July 31, 2009 the Albion Ferry, which linked the Maple Ridge real estate neighborhood of Albion to Fort Langley sailed down the Fraser River for the last time and into history. The Albion Ferry sailed the mighty Fraser for a little over 50 years, starting in June of 1957. On this day the parking lot is empty, a far cry from the multi-sailing waits that were reported on radio traffic report on a hourly basis.
The remaining boat is tied up awaiting it's next assignment, certain to have a more useful fate then the Fast-Cats tied up in North Vancouver. These ferries did some serious work! Annual traffic at the end was 1.5 million vehicles and 4.0 million passengers a year. All made redundant by the new Golden Ears Toll Bridge which should facilitate in the order of 9 million plus trips a year in it's first year alone.
As a child I can remember my Father taking me across the to Fort Langley in his old VW Notchback Station wagon to visit my Uncle who lived in Glen Valley, in those days there was a 25 cent toll! This would have been in the very late 60's or early 70's, forgive my blurriness, I wasn't very old. It seems our area has always been discriminated upon by the rest of the region.
On a nice day, getting out of the car and standing by the railing enjoying the 10 minutes to cross was a very pleasurable thing, a real de-stresser. Many children's only ever nautical experience, but like so many things in this world, could not be saved from Progress.
Good bye Albion Ferry, I will remember you fondly. You did the job that needed to be done, I hope your final days are spent serving some beautiful Gulf Island...now where the heck is my Transponder for that new bridge?
your Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Langley, River Springs and surrounding areas Realtor
As a regular ferry commuter, to one of those Gulf Islands "retirement" choices, I look forward to finally riding the Albion.
LOL I bet you do Li!