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Post by WettCoast on Nov 20, 2006 20:46:07 GMT -8
I have identified this 35 year old pic as being taken near Swartz Bay, but I am uncertain. Please take a look and let me know what you think. A bigger version of this photo can be found under retired ferries on my photo site - see link below. MV Pender Queen near Swartz Bay - DOT collection - 29 Sept 1971
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Post by bcfcbccsscollector on Nov 20, 2006 23:02:38 GMT -8
Hi Jim,
Have studied your pic ever so closely. I am not sure that is Swartz Bay, but I have an idea and tell me what you think. First of all, you can read the name, so it is not a reverse image. Second, if that were berth 1 at Swartz Bay, then there would be nothing in the background and that does not resemble Piers Island to the right.
Here's my guess.....in the background, you can see several white cylindrical tanks just to the left of the island. And that island....from my commuting years on Gabriola, that sure looks like Newcastle with the channel being Newcastle channel and the oil tanks at Departure Bay. If I were to guess, the Pender was filling in on the Nanaimo-Gabriola run for whatever reason. This pic goes way back, but some geography stands the test of time, and this sure looks like Nanaimo Harbour and Newcastle Island. Opinions anyone???
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 21, 2006 6:45:48 GMT -8
re the Pender Queen pic:
Yeah, I think this photo does resemble Nanaimo harbour. Photo is taken near CPR dock, looking northwest to Newcastle Island (Echo Bay, I think), and the big white things in the background could very well be the bulk fuel tanks (that burned in 1977 or so).
The fact of the bit of dock showing in the bottom left corner of the pic is also a clue, as is the direction of the vehicles on the ship. I'd say that the ship is coming alongside the berth, for a backing-in stern-in at the Nanaimo Harbour berth, which of course is runs parallel to the shore.
So, I agree with Cosmo about this pic
But I don't necessarily agree with "Cosmo" on his comedy-club outburst ! (If you don't follow USA entertainment news, this won't be relevant).
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Apr 3, 2007 8:29:20 GMT -8
In retirement, the Pender Queen loses her crown, and is just a Lady. Date is circa 1986, Steveston.
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Post by queen of Cowichan on Apr 3, 2007 15:57:46 GMT -8
That appears to be Steveston just at the South end of #2 Road area in Richmond. I remember seen a old ferry there in the late 1980's- Early 1990's. Also at about the same time the mv Samson ex Quilyayute was tied up near the goverment fishing docks at Steveston. I used to live in Richmond.
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 28, 2008 21:50:10 GMT -8
Another Road Runner clipping from March 1970, also from my brother's collection and featuring his BCF artwork. This time the venerable Pender Queen (Motor Princess)
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Post by Retrovision on Jan 20, 2007 22:27:30 GMT -8
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Post by EGfleet on Sept 18, 2009 9:13:57 GMT -8
I think this is the first photo I've ever seen the Motor Princess in this configuration with her original name. Circa 1956. I believe it is a Betz photograph.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Sept 18, 2009 9:55:58 GMT -8
Good find. I don't think I've ever seen that one, either. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen a colour photo of any of the GIFC boats; it looks like the Motor Princess, at least, was all white. Hard to tell if her stack might have been yellow.
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 18, 2009 18:15:22 GMT -8
Here is one of the Motor Princess c1962. By this time she was part of the BC Ferry fleet and was sporting the Dogwood Fleet colours, but had yet to be renamed Pender Queen. This is a BC Govt. Dept of Travel Industry photo and is from my brother David's collection. It shows (as does the EGF post above) the side gates just ahead of the superstructure that were once used for loading at certain Gulf Island ports such as Saturna Island. The vessel that replaced the PQ on the outer Gulf Island route had to be fitted with gates in more or less the same place. That vessel is still with us - the Mayne Queen - although the side gates are long gone. In the latter part of the 1960's my brother worked as a casual for BCF's out of Swartz Bay. He did a few turns on the PQ and he recalls that the wheelhouse was quite something. It had a enormous wheel connected mechanically by chains to the steering gear. I gather that it looked a bit like a stern wheeler wheelhouse...
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 19, 2009 19:45:43 GMT -8
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 22, 2009 10:00:47 GMT -8
Alright: one more historical photo scan from me. This one is credited as being the provincial archives, but I couldn't find it in a search of the archives website catalogue. Anyway, the version that I found in an old book was nice and big. So, here we have the Motor Princess, docked and loading cars at Tsawwassen of all places. Now this is, of course, not the Tsawwassen terminal out on the end of a causeway that we know today. Back then, the ferry docked right at the beach, near the town of Steveston. (I dunno if i've ever typed the word Tsawwassen so many times before. At least when I'm typing, no one can complain about how I'm pronouncing the word.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Oct 22, 2009 10:18:55 GMT -8
Alright: one more historical photo scan from me. This one is credited as being the provincial archives, but I couldn't find it in a search of the archives website catalogue. Anyway, the version that I found in an old book was nice and big. So, here we have the Motor Princess, docked and loading cars at Tsawwassen of all places. Now this is, of course, not the Tsawwassen terminal out on the end of a causeway that we know today. Back then, the ferry docked right at the beach, near the actual town of Tsawwassen. Tsawwassen? I don't think so. Every account I've ever read of the Motor Princess's CPR service had it going from Steveston. You have to remember that Tsawwassen wasn't even connected to Vancouver by road back then.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 22, 2009 10:25:02 GMT -8
Alright: one more historical photo scan from me. This one is credited as being the provincial archives, but I couldn't find it in a search of the archives website catalogue. Anyway, the version that I found in an old book was nice and big. So, here we have the Motor Princess, docked and loading cars at Tsawwassen of all places. Now this is, of course, not the Tsawwassen terminal out on the end of a causeway that we know today. Back then, the ferry docked right at the beach, near the actual town of Tsawwassen. Tsawwassen? I don't think so. Every account I've ever read of the Motor Princess's CPR service had it going from Steveston. You have to remember that Tsawwassen wasn't even connected to Vancouver by road back then. I was just going with what the photo information told me... contact the provincial archives if you want to edit their info .
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Oct 22, 2009 10:32:32 GMT -8
Are you sure that's Tsawwassen and not Steveston? I was not aware of any ferry (or other ship for that matter) stopping at Tsawwassen before BCF. The cars in that shot look to be of late 20's, early 30's vintage, which would lead me to conclude that this shot was taken while the Motor Princess was serving on the Sidney-Steveston run, inaugurated in 1929.
EDIT yay for simultaneous post writing...
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 22, 2009 14:37:07 GMT -8
Alright: one more historical photo scan from me. This one is credited as being the provincial archives, but I couldn't find it in a search of the archives website catalogue. Anyway, the version that I found in an old book was nice and big. So, here we have the Motor Princess, docked and loading cars at Tsawwassen of all places. Now this is, of course, not the Tsawwassen terminal out on the end of a causeway that we know today. Back then, the ferry docked right at the beach, near the town of Steveston. (I dunno if i've ever typed the word Tsawwassen so many times before. At least when I'm typing, no one can complain about how I'm pronouncing the word. It's funny to see how few cars are waiting to the ferry. Tiny compared to now, even pretty small compared to the Albion ferry in her last years of operation
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Post by johnnytindale on Oct 22, 2009 16:41:14 GMT -8
If it is Tsawwassen, how would the ferry have managed to get that close to the "mainland" part of the coastline (i.e. where present day park n ride/Splashdown park is)? Pre-causeway, I'm assuming that at low tide, it would be just as muddy and shallow as present day. Maybe this is another possible explanation for the locale being elsewhere?
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Post by stingray on Oct 22, 2009 19:14:26 GMT -8
I don't think it's Tsawwassen.
I have seen this pucture before in Bob Turner's Pacific Princesses, I think it's either Sidney or Steveston.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 22, 2009 19:20:28 GMT -8
I don't think it's Tsawwassen. I have seen this pucture before in Bob Turner's Pacific Princesses, I think it's either Sidney or Steveston. Not Sidney. You can see you can see the very lowest slopes of coast mountains in the background, and if that were Sidney, the Malahat and other hills would be closer and easier to see.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Oct 22, 2009 20:03:17 GMT -8
Was the book that picture came from called "Steamer's Wake"?
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 22, 2009 22:41:07 GMT -8
Was the book that picture came from called "Steamer's Wake"? I thought we had already agreed that it was taken in Steveston. Notice, I did edit my original post to say that. I think the discrepancy may be that certain geographical terms were rather generalized back then, and Tsawwassen was used as a generic term for the region in and around the Fraser delta. Now, I'm not sure if there is a safe answer to this latest question... I wonder whether it's the one they ask you right before you get the blindfold and the cigarette. But, yes, the picture was taken from a book of that name, but it was attributed to the provincial archives, so I felt fairly safe making an electronic version of it, but you're a moderator, so if we get called on any suspicious activity I'm sure you'll protect me.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 15:23:10 GMT -8
In retirement, the Pender Queen loses her crown, and is just a Lady. 'Fraid I don't know the location or date.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 16:01:44 GMT -8
Re: Pender Queen/Queen of The Islands- This is the summer '78 schedule that I got the information from. The fact that they provide 70 minutes for the turnaround, as opposed to the usual hour, would seem to indicate the slower Pender Queen, at that time, anyway. Perhaps they changed vessels after the schedule was printed.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 16:25:01 GMT -8
The Pender Queen enroute I think towards Swarz Bay, is that Saltspring in the background?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 17:01:55 GMT -8
I just scanned a few images from my collection of photos and postcards.
Another photo of the Pender Queen. I'm guessing that here she's laid up somewhere in Vancouver - possibly retired from the fleet? Again, not sure who took the photo, but I got it from somewhere.
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