June 20th - SS Moyie and Downtown Kaslo
Monday we stayed close to home for Ray to rest his back, so we just went on a tour of the SS Moyie Paddlewheeler a few blocks away on the main street in Kaslo.
The S.S. Moyie sternwheeler is one of the most significant preserved steam passenger vessels in North America. When the Moyie was retired in 1957, after a 59-year career with the Canadian Pacific Railway’s BC Lake and River Service, she was the last operating passenger sternwheeler in Canada. She is in a surprisingly complete state for a vessel with such a long service record.
The Moyie began service on the Nelson-Kootenay Landing Route on December 7, 1898, to connect with the newly completed rail line from southern Alberta through the Crowsnest Pass to the lower end of Kootenay Lake. The Moyie operated on the Nelson-Kootenay Landing Route as the major vessel (the “Crow Boat”), providing the service until the construction of the larger and faster S.S. Kuskanook in 1906. It appears that the Moyie strayed little from the “Crow Boat” service during these years except for operation on the occasional excursion. The Moyie connected with the trains, its Dining Saloon providing the sole eating facility on the service. By 1900, however, buffet cars were included in trains to Kootenay Landing. After completion of the Kuskanook in 1906, the Moyie was assigned to secondary routes from Nelson or Procter to Kaslo and other smaller communities along the shore of Kootenay Lake, in particular, Lardeau and Argenta.
Into the 1920s, the Moyie continued as a relief vessel. Her duties were many and varied and, except for refitting, she appears to have been in almost constant service—on average, all but one or two days a month.
By the 1950s the Moyie had become, in effect, a sternwheeled, passenger carrying tug, a role she was not originally designed to fill but had been doing so effectively for many years. On April 27, 1957, the Moyie was retired from CPR service. At high water the next spring, the vessel was moved to Kaslo and beached. The City of Kaslo had purchased the SS Moyie from the Canadian Pacific Railway for $1.00. (From History Archives)
The historical society is taking really good care of the ship. At the moment they are repainting all of the lifeboats. The gentleman sanding them said that they would not be put back up again though as they are way to heavy and the ship is now too fragile.
Here is a view of the ships hull. Notice how little draft these ships took enabling them to go up rivers.
Well worth the $12 admission each.
The S.S. Moyie sternwheeler is one of the most significant preserved steam passenger vessels in North America. When the Moyie was retired in 1957, after a 59-year career with the Canadian Pacific Railway’s BC Lake and River Service, she was the last operating passenger sternwheeler in Canada. She is in a surprisingly complete state for a vessel with such a long service record.
The Moyie began service on the Nelson-Kootenay Landing Route on December 7, 1898, to connect with the newly completed rail line from southern Alberta through the Crowsnest Pass to the lower end of Kootenay Lake. The Moyie operated on the Nelson-Kootenay Landing Route as the major vessel (the “Crow Boat”), providing the service until the construction of the larger and faster S.S. Kuskanook in 1906. It appears that the Moyie strayed little from the “Crow Boat” service during these years except for operation on the occasional excursion. The Moyie connected with the trains, its Dining Saloon providing the sole eating facility on the service. By 1900, however, buffet cars were included in trains to Kootenay Landing. After completion of the Kuskanook in 1906, the Moyie was assigned to secondary routes from Nelson or Procter to Kaslo and other smaller communities along the shore of Kootenay Lake, in particular, Lardeau and Argenta.
Into the 1920s, the Moyie continued as a relief vessel. Her duties were many and varied and, except for refitting, she appears to have been in almost constant service—on average, all but one or two days a month.
By the 1950s the Moyie had become, in effect, a sternwheeled, passenger carrying tug, a role she was not originally designed to fill but had been doing so effectively for many years. On April 27, 1957, the Moyie was retired from CPR service. At high water the next spring, the vessel was moved to Kaslo and beached. The City of Kaslo had purchased the SS Moyie from the Canadian Pacific Railway for $1.00. (From History Archives)
The historical society is taking really good care of the ship. At the moment they are repainting all of the lifeboats. The gentleman sanding them said that they would not be put back up again though as they are way to heavy and the ship is now too fragile.
Here is a view of the ships hull. Notice how little draft these ships took enabling them to go up rivers.
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| Loading Dock |
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| Dynamo and Pumps they have it making the sounds like the ship was underway. |
Also located on this level was the Stewards Office and the Galley where meals were prepared and sent upstairs to the dining room.
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| They even had the sound of the guy using the typewriter. |
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| Again sound of a galley .. pots clattering etc.
Next it was upstairs to the passenger area.
The Pantry where they serve you desserts and coffee.
Ladies Saloon
The Bar
One of the Staterooms
The Dining Saloon
Dining Room
Dining Room
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Men's smoking lounge
Men's smoking lounge
View from the Pilot House
Captain's quarters
Well worth the $12 admission each.
Here are a few more pictures around town that Ray has taken over the past 3 days.
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| St Andrews Church circa 1894 |
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| Circa 1896 |
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| City Hall |
Those Paddle Wheelers are very cool!
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