Night Boats

[Deggesty]

Not wishing to clutter the Classic Trains Quiz thread with more on night boats, I am starting this thread, since we seem to have much information on the topic to share .

The following (not all coastal) come to mind.

Hudson River Night Line–New York City and Albany.

Sacramento-San Francisco. Two of these boats still exist–the Delta Queen, which, I am sure, most of you are aware of, plies the Mississippi and other rivers, though she is tied up at nights–and the Delta King, which is now a very fast boat, being moored fast to a dock in Sacramento. My wife and I spent a night on her (him?) last year, enjoying dinner and breakfast in the dining saloon, and sleeping in a small cabin (about twice the size of the original cabins) with a private shower. You do have to walk quite a distance from the street to the dock.

There was, up to in the fifties, overnight service between Baltimore and Norfolk, and between Washington and Norfolk.

The CP also had overnight service between Vancouver and Seattle.

During the off season, British Columbia Ferries has overnight service between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.

Johnny

[gacuster]

There is still carferry passenger service on Lake Michigan between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI via the coal burning S.S.Badger built in the early 50's.  Cabins are available for rent during the four hour crossing.

[passengerfan]

At one time it was possible except for one short section to go via Night Boats from Los Angeles to Alaska.

One could start from Los Angeles on the SS Harvard or SS Yale to San Francisco, Next board the SS Great Northern or SS Northern Pacific to Astoria, Oregon where the SP&S and NP trains would take one to Seattle where you could board the Grand Truck Pacific SS Prince George, SS Prince Henry, or SS Prince Rupert for the trip to Skagway Alaska.

Now giant cruise ships offer Alaska service from the ports of Vancouver and Seattle as far north as Seward Alaska where one can board the Alaska Railroad for Anchorage or Fairbanks. The Alaska Ferries provides service from Bellingham to Alaska as well.  They call this there marine highway.

Al - in - Stockton