Ladner Ferry

{{Citation style|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox water transit |name = Ladner Ferry |logo = |image = Ladner Ferry 1931.jpg |image_size = 250px |locale = Metro Vancouver, British Columbia |waterway = Fraser River |transit_type = Passenger and vehicle ferry |began_operation = 1913 |ended_operation = 23 May, 1959 |system_length = |lines = 1 |vessels = 1 |terminals = 2 |ridership = |operator = Department of Public Works |owner = }} The '''Ladner Ferry''' was a crossing of the south arm of the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver, linking Ladner with Richmond. It operated from 1913 until 1959, when it was replaced by the George Massey Tunnel. thumb|300px|Route of the Ladner Ferry shown on a modern map ==History== In the early 1890s, the Union Steamship S.S ''Eliza Edwards'' provided a daily Vancouver-Steveston-Ladner's Landing run.<ref>The Daily Colonist: 20 Sep 1891 to 12 Feb 1892</ref> The Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway proposal included a connecting ferry to Ladner<ref>The Daily Colonist, 1 Jan 1894</ref> that never eventuated. During 1898–1900, the three times weekly CP Navigation Victoria-New Westminster schedule included Lulu Island and Ladner.<ref>The Daily Colonist: 26 Jun 1898 to 17 Jul 1900</ref> The 45-passenger ''Sonoma''<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.dmasociety.org/dbsearch/permalinkA/20796/ | title=Image: Sonoma on Fraser | website=www.dmasociety.org}}</ref> ran twice daily Ladner-Steveston during 1905–1909.<ref>The Delta Times: 9 Sep 1905 to 18 Sep 1909</ref> The replacement vessel from the 1910 summer, the ''New Delta'',<ref>{{cite web| url=http://archives.richmond.ca/archives/descriptions/results.aspx?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/archives/descriptions/results.aspx&BU=http%3A%2F%2Farchives.richmond.ca%2Farchives%2Fdescriptions%2F&TN=descriptions&SN=AUTO31202&SE=703&RN=0&MR=10&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=0&XP=&RF=WebBrief&EF=&DF=WebFull&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=GENERICENGWPMSG.INI&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=144385&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=utf-8 | title=Image: S.S. New Delta | website=www.archives.richmond.ca}}</ref> ran the route<ref name=23May09>{{cite web| url=https://ferriesbc.proboards.com/thread/8107/retired-inland-ferries-photos-discussion |last=Gyarmati |first=Sandor | title=Delta Optimist, 23 May 2009 | website=www.ferriesbc.com}}</ref> three times daily in the spring/summer, and twice daily in the fall/winter, until April 1914.<ref>The Delta Times: 26 Oct 1912 to 9 Apr 1914</ref> However, dangerous ice floes sometimes temporarily cancelled services.<ref>The Delta Times, 25 Jan 1913</ref>

Maintaining the Steveston run, the ''New Delta'' conducted a three-times-daily trial during April and May 1912 between Ladner and Woodward's Landing (south end of No. 5 Road, Richmond).<ref>The Delta Times: 6 & 20 Apr 1912; & 18 May 1912</ref> In January 1913, the ''Scanlon'' (''Helen M. Scanlon''), pulling a barge, made the crossing in 20 minutes, while conducting a trial run for a government ferry service.<ref>The Delta Times, 15 Feb 1913</ref> During 1913, piles were driven for the new temporary Ladner dock,<ref>The Delta Times, 18 Oct 1913</ref> and the province and municipalities upgraded or built the approach and connecting roads on both sides.<ref>The Daily Colonist: 18 Jun 1913 & 27 Jan 1914</ref>

Strategic to their proposed Lulu Island branch line, the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR), specified a Steveston terminal for their planned Vancouver Island ferry service. Revised to Woodward's Landing, CNoR acquired 250 acres for five miles of siding and a three-track slip capable of handling the largest ferries (150 feet).<ref>The Delta Times: 26 Oct 1912, 23 Aug 1913, 18 Jun 1914, & 30 Jul 1914</ref> The CNoR dock never eventuated after the demise of the railway.

In November 1913, the ''Scanlon'', with its barge in tow, established the Ladner-Woodward's Landing government ferry service. The boat carried the passengers and the barge transported vehicles and livestock. A bus along No. 5 Road from Vancouver connected with the four daily sailings.<ref>The Delta Times: 29 Nov 1913 to 28 May 1914 </ref> That December, when the ferry struck a sand bar in heavy fog, damaging the paddlewheel, the trip across took four hours and the bus ran out of fuel, stranding the passengers at Woodward's Landing.<ref>The Delta Times, 6 Dec 1913</ref> Owing to the deplorable winter road conditions, the bus could take an hour to cover the {{convert|8|km|mi|0}} across Richmond.<ref>The Delta Times, 21 Feb 1914</ref> In April 1914, the ''Sonoma'' returned to the Ladner-Steveston route,<ref>The Delta Times: 16 Apr 1914 to 13 Nov 1914</ref> but it is unclear when this service ceased.

Purchasing the privately owned ''Scanlon'' (later renamed the ''William Henry Ladner''),<ref name=" 23May09" /> the government began a two-month refit of the vessel. Meanwhile, the smaller tug ''Linda'' took its place. The remodelled ferry no longer needed to tow a barge, and the faster turnaround increased service to six times daily.<ref>The Delta Times: 19 Mar 1914, 2 & 23 Apr 1914, 28 May 1914, & 4 Jun 1914</ref> However, the bus connection covered only four sailings,<ref>The Delta Times, 4 Jun 1914</ref> until increasing to six, two months later. At this time, oiling the gravel sections, and planking the remainder of No. 5 Road, allowed a faster more comfortable bus ride.<ref>The Delta Times, 20 Aug 1914</ref> Purchased in March 1918 for $10,000, the larger ''Beaver''<ref>The Daily Colonist, 8 Mar 1918</ref> underwent a $40,000 complete overhaul, before replacing the former ferry in July 1919.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 30 Jul 1919</ref> The vessel unsuited to heavy traffic, because it loaded from the sides, increasing the risk of damage to vehicles,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0225863#p0z-5r0f:ferry |page=L15 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1923–24 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> was replaced in 1926–27.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0300556#p126z-3r0f:ferry |page=P12 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1926–27 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> Winter ice floes and spring flooding, which made navigation hazardous, prompted proposals for a permanent Deas Island crossing.

thumb|left|270px|Derelict former ferry dock, Ladner, 2005

The Ladner terminal moved twice.<ref name=" 23May09" /> During 1920–21, construction costed $15,748.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0228042#p130z-5r0f:ferry |page=E123 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1920–21 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> The landing and paved Ferry Road cost $80,000, but on opening in 1931 the crossing time reduced to 10 minutes.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 23 May 1931</ref> When tendered in 1932, three bids required no subsidy to operate the ferry, while Mr. Robson, the private operator for the prior six years, offered to pay $1,800 per annum. The province was responsible for supplying an appropriate vessel.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 3 Sep 1932</ref> The ''Ladner-Woodwards No. 3.'' failed its federal inspection. The MS ''Agassiz'', the replacement in November 1932, had only half the carrying capacity.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 18 May 1933</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0306432#p70z-5r0f:ferry |page=T11 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1934–35 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> The province reimbursed losses being sustained by operator Leonard M. Robson, due to these serious deficiencies.<ref name=" 23May09" />

The bitumen surfacing of No. 5 Rd during 1935–36 provided continuous pavement from the ferry to Vancouver.<ref name=35-36>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0308264#p9z-5r0f:ferry |page=T11 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1935–36 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> In 1936, additional summer sailings were introduced.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 22 Apr 1936</ref> The landing and approach at Woodward's Landing received extensive maintenance in 1940-41.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0314250#p79z-5r0f:ferry |pages=O13 & O70 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1940–41 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> The Ladner landing, on a side channel, experienced ongoing silting that required periodical dredging,<ref name=" 35-36" /><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0305802#p85z-3r0f:ferry |page=O16 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1933–34 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0314091#p0z-5r0f:ferry |page=P15 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1939–40 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> and at times grounded the ferry in mid-summer.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0332458#p0z-5r0f:ferry |page=Q20 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1945–46 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> To address this issue, the landing was extended into the main channel during 1947-48.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0339918#p22z-3r0f:ferry |page=P17 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1946–47 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0340109#p4z-5r0f:ferry |page=N18 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1947–48 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref>

Permanent replacement, the ''Delta Princess'' with a speed of 12 knots, entered service in 1949.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 13 May 1949</ref> The new steel hull double-ended twin-screw ferry had a capacity for 35 cars and 200 passengers.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0342772#p104z-5r0f:ferry |page=Q15 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1949–50 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref>

A new landing at Woodward's Landing was built throughout 1952–53.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0348086#p8z-4r0f:ferry |pages=P38, P78 & P117 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1951–52 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0367823#p3z-7r0f:ferry |page=M43 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1953–54 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> In November 1952, the charter contract ceased and the province assumed operations.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0348651#p21z-5r0f:ferry |pages=O17, O38 & O91 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1952–53 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> A 24-hour service was instituted from 1954.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0348914#p26z-3r0f:ferry |page=K411 |title =Public Works Annual Report 1954–55 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> Scouring at the Ladner landing caused a collapse on the extension,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0349122#p6z-4r0f:ferry |page=N30 |title =Highways Annual Report 1955–56 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> and its relocation.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0354204#p4z-3r0f:ferry |pages=J19, J31 & J121 |title =Highways Annual Report 1956–57 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }}</ref> At peak times, the ferry could make five round trips in two hours.<ref>The Daily Colonist, 24 May 1959</ref> On the George Massey Tunnel opening, the ''Delta Princess'' made the final run on May 23, 1959.<ref name=" 23May09" /> Acquired by the Gulf Island Ferry Co.,<ref>The Daily Colonist: 14 & 30 Jun 1959</ref> it was later renamed MV ''Salt Spring Queen'' by BC Ferries.

==Patronage==

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="10" style="background:#ffdead;" | Patronage (1922–1947){{ref|Alpha|a}} (Double these numbers for single trips) |- ! Type !! Year !! Page !! Round Trips !! Motor Vehicles !! Horse- drawn rigs!! Passengers !! Freight (tons) !! Livestock !! Total Vehicles |- | rowspan=10|Sternwheeler steamer || 1922–23 || C40 || {{0}}1,895 || {{0}}24,037 || {{0}}570 || {{0}}{{0}}59,599 || {{0}}4,760 || {{0}}{{0}}1,341 || {{0}}24,607 |- | 1923–24 || L38 || {{0}}2,150 || {{0}}27,150 || {{0}}368 || {{0}}{{0}}65,427 || {{0}}4,685 || {{0}}{{0}}1,252 || {{0}}27,518 |- | 1924–25 || Q38 || {{0}}2,096 || {{0}}29,259 || {{0}}334 || {{0}}{{0}}64,643 || 12,030 || {{0}}{{0}}1,604 || {{0}}29,593 |- | 1925–26 || Q38 || {{0}}2,261 || {{0}}29,205 || {{0}}272 || {{0}}{{0}}62,918 || 11,061 || {{0}}{{0}}1,311 || {{0}}29,477 |- | 1926–27 || P46 || {{0}}2,272 || {{0}}25,830 || {{0}}{{0}}53 || {{0}}{{0}}53,105 || {{0}}5,177 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}730 || {{0}}25,883 |- | 1927–28 || U52 || {{0}}2,912 || {{0}}37,968 || {{0}}109 || {{0}}{{0}}79,142 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}976 || {{0}}38,077 |- | 1928–29 || S60 || {{0}}1,019 || {{0}}34,651 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}6 || {{0}}{{0}}74,151 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}908 || {{0}}34,657 |- | 1929–30 || T74 || {{0}}{{0}}no || {{0}}data || || || || || |- | 1930–31 || G50 || {{0}}3,060 || {{0}}39,615 || {{0}}{{0}}27 || {{0}}{{0}}79,092 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}{{0}}2 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}196 || {{0}}39,642 |- | 1931–32 || M40 || {{0}}5,923 || {{0}}52,338 || {{0}}{{0}}55 || {{0}}{{0}}90,338 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}296 || {{0}}52,393 |- | rowspan=15| Power ferry || 1932–33 || Q37 || {{0}}5,882 || {{0}}48,262 || {{0}}{{0}}66 || {{0}}{{0}}70,332 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}226 || {{0}}48,328 |- | 1933–34 || O33 || {{0}}6,298 || {{0}}47,095 || {{0}}{{0}}47 || {{0}}{{0}}72,222 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}271 || {{0}}47,142 |- | 1934–35 || T37 || {{0}}6,582 || {{0}}52,100 || {{0}}{{0}}55 || {{0}}{{0}}80,046 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}370 || {{0}}52,155 |- | 1935–36 || I44 || {{0}}6,264 || {{0}}53,642 || {{0}}{{0}}49 || {{0}}{{0}}77,259 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}260 || {{0}}53,691 |- | 1936–37 || X52 || {{0}}6,735 || {{0}}56,794 || {{0}}{{0}}27 || {{0}}{{0}}84,326 || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}{{0}}87 || {{0}}56,821 |- | 1937–38 || X55 || {{0}}7,373 || {{0}}61,723 || {{0}}{{0}}23 || {{0}}{{0}}88,259 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}21 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}607 || {{0}}61,746 |- | 1938–39 || Z56 || {{0}}6,981 || {{0}}63,105 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}4 || {{0}}{{0}}87,458 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,020 || {{0}}63,109 |- | 1939–40 || P56 || {{0}}6,611 || {{0}}63,644 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}1 || {{0}}{{0}}92,294 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,016 || {{0}}63,645 |- | 1940–41 || O47 || {{0}}8,732 || {{0}}70,325 || || {{0}}102,773 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,518 || {{0}}70,325 |- | 1941–42 || T52 || {{0}}9,207 || {{0}}87,173 || || {{0}}124,941 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}66 || {{0}}{{0}}1,478 || {{0}}87,173 |- | 1942–43 || O52 || {{0}}8,766 || {{0}}91,551 || || {{0}}146,585 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,637 || {{0}}91,551 |- | 1943–44 || Q52 || 10,037 || {{0}}78,406 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}1 || {{0}}132,323 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,503 || {{0}}78,407 |- | 1944–45 || O51 || {{0}}9,745 || {{0}}85,354 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}2 || {{0}}145,388 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}11 || {{0}}{{0}}1,298 || {{0}}85,356 |- | 1945–46 || Q58 || 10,728 || 110,198 || || {{0}}148,090 || || {{0}}{{0}}1,252 || 110,198 |- | 1946–47 || P47 || 10,911 || 127,059 || || {{0}}152,392 || {{0}}{{0}}135 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}894 || 127,059 |}

{{small|{{note|Alpha|a}}. Extracted from the respective Ministry of Public Works annual reports.}}

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="15" style="background:#ffdead;" | Patronage (1947–1960){{ref|Alpha|b}} (Double these numbers for single trips) |- ! Type !! Year !! Page !! Round Trips !! Passenger Autos !! Passengers (Drivers excluded) !! Trucks !! Trailers & Semis !! Buses !! Motor- cycles !! Horse- drawn rigs !! Freight (tons) !! Livestock !! Misc. Veh. !! Total Vehicles |- | rowspan=14| Power ferry || 1947–48 || N56 || 11,414 || {{0}}146,120 || {{0}}{{0}}199,762 || {{0}}26,920 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}990 || {{0}}3,522 || {{0}}2,108 || {{0}}3,610 || {{0}}1,318 || {{0}}{{0}}1,043 || || 183,270 |- | 1948–49 || O60 || 12,131 || {{0}}163,407 || {{0}}{{0}}197,563 || {{0}}26,437 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}982 || {{0}}3,055 || {{0}}2,188 || || {{0}}{{0}}227 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}689 || || 196,069 |- | 1949–50 || Q74 || 11,835 || {{0}}206,869 || {{0}}{{0}}243,675 || {{0}}29,059 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}968 || {{0}}2,519 || {{0}}1,631 || || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}303 || || 241,046 |- | 1950–51 || N77 || 11,474 || {{0}}280,460 || {{0}}{{0}}292,100 || {{0}}32,155 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}961 || {{0}}2,311 || {{0}}{{0}}980 || || || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}{{0}}58 || || 316,867 |- | 1951–52 || P83 || 11,870 || {{0}}259,924 || {{0}}{{0}}300,497 || {{0}}29,791 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}958 || {{0}}2,361 || {{0}}{{0}}809 || || || {{0|00000}}2 || || 293,843 |- | 1952–53 || O85 || 10,903 || {{0}}264,425 || {{0}}{{0}}288,448 || {{0}}26,989 || {{0}}{{0}}1,014 || {{0}}2,011 || {{0}}{{0}}523 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}{{0}}1 || || {{0|00000}}3 || || 294,963 |- | 1953–54 || M93 || 13,198 || {{0}}312,048 || {{0}}{{0}}335,539 || {{0}}25,918 || {{0}}{{0}}1,661 || {{0}}2,652 || {{0}}{{0}}669 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}{{0}}7 || || {{0|00000}}1 || || 342,955 |- | 1954–55 || K95 || 14,601 || {{0}}335,312 || {{0}}{{0}}353,541 || {{0}}25,011 || {{0}}{{0}}1,620 || {{0}}2,648 || {{0}}{{0}}613 || || || {{0|00000}}1 || || 365,204 |- | 1955–56 || N88 || 14,721 || {{0}}349,414 || {{0}}{{0}}350,757 || {{0}}23,557 || {{0}}{{0}}1,484 || {{0}}2,666 || {{0}}{{0}}881 || || || || || 378,002 |- | 1956–57 || J100 || 14,764 || {{0}}386,456 || {{0}}{{0}}389,901 || {{0}}29,512 || {{0}}{{0}}1,765 || {{0}}2,736 || {{0}}{{0}}867 || || || || || 421,336 |- | 1957–58 || G53 || 15,423 || {{0}}440,530 || {{0}}{{0}}437,938 || {{0}}38,550 || {{0}}{{0}}2,339 || {{0}}2,742 || {{0}}{{0}}591 || || || || || 484,752 |- | 1958–59 || G36 || 15,475 || {{0}}492,623 || {{0}}{{0}}459,071 || {{0}}39,525 || {{0}}{{0}}3,887 || {{0}}2,904 || {{0}}{{0}}935 || || || || || 539,874 |- | 1959–60 || F41 || {{0}}2,279 || {{0}}{{0}}74,017 || {{0}}{{0}}{{0}}63,184 || {{0}}{{0}}6,043 || {{0}}{{0}}964 || {{0}}{{0}}428 || {{0}}{{0}}140 || || || || || {{0}}81,592 |}

{{small|{{note|Alpha|b}}. Extracted from the respective Ministry of Public Works or Ministry of Highways annual reports. Although some figures appear suspect, the overall trend is clear.}}

== Footnotes == {{reflist}}

==References== * {{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/delttime |title =The Delta Times |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca }} * {{Cite web | url=http://britishcolonist.ca/advancedSearch.php |title =The Daily Colonist }}

{{Crossings navbox | structure = Crossings | place = Fraser River | bridge = Ladner Ferry | bridge signs = | upstream = George Massey Tunnel | upstream signs = | downstream = Westham Island Bridge | downstream signs = }}

{{Coord|49|07|03|N|123|05|12|W|region:CA_type:landmark|name=Ladner Ferry|display=title}}

Category:Ferries of British Columbia Category:Crossings of the Fraser River