Canadian Railroads > CN Newfoundland ferries, North Sydney NS 1970

The Newfoundland Railway and later the Canadian National operated both railcar and vehicle ferries from North Sydney , Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques , Newfoundland.
Today, Marine Atlantic operates ferry service to Newfoundland.

These ferries operate in the open ocean. In 1970, the car ferry Patrick Morris was lost attempting to rescue the crew of a fishing boat. She was not carrying passengers at the time because she set out on the rescue before her scheduled run. Eight of her crew members plus all the fishing boat crew perished.

The William Carson (Image 1) is shown arriving at North Sydney NS in 1970. She had a complex history, having started out on the Havana run from Florida. She was lost after striking an iceberg off the coast of Labrador, in 1977 , all were rescued

Frederick Carter was the railcar and truck ferry, shown at North Sydney in 1970.

Lief Eiriksohn was deemed too small for the service, and was only used during the busy summer season. Notice the lounge in the false funnel. Preparing to sail from North Sydney 1970.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/20 19:22 by eminence_grise.

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I think the first ship is the William Carson, nicknamed the Billy C. by Newfoundlanders.  I had several voyages on it (and the Ambrose Shea) while living in Newfoundland between 1970 and 1973.  On the last trip to Nova Scotia our family slept overnight in the "Owners Cabin", which was a step or two up from the regular double cabins that had about as much space as a double bedroom on the train.

GTD

William Carson it is, corrected

The William Carson was purpose built new for the Newfoundland run by Canadian Vickers as a requirement of the 'Terms of Union' between Newfoundland and Canada when Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949.

It was the Patrick Morris acquired by CN in 1965 that started out on the Florida-Cuba run as the SS New Grand Haven and coincidentally had also been built by Canadian Vickers.

Some Big Ferries on the Newfoundland run today!

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Actually took the William Carson in September 1966.  Sadly during the rail strike.  As a result, all rail equipment was just sitting in Port aux Basques.  My memory was that the William Carson was a side loader for autos.  We did not bother to take the car over hoping to ride the train. 

The last of the CN Newfoundland ferries - the Sir Robert Bond, built in 1975 - was scrapped in India last year after decades of service first on the Port Aux Basques, and later the Labrador routes.

Dave