The Canadian Pacific River Lake and River Service, also known as the British Columbia Lake and River Service, was a division of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) which began operating passenger and cargo shipping routes along British Columbia's inland waters during the late 19th century.
Canadian Pacific Railway Overview In 1884, the Canadian Pacific Railway began purchasing sailing ships as part of a railway supply service on the Great Lakes. Over time, the company began to expand its water transportation to include the Canadian Pacific Railway Upper Lake Service, the Trans-Pacific service, the Canadian Pacific Railway Coast Service, the Trans-Atlantic service, and the British Columbia Lake and River Service.Smith, Joseph Russell. (1908). The Ocean Carrier: a History and Analysis of the Service and a Discussion of the Rates of Ocean Transportation, p. 186., p. 186, at Google Books
In the 20th century, the company evolved into a transcontinental railway, operating two transoceanic services which connected Canada with Europe and Asia.
British Columbia Lake and River Service CPR's expansion in the West included expanding routes.American Association of Passenger Traffic Officers et al. (1907). More ships were added to the inland waters fleet. For example, in 1901 CPR built three sternwheelers for use on the Yukon River — the Tyrrell, the Duschesnay, and the Dawson.Morley, Alan. (1961). Vancouver; from Milltown to Metropolis, p. 118. The investment in more ships was accompanied by increased numbers of CPR workers. Expansion required additional CPR station and terminal structures to be built.Morley, p. 135.
Inland fleet Vessel name Launch date Retirement date Waterway Notes Lytton July 2, 1890 1904 Arrow Lakes Aberdeen May 22, 1893 December 31, 1919 Okanagan Lake Kootenay April 1897 1919 Arrow Lakes Abandoned at Crescent Bay, British Columbia Rossland November 18, 1897 1916 Arrow Lakes Sunk at dock on January 25, 1917 Moyie October 22, 1898 1957 Kootenay Lake Restored and preserved as a museum ship Minto November 19, 1898 1954 Arrow Lakes Burned in August 1968 Tyrell 1898 — Yukon River Sister ship of Moyie Dawson 1901 — Yukon River York January 18, 1902 1930s Okanagan Lake Duchesnay — — Yukon River Kuskanook May 5, 1906 December 1931 Kootenay Lake Converted to a floating hotel in 1932; sank in 1936 Okanagan July 10, 1907 1934 Okanagan Lake Scrapped except for the stern saloon, which is preserved with the Sicamous Kaleden 1910 1916 Skaha and Okanagan Lakes Scrapped in 1918 Castlegar 1911 1925 Okanagan Lake Bonnington April 24, 1911 1931 Arrow Lakes Sister ship of Sicamous and NasookinNasookin April 30, 1913 1947 Kootenay Lake Dismantled in 1952 Naramata April 20, 1914 August 1967 Okanagan LakeRestored with the Sicamous Sicamous May 19, 1914 August 1936 Okanagan Lake Restored and preserved as a museum ship Kelowna 1920 1956 Okanagan Lake Okanagan 1947 May 31, 1972 Okanagan Lake
21st century Despite many changes, including corporate mergers and restructuring, some elements of the lake service continue to operate.
See also
CP Ships
Notes
References Morley, Alan. (1961). Vancouver; from Milltown to Metropolis. Vancouver: Mitchell. OCLC 70456349 Musk, George. (1981). Canadian Pacific: The Story of the Famous Shipping Line. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada. ; OCLC 7540915 Turner, Robert (1984). Sternwheelers and steam tugs: An Illustrated History of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s British Columbia Lake and River Service. Sono Nis Press.