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.
Last
run out in 1950
Northumberland
