Steamship Prince Rupert
Encyclopedia
The Grand Trunk
Steamship Prince Rupert, and her sister ship the Prince George, served the coast of British Columbia
and Alaska
. Originally these vessels served regular runs from Seattle to Victoria, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Stewart Alaska. Seattle and Victoria were dropped from the route after a few years and Skagway, Alaska
was added. The Prince George served briefly as a Royal Canadian Navy
hospital ship
in 1914. From 1925, ownership of both Princes was transferred along with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
system to the Government of Canada to be operated as part of the Canadian National Railway
.
On August 22, 1927 the Prince Rupert was caught on Ripple Rock
. Captain Andy Johnstone of the competing Union Steamship Company of British Columbia
maneuvered the Cardena alongside and pulled the Prince Rupert off the reef saving her from almost certain disaster.
The Prince Rupert had a 46 year career serving northern ports from Vancouver, BC. She was destroyed by fire in 1945.
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
Steamship Prince Rupert, and her sister ship the Prince George, served the coast of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Originally these vessels served regular runs from Seattle to Victoria, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Stewart Alaska. Seattle and Victoria were dropped from the route after a few years and Skagway, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a city first incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862...
was added. The Prince George served briefly as a Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
in 1914. From 1925, ownership of both Princes was transferred along with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
system to the Government of Canada to be operated as part of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
.
On August 22, 1927 the Prince Rupert was caught on Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock was an underwater, twin-peaked mountain in the Seymour Narrows of the Discovery Passage in British Columbia, Canada, a part of the marine trade route from Vancouver and coastal points north. The nearest town was Campbell River...
. Captain Andy Johnstone of the competing Union Steamship Company of British Columbia
Union Steamship Company of British Columbia
The Union Steamship Company of British Columbia was a pioneer firm on coastal British Columbia. It started in 1889, from the beginnings of local service on Burrard Inlet near Vancouver, and expanded to the entire British Columbia coast...
maneuvered the Cardena alongside and pulled the Prince Rupert off the reef saving her from almost certain disaster.
The Prince Rupert had a 46 year career serving northern ports from Vancouver, BC. She was destroyed by fire in 1945.