El Capitan (ferry) facts for kids
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|} El Capitan was a very important ferry boat that sailed on San Francisco Bay a long time ago. It was a huge, steam-powered boat with big side wheels. This ferry was built in 1868 for the Central Pacific Railroad. Its main job was to carry train passengers from Oakland, California across the bay to San Francisco.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | El Capitan |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | San Francisco,  USA |
| Builder | Patrick Tiernan, San Francisco |
| Completed | 1868 |
| In service | 1868-1925 |
| Out of service | 1925 |
| Identification | Official Number: 8230 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger ferry |
| Tonnage | 982 |
| Displacement | 669 |
| Length | 194 ft (59 m) |
| Beam | 33.6 ft (10.2 m) |
| Depth | 14.5 ft (4.4 m) |
| Installed power | Total 250 hp from 4 fire tube boilers |
| Propulsion | side wheels powered by a vertical beam engine steam engine |
| Crew | 14 |
Meet the El Capitan Ferry
El Capitan was a special kind of boat called a side-wheel steam ferry. This means it used steam power to turn large wheels on its sides, which pushed it through the water. It was designed to carry people, not cargo.
Building a Giant Ferry
The ferry was built by Patrick Tiernan in San Francisco. It was finished in 1868. At that time, it was the biggest ferry on San Francisco Bay! It was 194 feet (about 59 meters) long. That's longer than half a football field! It had a crew of 14 people to help run the ship.
Connecting the Country
El Capitan was built just before the First Transcontinental Railroad was finished. This railroad connected the eastern and western parts of the United States. When trains arrived in Oakland, passengers needed a way to get to San Francisco. El Capitan provided this important link, making travel across the country easier.
A Foggy Day Incident
On February 20, 1879, El Capitan was involved in a crash. It was a very foggy day on San Francisco Bay. El Capitan collided with another Central Pacific ferry called Alameda. The crash caused a hole in El Capitan's hull, which is the main body of the ship. Water rushed in, and the ferry slowly sank onto a mud bar. Luckily, it was pulled to a shipyard the next day for repairs.
A Long Career and Retirement
El Capitan served for many years, from 1868 until 1925. For its last ten years, it sailed across the Carquinez Strait. This is a narrow waterway between Crockett and Vallejo. After a long and busy life, El Capitan was finally retired in 1925.
