Canadian National Tug no. 6
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 CN Tug 6 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Owner | Canadian National Railway |
| Port of registry | Esquimalt |
| Route | Penticton to Kelowna |
| Builder | Yarrows Limited, Esquimalt, BC |
| Launched | 1948 |
| Maiden voyage | 1948 |
| Out of service | 1973 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Steam Tug |
| Tonnage | 158 GT |
| Length | 88 ft (27 m) |
| Depth | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
Canadian National Tug no. 6 was a diesel-powered tugboat owned and operated by the Canadian National Railway (CNR) company on Okanagan Lake, British Columbia. It was launched in 1948 and transferred railway barges between Penticton and Kelowna. It was retired in 1973, becoming the last of many tugboats to operate on Okanagan Lake. Tug 6 was moved to Penticton in 2007 to rest alongside the SS Naramata and SS Sicamous, two Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) steamboats, as part of the S.S. Sicamous Inland Marine Museum. The ships are currently being restored by the S.S. Sicamous Restoration Society.
After a long delay due to World War I,[1] the CNR finally reached Kelowna from Kamloops in September, 1925. This would prove to be one of the most important factors for the end of lake travel in the Okanagan,[2] as more fruit shipments would go through the railway in Kelowna than through the slower steamer route at Okanagan Landing.[1] Passenger service began February 1926[2] and service on the lake began with the launching of the propeller-driven motor vessel MV Pentowna in June. CNR had transfer slips in Peachland, Westbank, Penticton, and Kelowna, and shared with Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) in Summerland and Naramata.[1] The Pentowna transported passengers between Penticton and Kelowna, hence the name. She competed with Sicamous, but was converted to haul freight in 1937[2] due to her ungainly appearance and problems with vibrations.[3] CNR ended its barge service in 1973 due to the improvement of highways and other modes of transportation.
Construction
CN Tug no. 6 joined CNR's fleet in 1948. While it appears to have been built to meet service demands, some speculate that Tug 6 was launched because CPR, CNR's competitor, had launched the MV Okanagan the previous year.[3] It was built in 1948 by Yarrows Shipbuilders, Esquimalt, BC and registered in Esquimalt, B.C.[4][clarification needed] Tug 6 is all-steel, including the hull,[5] with an eight-cylinder, turbo-charged diesel engine. It has a single blade rudder and a nominal horsepower of 575. It is 88 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 10 feet, 6 inches deep with a gross tonnage of 158 tons. There are three double cabins and a storage room on board.