Princess Norah (steamship)
Encyclopedia
Princess Norah was a steamship which operated in British Columbia and southeastern Alaska from 1929 to 1964. From 1955 to 1958, this ship was called Queen of the North. From 1958 to 1964, the ship was called Canadian Prince. This ship should not be confused with the later similarly named motor ferry MV Queen of the North.
. The ship was 250 feet long, with a beam of 48 feet and 23-foot depth of hold. The overall size of the ship was 2,731 gross tons. The powerplant, which drove a single propeller, was a triple expansion steam engine
, with cylinder diameters ranging from high pressure to low, of 24, 38 and double low pressure cylinders, of 45 inches diameter each. Engine stroke was 36 inches. Norah was built with a bow rudder to assist in navigating in the narrow winding channels of the British Columbia coast. The ship had a capacity for 700 day passengers. There were an additional 179 berths in 61 staterooms for overnight travellers. The official Canadian registry number was 154848.
in early 1929. Although the original plan was for Norah to completely replace Princess Maquinna on the Vancouver Island west coast route, this never happened. Instead, Maquina remained the primary ship on the route, with Norah being brought on during the summer when traffic was heavier. In the winter months, Maquina handled the west coast route alone, and Norah was used on the Inside Passage
runs to Prince Rupert or southeast Alaska. CPR was able to replaced the 25-year old wooden hulled Princess Beatrice
, which was sold to a scrapper, who removed the machinery and converted the hulk into a floating cannery.
Communities served by Norah on the west coast route included, among others, Port Renfrew, Bamfield, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, Ahousat, Hesquiat, Nootka
, Tahsis, Kyuquot
, Quatsino, Jeune Landing and Port Alice. According to a timetable issued July 27, 1935, Norah would make the west coast route three times a month, each time departing from Victoria at 11 pm. The first trip would being on Day 1 of the month, with Norah reaching Port Alice, on the northern end of Vancouver Island, on Day 5. Norah would tnen return on the same route, reaching Victoria again on day 8. (Fewer calls were made on the southbound trips.). The vessel then repeated the trip again on Day 11 and on Day 21.
During the Second World War, Norah and the other ships of the CPR's west coast fleet were painted grey as camouflage, making them look like auxiliary naval ships. Also during the war Norah was also used as a relief vessel for Princess Mary on the Gulf Islands
route. On April 21, 1943, while on the Gulf Islands route, Norah ran aground not far from Victoria. There were no injuries and the vessel was returned to service after undergoing several weeks repair in a drydock.
In 1955, the ship was renamed Queen of the North. Under this name, the ship was operated on the Inside Passage as a joint venture with the Canadian National Railway
. In 1958, the ship was transferred to the Northland Shipping Company and renamed Canadian Prince.
.
Design and construction
Princess Norah was built in 1929 at the Fairfields shipyard in Govan, Scotland. The ship was designed for service to the rugged west coast of Vancouver IslandVancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. The ship was 250 feet long, with a beam of 48 feet and 23-foot depth of hold. The overall size of the ship was 2,731 gross tons. The powerplant, which drove a single propeller, was a triple expansion steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
, with cylinder diameters ranging from high pressure to low, of 24, 38 and double low pressure cylinders, of 45 inches diameter each. Engine stroke was 36 inches. Norah was built with a bow rudder to assist in navigating in the narrow winding channels of the British Columbia coast. The ship had a capacity for 700 day passengers. There were an additional 179 berths in 61 staterooms for overnight travellers. The official Canadian registry number was 154848.
Operations
Princess Norah arrived at VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in early 1929. Although the original plan was for Norah to completely replace Princess Maquinna on the Vancouver Island west coast route, this never happened. Instead, Maquina remained the primary ship on the route, with Norah being brought on during the summer when traffic was heavier. In the winter months, Maquina handled the west coast route alone, and Norah was used on the Inside Passage
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...
runs to Prince Rupert or southeast Alaska. CPR was able to replaced the 25-year old wooden hulled Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice (steamship)
Princess Beatrice was a steamship built for and owned by the marine division of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The ship served from 1903 to 1928 in the coastal waters of British Columbia. The ship also operated on Puget Sound on a route from Victoria, British Columbia to Seattle, Washington...
, which was sold to a scrapper, who removed the machinery and converted the hulk into a floating cannery.
Communities served by Norah on the west coast route included, among others, Port Renfrew, Bamfield, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino, Ahousat, Hesquiat, Nootka
Nootka
Nootka may refer to:* The Nuu-chah-nulth indigenous peoples and their Nuu-chah-nulth language* The place called Nootka Sound* The island known as Nootka Island* The three treaties signed in the 1790s, known as the Nootka Conventions...
, Tahsis, Kyuquot
Kyuquot
Kyuquot, meaning "people of Kayukw" in the Nuu-chah-nulth language, may refer to:* Kyuquot, British Columbia, an unincorporated settlement on northwestern Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
, Quatsino, Jeune Landing and Port Alice. According to a timetable issued July 27, 1935, Norah would make the west coast route three times a month, each time departing from Victoria at 11 pm. The first trip would being on Day 1 of the month, with Norah reaching Port Alice, on the northern end of Vancouver Island, on Day 5. Norah would tnen return on the same route, reaching Victoria again on day 8. (Fewer calls were made on the southbound trips.). The vessel then repeated the trip again on Day 11 and on Day 21.
During the Second World War, Norah and the other ships of the CPR's west coast fleet were painted grey as camouflage, making them look like auxiliary naval ships. Also during the war Norah was also used as a relief vessel for Princess Mary on the Gulf Islands
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
route. On April 21, 1943, while on the Gulf Islands route, Norah ran aground not far from Victoria. There were no injuries and the vessel was returned to service after undergoing several weeks repair in a drydock.
In 1955, the ship was renamed Queen of the North. Under this name, the ship was operated on the Inside Passage as a joint venture with the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. In 1958, the ship was transferred to the Northland Shipping Company and renamed Canadian Prince.
Disposition
In October 1964 the engines were removed from the ship, and the powerless hulk was converted to the Beachcomber, a floating restaurant and dance hall in Kodiak, AlaskaKodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
.
External links
- Popular Science, August 1929 (showing bow rudder). (accessed 06-19-11).