Tug and Rail Barge History from a Kelowna Perspective

C.P. sternwheelers started on Okanagan Lake after the completion of the rail line from Sicamous to Okanagan Landing
in June, 1892. From 1893, the S.S. Aberdeen was hard at work when joined by the S.S. York, which was diverted to the Okanagan, on January 18, 1902. The Kelowna wharf was located at the foot of Bernard Ave. where the Sails are presently located.

As the freight volume increased, another vessel was needed.
The S.S. Okanagan was constructed at Okanagan Landing.

Feb. 1, 1906	Feb. 15, 1906

Winters could be a challenge on Okanagan Lake for the vessels.

March 28, 1907	April 18, 1907

Maiden Voyage, April 25, 1907. Click on article above for full story.

Lakes in the Kootenays had rail transfer barges before they were introduced to the Okanagan.
A new rail wharf is being planned, to be located farther north from the original passenger wharf,
in what will be the new industrial area of Kelowna.

C.P. playing games with land speculators.	Oct. 17, 1907—Land now purchased for new rail wharf.

Nov. 19, 1908—More than a year has passed since the purchase of the land and constrction has still not started.

March 25, 1909 C.P. divisional engineer appears before city council.	April 22, 1909 Description of the new freight shed.

C.P. Rail Wharf Receives First Cars—Friday, October 22^nd, 1909


Historic day finally arrives. First rail line in Kelowna opens.



Smokestack topples, scares passengers.

S.S. Kaleden passing Kelowna, July 28, 1910.

S.S. Castlegar launched April 12, 1911.

Naramata coming into Kelowna.	Naramata at Okanagan Landing.

May 19, 1914—The S.S. Sicamous was put into service at Okanagan Landing.

The S.S. Aberdeen was retired in 1916.

1920, the S.S. Kelowna was put into service.
The engine was from the Whatshan, an Arrow Lakes tug. Retired 1919, dismantled 1920.

The new C.N. track from Vernon to Kelowna was finally completed Sept. 11, 1925,
very soon after C.N. built their own wharf, a half-mile north of the C.P. wharf.
C.N. rail passenger service started Feb. 15, 1926.

February 4, 1926—the survey for the new C.N. wharf and tracks have been completed.
May 6, 1926—the new dock is completed and awaiting the arrival of the sections of the new C.N. tug to be assembled.

Click headline for full story.
The first C.N. tug on Okanagan Lake—The Pentowna was announced.

Slight delay in Pentowna launch.	Pentowna is successfully launched.

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Announcing future in-service date of The Pentowna.

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Changes on C.P. steam ships.

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Announcing arrival of The Radius.

Traffic increased and another tug was required.
The Radius was renamed C.N. Tug #3.

The hull of C.N. tug #5 was launched May 8, 1930, as is shown in the following three pictures:

C.N. Tug #5 just before launching in Kelowna.		Barge being constructed at the same time.

C.N. Tug #5 sliding down the ways.		Kelowna Courier reporting of the fatailty.
Harry Pace is visible on the upper-side of the cabin. Jock McGill was washed off the boat, as it hit the water.
Trial run: June 28, 1930		Inquest report: May 15, 1930

S.S. Sicamous operations wind down.
C.P.R. obtains passenger train running rights on C.N. track from Vernon to Kelowna.

Click headline for full story.	Click headline for full story.

Click headline for full story.

Click headline for full story.

After limited use during the fruit shipping season of 1935-36, the remodelled S.S. Sicamous was tied up at Okanagan Landing until 1951.	Remodelled S.S. Sicamous at Okanagan Landing.

Pentowna goes from a passenger craft to only towing barges.

Click headline for full story.	Click headline for full story.

Wood Barges Tied Up	Kelowna Waterfront with Car Ferry, 1940's

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M.V. Okanagan is the last tug constructed at Okanagan Landing,
and the last new tug for C.P. on Okanagan Lake

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The last new tug for Okanagan Lake, C.N. tug #6, constructed in Kelowna.

C.N. on Okanagan Lake, Late 40s
Collection of Chief Engineer Siewert

Pile driver coming on to C.N. wharf	Pile driver on C.N. wharf	Fuel tank and Rowcliffe Cannery in the background
June 1948: fuel dock	C.N. barge following C.P. barge?	Barge deck
	C.N. barge on Okanagan Lake

Chief Engineer Richard Siewert on right	C.N. tug crew on the Pentowna, May 15, 1958

Mr. Siewert had a 27-year career with C.N., ending with the conclusion of tug service Feb. 15, 1973.

Bridge being built in 1957. Top, C.N. barge heading north, bottom heading south	C.N. tug #6 near the end of tug service at Kelowna

Who Wants the Sicamous?
Tied up at Okanagan Landing since the fall of 1935.

Click headline for full story. Coming to Kelowna?	Deciding if Kelowna wants the Sicamous.

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Trip to Penticton on Oct. 6, 1949? Not quite so fast!

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Aug. 27, 1951: finally makes it to Penticton for permanent display.

C.N. Tug #5 being readied to leave valley.

End of the Tug and Rail Barge on Okanagan Lake
Rail-barge traffic continues to decline, as fruit shipments are now moved by trucks.

C.P. ended the tug/rail barge service May 31^st, 1972.

Recap of C.P. Okanagan Lake operations.	M.V. Okanagan operations end.

Walter Spiller's career.	Fruit industry transportation, now that the barges have ended.

M.V. Okanagan at the Kelowna Wharf, May, 1972.	C.P. wharf in the foreground, C.N. wharf further north, May, 1972.

Soon after, the M.V. Okanagan tug and barge were sold.

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Nov. 8, 1972, M.V. Okanagan is sold.

After being purchased from the Korbergs in 1998, a campground modified the M.V. Okanagan,
and is moored at Indian Arm, in the Newport Beach area, which is at the north-end of Okanagan Lake.
It is used as an entertainment boat.
Jan. 2010—info from Larry Gadbois and the Vernon Yacht Club on current status of the M.V. Okanagan

C.N. reassures its customers barge service will continue.


Bulletin #132, issued to C.N. employees.

Traffic declined faster than anticipated.

Recap of the last trip.

C.N. lists the tug & barges for sale in the July 13, 1973 Daily Courier.

C.N. Tug #6 and Barges sold to a Wetaskiwin, Alberta business.

Aug. 18, 1973—C.N. makes last move of the tug and barges to Fintry for storage.



Tug relocation plans must not have worked out, as C.N. #6 never left the valley.

M.V. Okanagan was listed for sale for $40,000 and Tug #6 for $60,000.

March 30, 1993—the City of Kelowna bought C.N. #6 for $35,000, from Angela Percy, with the intention of restoring it.
She considered the $25,000 price drop a donation to the City.
After sitting for 14 years, the City of Kelowna donated it to Penticton.

June 16, 2007—it was moved to Penticton, and moored along with the Sicamous and the Naramata.

Apr. 9, 1973—The Pentowna heading south for Penticton.	Who operates the lift span on the Okanagan Lake bridge?

May 2^nd, 1974
After a brief stay in Penticton, M.V. Pentowna returns to Peachland.



Stormy weather pushes old boat over—Dec. 7^th, 1976

In the 1980's, for a period of time, it was on its side again, held up only by the dock it was moored to.
In July, 1994, the Pentowna was purchased by Dennis Dumaresq. It took nine days to tow the boat to the Mission boat launch in Kelowna. It was then moved by road, to be placed by the Michaelbrook Ranch Golf Course. Funds could not be raised for the refurbishing of the craft, and it was then scrapped in Dec. 2005.

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Exhaust pipes from the diesel engines.	Pentowna seen better days.
Hull on its side.	Men working on removal of diesel engines.
View of diesel engines.	Rear of hull.

	Feb. 18, 1974—first barge raised. March 29, 1974
Government figured the easiest way to get rid of the barges was to sink them in Okanagan Lake	Public outcry forced the removal of the barges from the lake.