Dalhousie City

DALHOUSIE CITY was built and launched at Collingwood (as Hull 30) in 1911 for the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Navigation Company to run opposite their NORTHUMBERLAND. She was not designed for overnight accommodation and proved to be one of the last "Day Boats" built on the lakes.

This ship operated between Toronto and the northern end of the Third Welland Canal at Port Dalhousie. The vessel crossed the lake in two and a half hours and burned 3.5 tons of coal per trip.

DALHOUSIE CITY was also a popular charter boat for moonlight excursions. An upper deck with a dance floor was added in the twenties.

Her running mate, NORTHUMBERLAND, burned at the start of the 1949 season and DALHOUSIE CITY carried on alone for a year. But the automobile now commanded the passenger travel and trucks handled the freight.

DALHOUSIE CITY left Port Dalhousie April 21, 1950, for a new career at Montreal. She was renamed ISLAND KING II and operated in the excursion trade on the St. Lawrence.

A fire November 14, I960, destroyed the vessel while moored at Lachine, Quebec, and she was scrapped in 1961.

ISLAND KING II sailed in the passenger trade around Montreal. (AlfKing)
Like so many of the other beautiful passenger ships, ISLAND KING II was a fire victim. Her destruction was noted as of "suspicious origin". This paralleled the demise of similar vessels throughout North America.

For most of her life, this ship sailed as DALHOUSIE CITY. She was built at Collingwood, Ont., in 1911 and went to work for the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Navigation Co. The ship sailed in the passenger trade across Lake Ontario between Toronto and Port Dalhousie - a 2 hour, 30 minute crossing. DALHOUSIE CITY was also available for charters and special excursions. A dance floor was included when an upper deck was added in the 1920's.

The 60.9 metre (199'8") long steamer operated on her traditional run through the 1949 season. She was sold early the next year and cleared Port Dalhousie for the last time April 21, 1950.

The vessel headed down the St. Lawrence to Montreal and new work for Lake Shore Lines as ISLAND KING II. They engaged the vessel in the excursion trade in and around Montreal with some jaunts down the St. Lawrence as far as Sorel.
ISLAND KING II was laid up for the winter when fire erupted November 14, 1960. The wooden upper deck, covered with layers of paint, was soon a roaring inferno and the old, but well maintained, ship was a total loss. There was a report that the hull would be reduced to a barge but this never occurred. Instead, the remains were broken up for scrap in 1961.

NORTHUMBERLAND, companion on the Port Dalhousie - Toronto run for 28 years, was also a fire victim. She burned at the dock in Port Dalhousie June 2, 1949, while fitting out for a new season. NORTHUMBERLAND was also beyond repair and dismantled.