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Post by WettCoast on Nov 8, 2010 20:24:38 GMT -8
The QPR at Deas Dock on November 7th, 2010: With QoAlberni in the background:  That boat in the background does not look like the Alberni to me. It does look more like one of the QPR's successors. |
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 8, 2010 20:55:46 GMT -8
That boat in the background does not look like the Alberni to me. It does look more like one of the QPR's successors. Whoopsiedaisies. When you can't see which photo it is that you're adding a caption to, sometimes it gets added to the wrong pic.   |
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Post by Dane on Nov 8, 2010 21:30:24 GMT -8
Great shots, thanks for sharing. Often wondered how one side of the QPR's funnel logo got painted with blue, but not the other? I suppose what's easiest and cheapest!
Obviously the market has not been kind for a sale of the QPR. Hopefully steal prices in the future will allow BCFS to make at least some money.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Nov 14, 2010 12:37:42 GMT -8
A lot of you probably know this, but for those who don't, the QPR actually had three funnels. The lower part forward mast between the two main funnels was also an exhaust stack.
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 14, 2010 13:55:50 GMT -8
Ah, I can see that, PrincessofVanFan. I had wondered why that little soot-reflector thingy was there on the mast. Thanks for that.
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Nick
Voyager 
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080 
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Post by Nick on Nov 14, 2010 18:25:59 GMT -8
If I'm not mistaken, I think that exhaust pipe in her mast was for the bow thruster engine, so it didn't operate all the time.
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 14, 2010 18:51:13 GMT -8
Is the QPR the only ferry in recent BCF history that has or had a separate funnel for the bow thrusters? I can't see where they would be on any other ships...
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 14, 2010 18:57:51 GMT -8
Now, I'm just trying to figure out at what point she went from two lifeboats per side to one. This old post caught my attention this evening and I have looked through many photos. The QPR lost one life boat per side in 1984/85, as per these photos: July 1984 - go to this image which is located on 'subarcticmike's' Flickr photo siteAugust 1985  Wett Coast's Flickr photo site |
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Post by Name Omitted on Jan 2, 2011 10:14:01 GMT -8
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 2, 2011 10:24:00 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 2, 2011 12:54:29 GMT -8
If someone on this forum actually owns the classic picture of the Queen of Prince Rupert unloading our lady Taku while she is high on West Kinihan Island, this is your contest to loose! That's a great recollection. Thanks for thinking of that. - the photo is in Gary Bannerman's "The Ships of British Columbia" book. Thanks also to Can-Viking for the link. |
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Post by Mike on Jan 2, 2011 17:27:10 GMT -8
If someone on this forum actually owns the classic picture of the Queen of Prince Rupert unloading our lady Taku while she is high on West Kinihan Island, this is your contest to loose! That's a great recollection. Thanks for thinking of that. - the photo is in Gary Bannerman's "The Ships of British Columbia" book. Thanks also to Can-Viking for the link. The 25th Anniversary issue of Dolphin has two good pictures that are worth sharing:  |
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 7, 2011 21:55:49 GMT -8
On another thread there was some discussion of an event that occurred early on in the QPR's life... That event being her participation in rescuing the M/V Taku, of the Alaska Marine Highway System. On the 30th of July 1970 the Taku ran aground near Prince Rupert. The QPR was able to successfully remove 70 vehicles from the Taku's car deck by bringing her bow up against Taku's stern. Cars were then moved off the Taku and onto the QPR. The rising tide, and a lightened car deck allowed the successful refloating of the Taku a little later.  From the BC Ferry employee newsletter The Dolphin, June 1980 (D.O. Thorne collection) As we all know, the QPR had a few wee incidents of its own. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 7, 2011 22:19:57 GMT -8
I have delved into some of my brother's collection (Mr. DOT) for a usable photo of the QPR & the Taku getting friendly with one another on a deserted beach. With a fair bit of editing I have come up with this...  The date was 30 July 1970. This photo is from a centre page spread in the old BC Ferries' employee newsletter, The Dolphin, of June 1980. That issue was celebrating BC Ferries' 20th anniversary. For more see reply 136 on this thread. PS: I have already put up three entries for the February header 'contest'. I was thinking this could be entered on behalf of Mr. DOT, as it comes from his collection. Alternatively, at the discretion of Mr. FH and the other moderators, I may replace one of my other entries with this photo. JST/WCK |
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 7, 2011 22:51:46 GMT -8
The QPR was able to successfully remove 70 vehicles from the Taku's car deck by bringing her bow up against Taku's stern. Cars were then moved off the Taku and onto the QPR.
As we all know, the QPR had a few wee incidents of its own. Seventy cars, was this all of the cars on board Taku at the time, or were some left behind? And, regarding these wee incidents, some of us are too young to remember them, or have forgot. Perhaps an elaboration to this mention would suffice to fill me in?  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 7, 2011 23:04:35 GMT -8
And, regarding these wee incidents, some of us are too young to remember them, or have forgot. Perhaps an elaboration to this mention would suffice to fill me in? - grounding on Haddington Reef (near Port McNeill) in late 1960's - grounding in Gunboat Passage (east of Shearwater) in early 1980's. - crew-member killed by a closing water-tight door. |
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Post by Mike on Jan 7, 2011 23:20:31 GMT -8
And, regarding these wee incidents, some of us are too young to remember them, or have forgot. Perhaps an elaboration to this mention would suffice to fill me in? - grounding on Haddington Reef (near Port McNeill) in late 1960's - grounding in Gunboat Passage (east of Shearwater) in early 1980's. - crew-member killed by a closing water-tight door. Haddington Reef grounding occurred in August 1967 and the Gunboat Passage grounding occurred in August 1982. Funny how most of BC Ferries' accidents seem to happen in the month of August. |
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 16, 2011 4:46:00 GMT -8
I was on 'B' watch, Queen of Prince Rupert for two of the QPR's most memorable events.
The grounding of the Taku in 1970. Great job by Captain Gerry Ruddick to maneuver the bow of the 'Rupert' nice and tight to the stern of the Taku, where crew ( deckhands, stewards, busboys etc.) constructed a heavy wooden plank ramp which ran between the 'Rupert's car deck and the stern landing ramp of the Taku, where we did manage to drive off some 70 vehicles from the Taku onto the 'Rupert' for transport back to Prince Rupert. Once we had the ramp job completed the crew did have a few minutes to have a look around the passenger areas of the Taku. Large Evergreen tree branches crushed up against the forward lounge windows was quite the sight. Furniture, stores, etc. strewn all over the place as the Taku did make quite the abrupt 'stop' into the rocky shore line of West Kinahan Island.
I believe we got most of the cars off the Taku.
Once back in Prince Rupert, it was off with the Taku's vehicles, loaded up our vehicles and passengers and set sail for Kelsey Bay late in the afternoon.
Now THAT was a long day, having started work at 6:00 A.M. and not getting our heads down finally until around midnight.
Great day for the 'Rupert' and crew, proud of the professionalism of the 'rescue' and the gratitude expressed by the passengers and crew of the Taku for our timely assistance in light of their accident.
In 1967, my first year with 'B' watch on the Queen of Prince Rupert, I was just getting to the shower and ready for duty when I felt a "bump" and shortly thereafter the sound of the general alarm bells! Helluva way to start one's day!
Uniform pants, T-shirt and steward's jacket should have been enough to keep one warm as I arrived at my boat station - forward on the Promenade Deck, starboard side only to be met with a cold heavy fog and the reeking smell of seaweed, kelp and bunker fuel.
Yeah, we were 'in the weeds' as they said. Passengers and crew were orderly assembling at all boat stations, many shivering in the cold, dressed in everything from night attire to crew in full uniforms.
Coffee WAS served! To avoid any sense of panic, Captain John Callen ordered Chief Steward John Post to have six of his catering staff to get full pots of coffee and tea, along with cups, spoons,creamers and sugar packets out to the boat stations and serve up the hot beverages to the assembled passengers and crew while we awaited the call from the Bridge to begin the evacuation of the ship. Geez, now that was a bit melodramatic we thought at the time. What we didn't know from our outer decks boat stations was that the engine room was quickly filling with water and there were fears that with the outgoing tide, the 'Rupert' could slide off or topple off the crest of haddington Reef that we had impaled our hull upon.
Some 300+ passengers and crew were evacuated using our 4 lifeboats and countless rafts.
The evacuation and rescue transport of all souls to Alert Bay began a long, long, day that all crew of 'B' watch, August 11th, 1967 will never forget.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 16, 2011 10:57:17 GMT -8
Those are some really neat stories, Starsteward! Thanks very much for sharing!  |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,304
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Post by Neil on Jan 16, 2011 11:33:28 GMT -8
I was on 'B' watch, Queen of Prince Rupert for two of the QPR's most memorable events. The grounding of the Taku in 1970. Great job by Captain Gerry Ruddick to maneuver the bow of the 'Rupert' nice and tight to the stern of the Taku, where crew ( deckhands, stewards, busboys etc.) constructed a heavy wooden plank ramp which ran between the 'Rupert's car deck and the stern landing ramp of the Taku, where we did manage to drive off some 70 vehicles from the Taku onto the 'Rupert' for transport back to Prince Rupert. I wonder if such improvisation would even be allowed today. Somehow I suspect that before anyone dared to put a wooden ramp together, there would be a call made to Victoria and some Transport Canada regulation or insurance issue would put the kibosh on anything so resourceful. |
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 17, 2011 10:57:10 GMT -8
I agree with Neil's comment about Transport Canada! If the 'rescue' method had required their approval, I dare say the Taku would be a rusting hulk with 70 + vintage cars aboard as the wood for the ramp would have to be government approved and bids for procurement issued! Ah the long tentacles of government regulations are killing a lot of things as we go forward.
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Post by blackshadow on Jan 17, 2011 21:38:22 GMT -8
Wood ramps are often used. There are not government regulations for these emergencies. We used wood to make ramp on Tachek's bow to allow loading vehicles at Horseshoe Bay when Cap. had to pulled from service. As Starsteward stated crews come together and preform great work. If BCS managers heard what we going then all would have come to stop.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 20, 2011 16:39:11 GMT -8
My father has a collection of BC travel-stories written by author Barry Broadfoot, that dad requested by mail in 1973. He showed me the envelope of stories and accompanying photos today. There was one story on Inside Passage and Hwy-16 circle route, so I present that here for us to enjoy: ------------ The photo is credited to "Photographic Branch, Department of Travel Industry, Victoria BC"  and a close-up of the ship in Grenville Channel:  And here's page-1 of Barry's story of the trip. This is his description of the QPR:   |
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 20, 2011 19:55:09 GMT -8
Queen of Prince Rupert @ Bear Cove, Port Hardy - 28 May 1981  Photo © JST - Kodachrome - 81-08-06 - VueScan - Hosted on my Flickr Photo Site
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Feb 20, 2011 20:36:00 GMT -8
:)allready almost 15 years after my Kelsey Bay days, and some hard north coast voyages, but still looking good in the original livery! and years before her last ugly incarnation was delt! :)mrdot.  |
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