Usk Ferry
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox water transit
|name = Usk Ferry
|logo =
|image =
|image_size =
|locale = Usk
|waterway = Skeena River
|transit_type = Passenger and vehicle ferry
|began_operation = 1913
|ended_operation =
|system_length =
|lines = 1
|vessels = 1
|terminals = 2
|ridership =
|operator = Emil Anderson Maintenance
|owner = BC Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure
| website = [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/passenger-travel/water-travel/inland-ferries/usk-reaction-ferry/ Official website]
}}
The Usk Ferry operates on the Skeena River at Usk in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada. The vessel employs reaction ferry propulsion and cable ferry guidance. Off BC Highway 16, the crossing is by road about {{convert|182|km|mi}} west of Smithers and {{convert|23|km|mi|0}} northeast of Terrace.
{{Location map
|Canada British Columbia
|lon_dir = W
|lat_dir = N
|lat_deg = 54
|lat_min = 37
|lat_sec = 59
|lon_deg = 128
|lon_min = 25
|lon_sec = 05
|caption = Location of the Usk Ferry in
British Columbia, Canada
|width = 260
|float=right
}}
Timeline
- 1913: The subsidized reaction ferry was installed{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0059778#p33z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=Q34 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1913–14 |website=library.ubc.ca}} to handle traffic generated by the arrival of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP). The huge ice flows made a rowboat ferry impossible during the changes of season. Consequently, a hand-operated basket-type aerial passenger ferry was rigged between the ferry towers, which proved unsuitable because the {{convert|800|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip}} wire rope sagged, creating a steep upward climb to the opposite shore. Instead, a footbridge was suspended from the ferry traveller cable.{{sfn|Clapp|1991|p=58}}
- 1916: The Skeena rose {{convert|5|ft|m|1|order=flip}} and took out bridge. The rebuilt shorter bridge proved satisfactory.{{sfn|Clapp|1991|p=58}}
- 1917: The cable snapped, setting the scow adrift until grounding near the Kitselas Canyon, where the passengers escaped. The operator lost two fingers.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist59y175uvic/page/n27/mode/1up?view=theater&q=kitselas |p=28 |title=Daily Colonist |date=1 Jul 1917 | website=archive.org}}
- 1920–21: A new {{convert|15|ST|t LT|1|adj=on|order=flip}} ferry was built.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0228042#p33z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=34 (E18) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1920–21 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1924–25: A new landing was installed.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0225896#p45z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=46 (Q24) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1924–25 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1927–28: The towers were rebuilt, concrete anchorages added, and the cable replaced.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0368879#p41z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=42 (U24) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1927–28 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1935–36: A new {{convert|5|ST|t LT|1|adj=on|order=flip}} ferry was installed.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0308264#p37z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=38 (I30) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1935–36 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1936: Snags and debris rushing down the swollen river snapped the main cable, breaking loose the ferry, which drifted to near the head of Kitselas Canyon.{{Cite web | url=https://www.terracelibrary.ca/history1/usk_history/usk_history.htm |title=Usk, B.C |website=www.terracelibrary.ca}}{{sfn|Septer|2007|p=34}}
- 1948: The superstructure of a {{convert|10|ST|t LT|1|adj=on|order=flip}} ferry was renewed{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0340109#p44z-4r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=45 (N29) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1947–48 |website=library.ubc.ca}} to provide a steel replacement for the former wooden ferry.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0340881#p8z-4r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=O9 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1948–49 |website=library.ubc.ca}} New towers were built and a new cable installed.{{sfn|Septer|2007|p=50}}
- 1950: Spring floods damaged the ferry.{{sfn|Septer|2007|p=55}}
- 1967: An aerial cage capable of carrying an operator and three adult passengers commenced for the wintertime.{{cite magazine |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/reports-and-reference/road-runner/newsletters/1967_03_march.pdf#page=4 |title=BC Road Runner |date=Mar 1967 |volume=4 |issue=1 |p=4 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca}} This basket-type aerial passenger ferry used the existing ferry cable.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0365666#p108z-4r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=C109 |title=Minister of Highways annual report, 1967–68 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1968: A man drowned following an accident at the ferry.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1968-06-11-03 |p=3 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=11 Jun 1968 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}
- 1974: The introduction of a double shift extended daily hours.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0376296#p138z-3r0f:%22double-shift%22 |p=B139 |title=Minister of Highways annual report, 1973–74 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1977–78: Separate towers were erected for the aerial and reaction ferries.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0378743#p158z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=159 |title=Minister of Highways and Public Works annual report, 1977–78 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1980–81: The aerial ferry motor was moved from the side of the car to the bottom. A new reaction ferry with longer pontoons was constructed.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0372778#p341z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=342 |title=Ministry of Transportation and Highways annual report, 1980–81 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
- 1990: Serious complaints regarding the ferry workers were investigated and corrective action taken.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22investigation%22&ymd=1990-08-22&t=5978 |p=3 |title=Terrace Standard |date=22 Aug 1990 |quote= | website=www.newspapers.com}} At this time, the two-vehicle, 12-passenger ferry operated 14 hours daily.{{sfn|Clapp|1991|p=74}}
- 2002: Service reduced from 18 to 17 hours daily.{{Cite web | url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/Hansard/37th3rd/H0409pm-02.pdf#page=17 |p=17 (2677) |title=Debates of the Legislative Assembly (Hansard) |date=9 Apr 2002 | website=www.leg.bc.ca}}
- 2004: Nechako Northcoast Construction (NNC) became the service contractor.{{cite magazine |url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/bcgeu/pages/13718/attachments/original/1602621958/component10newsletter-july.pdf#page=3 |title=The Comp-Ten Report |publisher=BCGEU |date=July 2005 |p=3 |website=www2.cloudfront.net}}
- 2013: A commemorative plaque celebrating the centenary was unveiled.{{Cite web | url=https://www.gent.name/bc:towns:usk:ferry |title=Usk Reaction Ferry |website=www.gent.name}}
- c.2014: The NNC contract was renewed.{{Cite web | url=https://www.terracestandard.com/news/ferry-tale-take-a-ride-on-the-usk-ferry |title=Terrace Standard |date=9 Jul 2014 | website=www.terracestandard.com}}
{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22both+services%22&ymd=2018-12-06&t=5978 |p=A8 |title=Terrace Standard |date=6 Dec 2018 |quote=The town of North Usk…reaction ferry service but have been depending more heavily on the aerial cable car instead. Both services are on-demand and operated by Nechako Northcoast… | website=www.newspapers.com}} - 2020: Emil Anderson Maintenance bought NNC.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22contractor+Nechako%22&ymd=2020-07-30&t=5978 |p=A13 |title=Terrace Standard |date=30 Jul 2020 |quote=…highways road and bridge maintenance contractor Nechako Northcoast has been sold to Emil Anderson… | website=www.newspapers.com}}
Operation
At some point, the winter suspension bridge was discontinued. During the 1950s and 1960s, a rowboat was used instead.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0356108#p60z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=G61 |title=Minister of Highways annual report, 1958–59 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0363981#p103z-3r0f:%22Usk%22 |p=J104 |title=Minister of Highways annual report, 1961–62 |website=library.ubc.ca}} When the ice thickness was sufficient, an ice crossing served pedestrians.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0364026#p105z-3r0f:%22ice%22 |p=C106 |title=Minister of Highways annual report, 1964–65 |website=library.ubc.ca}} This was sometimes little more than planks laid across the ice and a small shallow boat travelling the gap in the middle.{{Cite web | url=https://www.tranbc.ca/2013/11/07/saluting-a-century-of-usks-skeena-river-ferrymen |title=Saluting a Century of Usk's Skeena River Ferrymen | website=www.tranbc.ca}}
The ferry service is under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and is free of tolls, as are all inland ferries in British Columbia.{{cite web | url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/passenger-travel/water-travel/inland-ferries | title=Inland Ferries | website=www2.gov.bc.ca}} Emil Anderson Maintenance operates the five- to seven-minute crossing, which runs from 6:45 am until 11:15 pm, with three scheduled breaks. The ferry has a capacity for two vehicles (or one vehicle combination up to {{convert|12|m|ft|0}}) and 12 passengers.{{cite web | url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/passenger-travel/water-travel/inland-ferries/usk-reaction-ferry | title=Usk Reaction Ferry | website=www2.gov.bc.ca}}
See also
Footnotes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite book|last=Clapp |first=Frank A. |title=Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Lake and River Ferries |publisher=Ministry of Transportation and Highways |year=1991 |isbn=0-7726-1364-8}}
- {{cite report | url=https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/flood/pdfs_word/floods_landslides_north.pdf |last=Septer |first=D. |title=Flooding and Landslide Events Northern British Columbia 1820–2006 |year=2007 |website=www.gov.bc.ca}}