Bayswater Shipping Co. acquired Bayquinte in 1955. Bayswater was a small operator of a small fleet of canallers formed by George McKinnon Davidson in 1946, continuing operations until entering into voluntary liquidation in 1967. Built as the Frank C. Osborn in by Cleveland's American Shipbuilding Co. in 1912, owned by five different companies before being converted from a sand dredge to a bulk carrier and self unloader in 1942. Toiling in Lake Ontario coal service, she ran between US ports and Belleville, Kingston and Brockville. Laid-up at the causeway in the winters, she was stored at the Swift dock in 1967-68. Purchased by Ken Elliott of Hamilton, she was taken there for scrapping by the tug Argue Martin on November 4, 1968. She was scrapped by United Metals the following year, realizing $35,000 in scrap value.When lakes shipping was a part of Kingston's lakefront commerce, a continuing series on ship histories ran in the Kingston Whig-Standard. This one featured Bayswater Shipping's Bayquinte:
Top photo shows her scrap tow with the McKeil Work Boats tug Argue Martin. Canadian Dredge & Dock crews came to lift the anchors a week before the tow. The Bayquinte had a notable port list and heavy stern. This is Bayquinte being moved from the Inner Harbour to the Swift's dock at the foot of Johnson Street, possibly by the tug Salvage Prince (below). Passing through the LaSalle Causeway bridge - note bridge counterweight at top left (undated Brockville Museum photo). Coal-handling equipment is lashed to the railings, no lifeboats on the davits and two fellow climbing up the stack!
In August, 1967 Bayquinte was moored near the east end of the Canadian Locomotive Co. Fairbanks Morse plant. These two photos, from the Queen's University Archives Kingston Whig-Standard fonds. Two interesting things about these photos. Both show an export locomotive welded to Canadian Pacific depressed-centre flat car CP 309925, and the Bayquinte. Note the differing angles!
Export locomotive fuel tank and girders welded to flat car deck (above) and notice the 'Kingston' destination chalked on the left side of the car in this view: 
Harbourmaster Edward Phipps-Walker considered her "ripe for sinking" and was afraid she might just settle on the harbour bottom and stay there! Waiting for her technologically-induced demise (City of Kingston Planning Department photo, Queen's University Archives):
The Bayquinte was in the background of this photo showing local kids with banana bike clambering up the Confederation Park arch, days before the scrap tow departed:
A sister flat car to the one under the locomotive was used at the Canadian General Electric plant in Peterborough Ont. until 2015.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Eric! They were very busy cars throughout their careers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment,
Eric