Canadian National Tug no. 6 facts for kids
CN Tug 6
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada |
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| Owner | Canadian National Railway |
| Port of registry | Esquimalt |
| Route | Penticton to Kelowna |
| Builder | Yarrows Limited, Esquimalt, BC |
| Launched | 1948 |
| Maiden voyage | 1948 |
| Out of service | 1973 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Steam Tug |
| Tonnage | 158 GT |
| Length | 88 ft (27 m) |
| Depth | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
Canadian National Tug no. 6 was a strong diesel-powered tugboat. It was owned by the Canadian National Railway (CNR) company. This tugboat worked on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Launched in 1948, it helped move railway barges. These barges carried goods between Penticton and Kelowna. Tug 6 stopped working in 1973. It was the very last tugboat to operate on Okanagan Lake. In 2007, Tug 6 moved to Penticton. It now rests next to the SS Naramata and SS Sicamous. These are two older steamboats from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). All three ships are part of the S.S. Sicamous Inland Marine Museum. Volunteers are currently working to restore them.
Contents
Railways in the Okanagan Valley
After a long delay from World War I, the CNR railway finally reached Kelowna. This happened in September 1925, coming from Kamloops. This railway arrival was very important for travel on Okanagan Lake. More fruit shipments started going by train from Kelowna. This was faster than the older steamboat route at Okanagan Landing.
Passenger train service began in February 1926. Lake service started with the launch of the MV Pentowna in June. The Pentowna was a motor vessel with a propeller. CNR had special loading docks, called transfer slips. These were in Peachland, Westbank, Penticton, and Kelowna. They also shared slips with CPR in Summerland and Naramata. The Pentowna carried passengers between Penticton and Kelowna.
In 1937, the Pentowna was changed to haul freight. This was because it had a strange look and problems with shaking. CNR stopped its barge service in 1973. New highways and other ways to transport goods made the lake service less needed.
Building the Tugboat
CN Tug no. 6 joined the CNR fleet in 1948. It was built to help with the demand for shipping. Some people think it was also launched because CPR, CNR's rival, had launched their own tug, the MV Okanagan, the year before.
Tug 6 was built in 1948 by Yarrows Shipbuilders. This company was located in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The tugboat was registered in Esquimalt, B.C. Tug 6 was made entirely of steel, including its hull. It had a powerful eight-cylinder diesel engine. This engine was turbo-charged, meaning it had extra power. The tug had a single rudder and 575 horsepower. It was 88 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 10 feet, 6 inches deep. Its gross tonnage was 158 tons. Inside, there were three double cabins and a storage room.
Working on the Lake
Like the tugboat Naramata, Tug 6 carried fruit, mail, and other goods. It was used to push and pull barges. These barges were loaded with railcars full of fruit. The fruit came from places like Osoyoos, Penticton, Naramata, Summerland, Peachland, Gellatly's Point, and Westbank. The tug would take these barges to the rail yard in Kelowna. From there, the railcars were loaded onto trains. These trains then went to Vancouver and shipped goods across Canada.
Tugboats were not as famous as the passenger sternwheelers, like the Sicamous. However, they were very important for the Okanagan region. They helped the fruit industry grow and boosted the local economy.
Tugboat Crew
The last crew members of Tug 6 included:
- Skipper: Ron Giggey
- Chief engineer: Ben Bounds
- Second engineer: Dick Sieward
- Cook: Harry Heyworth
- Mates: Ike Klassen, Harry Bailey, Inar Bozarth, Ken Marshall, Frank Hawkey
Retirement and New Life
CPR stopped its barge service in 1972. CNR retired its last two vessels, Pentowna and Tug 6, the next year. This was because new highways and other transport methods were available. So, Tug 6 became the last tugboat to work on Okanagan Lake.
In 1973, Tug 6 was sold to Fintry Estates. The Okanagan tug was also sold to them. The Pentowna moved to the Peachland waterfront. Thirteen years later, in 1986, the city of Kelowna bought Tug 6. They bought it from its owner, Angela Percy, for CAD$35,000. The city wanted to make it a museum.
However, in 2007, the city decided to give the ship to the S.S. Sicamous Restoration Society. The Society wanted to restore it. They also wanted to make the Sicamous Inland Marine Heritage Park bigger and more popular. Tug 6 was moved to Penticton on June 16, 2007. It now sits next to Sicamous and Naramata. It is the only ship at Heritage Park that used diesel fuel instead of coal.
Restoration work began by building a bridge from the park to the floating tug. After that, cleaning and painting started. Current plans include putting in a permanent bridge and more painting. The Society hopes to open Tug 6 for tours in the summer of 2015.
