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Post by EGfleet on Nov 22, 2010 16:11:06 GMT -8
Regarding the history of double-ended ferries to work in the BC waters, I'm wondering if Peabody's BlackBall Bainbridge was the first for BC. It seems that all of our earlier car-ferries were single-ended, no matter how small or large. Contrast that history with that of Puget Sound, where their history of double-ended ferries is much longer than ours in BC. I wonder if this is because the routes of Puget Sound have always been shorter than our typical BC routes, therefore making it more practical to use double-ended ships. ...but then how do we explain the little ships on short-routes in BC such as George S. Pearson, Ethel Hunter, Catherine Graham, Cy Peck, Brentwood, Mill Bay.......all of which were single-ended on short routes? Prior to the California boats coming to Puget Sound, the majority of the boats working for PSN were single enders...come to think of it, I can't think of one that wasn't... Quillayute, Seattle, Chippewa, Indianapolis, Kalakala, Ballard... This was due mainly to the fact that nearly all those boats were converted steamers. It was just cheaper to leave it in the single-end configuration. KCTC started the charge of double-enders with the Kitsap, Bainbridge and Vashon, and I expect once that Peabody saw how efficiently they worked--especially after PSN absorbed KCTC he figured that was the way to go. Peabody snapped up as many double ended ferries as he could when the Bay bridges opened, and one by one the single-enders went to the bone yard--save for the Bremerton run where at that time the single enders could still operate faster than the double enders, and that was where time considerations were still an issue. Interesting to note that after 1938 PSN did not purchase any single enders save for the City of Sacramento and the Napa Valley. Those two were purchased solely for the Bremerton run because of the huge amount of traffic traveling to and from the shipyard. As soon as the war was over and traffic returned to normal levels on the run those two were pretty much tied up. And the only ferry PSN built that were single enders after that time was the Chinook, which was a different animal entirely and built in direct competition with the Princess boats. I have always wondered though why Captain Peabody kept the vessels he did to start operations in Canada. The Chinook is a no brainer, but why the Bainbridge, Quillayute, and City of Sacramento? He must have had the rebuild of the CoS in mind, but why those other two? I've never been able to find an answer to that.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 27, 2010 14:09:36 GMT -8
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 14, 2011 17:33:53 GMT -8
One of the best photos of the Smokwa I've ever seen, and by far the best colour shot! Amazing find. I like the wooden supports inside the covered area of the vehicle deck holding up the superstructure. Huge contrast to todays big metal bulkheads rising up as giant solid masses out of the car-decks.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2011 15:29:49 GMT -8
John Foran photo of Bainbridge leaving Snug Cove on Bowen Island - from the Bowen Island museum display on car-ferries (from their archives collection) An item from the "Steven J. Pickens collection", shown as part of the Bowen Museum's car-ferry exhibit. From the Bowen Island Historians collection: I like the Bainbridge's outside passenger porch at each end above the car-deck. - I wonder if Neil is the only forum-member who's been on that area of the ship? Was it a fun place to explore, Neil?
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Aug 14, 2011 16:12:49 GMT -8
I like the Bainbridge's outside passenger porch at each end above the car-deck. - I wonder if Neil is the only forum-member who's been on that area of the ship? Was it a fun place to explore, Neil? I was too young to really remember much about the Bainbridge- five or six at the time. Just the portholes on the car deck, and the wooden benches. I do remember being where those people are seated in the photo you posted, and waving to my father on board, who was going back to town on Sunday evening with all the other dads who had come over for the weekend. Most of the Evergreen Estates cabins, owned by Union Steamships, were still rented out to holidayers at that time, but it was very near the end of that era. So what was your assessment of the Bowen Museum's display? Was it worth the trip?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2011 16:37:59 GMT -8
So what was your assessment of the Bowen Museum's display? Was it worth the trip? I enjoyed the Museum's exhibit, but it was a small exhibit and apart from reading some of the display write-ups and seeing a few Blackball items, it was mostly things that I'd seen pictures of before. If a ferry-fan is planning to visit Bowen, then the museum visit is a good add-on to the day's activities. But I don't think the exhibit itself is large enough to justify the trip by itself. I had a good 4.5 hour visit to the island, including a couple of hours at your childhood beach at Deep Bay beside the causeway, and at the beach at Snug Cove. There was plenty of boating activity at the marina. A pleasant way to spend a day, including 4 ferry trips for me.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Aug 14, 2011 18:11:50 GMT -8
So what was your assessment of the Bowen Museum's display? Was it worth the trip? I enjoyed the Museum's exhibit, but it was a small exhibit and apart from reading some of the display write-ups and seeing a few Blackball items, it was mostly things that I'd seen pictures of before. If a ferry-fan is planning to visit Bowen, then the museum visit is a good add-on to the day's activities. But I don't think the exhibit itself is large enough to justify the trip by itself. I had a good 4.5 hour visit to the island, including a couple of hours at your childhood beach at Deep Bay beside the causeway, and at the beach at Snug Cove. There was plenty of boating activity at the marina. A pleasant way to spend a day, including 4 ferry trips for me. I'd have to assume, then, that the Museum didn't quite get the response they were looking for when they first announced the exhibit. They had asked for islanders to share their reminiscences of 'ferry life' in the early days of Bowen's car ferry service, and through the years. Another example of how those darned 'fuggles' take ferries for granted, and don't see the magic in them that we do.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Aug 14, 2011 18:54:23 GMT -8
:)memories of Bainbridge take me back to the years when I was town planning here in Delta, and pulled over on River Road to view a very sad site of a rolled over hulk of what had been the onetime ferry which had been allowed to rot here on the river, and of course up river are the deplorable rotting site of my old mv Sidney and San Mateao, there are many skeletons along the river! brother wettcoast has a good shot I took of this sorry site! :'(mrdot.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Aug 14, 2011 21:45:05 GMT -8
John Foran photo of Bainbridge leaving Snug Cove on Bowen Island - from the Bowen Island museum display on car-ferries (from their archives collection) An item from the "Steven J. Pickens collection", shown as part of the Bowen Museum's car-ferry exhibit. From the Bowen Island Historians collection: I like the Bainbridge's outside passenger porch at each end above the car-deck. - I wonder if Neil is the only forum-member who's been on that area of the ship? Was it a fun place to explore, Neil? Those pictures are incredible! If I had such direct access to Bowen Island, I would definitely take in the exhibit.
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Post by EGfleet on Aug 16, 2011 5:20:09 GMT -8
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Aug 16, 2011 9:49:59 GMT -8
:)this old pic of Bainbridge and the comments of EG, made me think of all the stuff I have acumulated here in my ships locker, and I am fast realizing that others should see this stuff, my brother wettcoast and others are going to be confronted by a mountain of material to be introduced to a new generation of ship nuts! :)mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 19, 2011 20:50:51 GMT -8
The Bowen Island Museum's summer-2011 exhibit on car-ferries was mainly about Blackball's MV Bainbridge, since it was the island's first car ferry. Here are some scenes from the museum's exhibit room: The organ and red curtain are a permanent part of the Bowen museum's charm. - as seen on August 13, 2011.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 19, 2011 21:46:07 GMT -8
Another thing for the Bainbridge thread, because it's got the BlackBall logo and it's Bowen Island related. ....a ferry board-game. As seen at the Bowen Island Museum's summer-2011 exhibit.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2011 19:08:34 GMT -8
From the Cortes Island museum - a photo of an ex North Vancouver ferry.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 26, 2011 19:22:18 GMT -8
From the Cortes Island museum - a photo of an ex North Vancouver ferry. That ferry was the former Kitsap County Transportation Company, Black Ball Line, and BC Ferries MV BAINBRIDGE (later JERVIS QUEEN). Looks like "Little Estep" was running to provide electricity by the looks of the small puffing of smoke from her stack. Interesting to notice is that the wheelhouse windows were boarded up.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Aug 26, 2011 19:24:46 GMT -8
:)looks to me that is actually the old Bainbridge which finally ended her days on River road just up from Tilbury, if so it's not one of the old Vancouver ferries. :)mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2011 19:30:26 GMT -8
Posts moved, thanks Guys (FerryNut and Mr. DOT)
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Post by EGfleet on Nov 28, 2011 16:57:38 GMT -8
Rare old postcard of the Bainbridge at Horseshoe Bay, with the Chinook behind her.
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Post by EGfleet on Feb 1, 2012 15:35:31 GMT -8
September, 1962:
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Post by lmtengs on Feb 1, 2012 16:08:10 GMT -8
September, 1962: Earls Cove? ... or mayyyyybe Snug Cove?
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Feb 1, 2012 16:21:17 GMT -8
September, 1962: Earls Cove? ... or mayyyyybe Snug Cove? It's Horseshoe Bay...
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 1, 2012 16:31:23 GMT -8
That is a very nice 50 year old photo; definitely at Horseshoe Bay.
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Post by lmtengs on Feb 1, 2012 17:10:38 GMT -8
Really... The trees have sure grown since then!
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Post by EGfleet on Feb 1, 2012 17:21:13 GMT -8
Really... The trees have sure grown since then! They'll do that in 50 years.
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Feb 1, 2012 19:50:20 GMT -8
:)all of this latest batch of eg fleet's pics. are neet, but I particularly enjoyed the earls cove shot of bainbridge, in her retirement years, looking much better than my last shots of her rolled over in the fraser mud, a few years back. mrdot.
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