and electrical and one for the bow thrustor motor) while underway.



View from above the starboard main engine. If I recall, the pipes in the centre
carry steam heat to keep the engines warm during a shut down period.



Route 9 - 2000

The "Tsawwassen" approaching Tsawwassen terminal.



Unloading traffic at berth 2.



The two large exhaust pipes are for each of the main engines, the skinnier ones
are for the generators, and the really thin ones are for the steam boilers.



Forward lounge.



Cafeteria.



And what would an 'Airchime' photo-essay be without a shot of her dual KM's!

[Ferryman]

Mr. Airchime, you're back and alive! I was starting to wonder!

As usual, you've amazed me as I was looking through your photo essay. Certainly a real treat. Keep up the great work.

PS: During you're "VIP" tour of the 'Tsawwassen in 2001, was that when you filmed dancing pistons on the engines in that video you sent to me?

[Retrovision]

Thank you very much for those great pics of our 'Tsawwassen in Expo colours and with original windows, Airchime.

Your timing is especially appropriate as Friday will likely be her last day on Jervis Inlet with the 'Chilliwack taking the route back on Saturday.

[Curtis]

Some Amazing Photos, Airchime.

[queenofcowichan]

Sweet Pictures. I love the picture of the bow from the Bridge wing.

[Mirrlees]

Great photos, Airchime!

Bet you can't guess which one is my favourite "hint" it's got 16 cylinders and I use them all... ;D

[Mill Bay]

Great photos there Airchime...

We will never lose interest in the Tsawwassen.

Makes me wish I had been active into riding ferries back then, but I remember the Sydney coming into Powell River proudly wearing the expo colours.

And neat to see what it's like on the bridge as well. As old-fashioned as it looks, probably a lot more reliable than a lot of state-of-the-art technology.

Just looking back through this thread, and there's a really snowy picture of the Tsawwassen that someone might want to submit into the flagship contest... (just a small hint).

[Nick]

millbay said:

Great photos there Airchime...

We will never lose interest in the Tsawwassen.

Makes me wish I had been active into riding ferries back then, but I remember the Sydney coming into Powell River proudly wearing the expo colours.

And neat to see what it's like on the bridge as well. As old-fashioned as it looks, probably a lot more reliable than a lot of state-of-the-art technology.

Just looking back through this thread, and there's a really snowy picture of the Tsawwassen that someone might want to submit into the flagship contest... (just a small hint).

I really don't mean to nitpick, but it's Sidney not Sydney. We are in BC, not Nova Scotia or Australia. But I know that's what you meant to type, right?

[Mill Bay]

coxnnick said:

millbay said:

Great photos there Airchime...

We will never lose interest in the Tsawwassen.

Makes me wish I had been active into riding ferries back then, but I remember the Sydney coming into Powell River proudly wearing the expo colours.

And neat to see what it's like on the bridge as well. As old-fashioned as it looks, probably a lot more reliable than a lot of state-of-the-art technology.

Just looking back through this thread, and there's a really snowy picture of the Tsawwassen that someone might want to submit into the flagship contest... (just a small hint).

I really don't mean to nitpick, but it's Sidney not Sydney. We are in BC, not Nova Scotia or Australia. But I know that's what you meant to type, right?

Oh no!... I just have this picture in my head of one of the characters from peanuts running around screaming "AAAAHHHH!!!!!, he spelled the Queen of Sidney wrong!"

I had this nagging doubt that I was getting something mis-spelled, but there were only two choices so I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it right, but alas---.

[Mike C]

Great photos, Airchime, thanks for taking the time to share them with us

I'll just go and ahead and assume I haven't posted these here pictures already.

Note: these pictures were taken in mid-August of 2007.

Off Saltery Bay


Arriving at Saltery Bay


Here she is, arriving, 35 minutes late... but you have to have some sympathy for her... after all, she is the Queen of Tsawwassen


Taken from the bridge wing


On the roof, near the smokestack


Looking aft


The forward end

[Curtis]

Great Photos, Michael. That was a Great Trip Aboard the Tsawwassen. Most likely My Last Trip While She's on the Jervis Inlet Route.

[Mirrlees]

Those shots are absolutely fantastic, Graham!! I just took the digital camera plunge this weekend; so, I will have to learn fast in time for the Route 9 trip on Dec 1st.

BTW: It's a Canon Powershot A570 IS.

[Curtis]

Nice Shots, Graham. Jervis Inlet Probably Won't see a Ferry like Her Again.

[Nick]

A note to Wet Coast Kid:

Have you thought of entering that picture of the Tsawwassen in Active Pass that is in reply #7 of this thread in the current flagship contest? It would get my vote.

[Airchime]

Some photos from last year on Route 9. Her time on the Gulf Island's run is almost up.

Approaching Tsawwassen



Sturdies Bay
The outline of the curved window is still visible behind the last new fire window.



Two photos from Village Bay on Mayne Island.

[Mill Bay]

Good photos of the Tsawwassen Airchime that was one thing that I was a little bit disappointed about with my last trip in that just staying on board for the whole time on route nine doesn't let you get any pics of her underway away from outside the ship, but your pictures sure fit the bill.

[Scott]

Here's a pic I took today:

[Balfour]

A beautiful and soon to be significant photo right there!

This could very well be her last assignment with BCF before retirement.

[Political Incorrectness]

John, was that off of Point Roberts on the afternoon sailing? I was on her 12:15 sailing running 20 minutes late today.

[Curtis]

qsandwich said:

This could very well be her last assignment with BCF before retirement.

You're Forgetting the Powell River-Comox Route, Jordan. Ironically (Or is Is Coincidentally)Where Her Sister Ended Her BCF Service Life.