Kulshan (steamship)

Last updated
Kulshan steamship circa 1912.jpeg
Kulshan grand celebration excursion 1910.jpg
Above : Kulshan circa 1912.
below : Advertisement for Kulshan
History
NameKulshan
Owner Puget Sound Navigation Co.
Route Seattle-Bellingham
Builder The Moran Company
In service1910
Out of service1929
IdentificationUS registry #207780; flag signal LBPT
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Typeinland steamboat
Tonnage926 gross; 573 regist.
Length160.3 ft (48.86 m)
Beam32 ft (9.75 m)
Depth20.7 ft (6.31 m) depth of hold
Deckstwo (2)
Installed powertriple expansion compound steam engine; cylinders 17 in (43.2 cm) 28 in (71.1 cm)and 47.5 in (120.7 cm); stroke 36 in (91.4 cm)1,100 hp (820 kW)
Speedsustained (4 hours): 14.3 knots

Kulshan was a steamship which operated on Puget Sound from 1910 until 1929. When built, Kulshan was one of a newer type of inland steamships constructed entirely of steel, and was then considered one of the finest vessels ever to operate on Puget Sound.

Contents

Nomenclature

"Kulshan" was one of the names of Mount Baker in the Lummi language. [1]

Design and construction

Kulshan was built at the Moran Company shipyard in Seattle, Washington and was intended for the Seattle-Bellingham service of the Puget Sound Navigation Company. Built entirely of steel, Kulshan was rated at 926 tons, with dimensions of 160.3 ft (48.86 m) long, 32 ft (9.75 m) beam, and 20.7 ft (6.31 m) depth of hold. [2]

The powerplant was a triple expansion compound steam engine with cylinder bores, from high pressure to low, of 17 in (43.2 cm), 28 in (71.1 cm) and 47.5 in (120.7 cm); stroke was 36 in (91.4 cm) on all cylinders. Two oil-fired boilers generated steam at 225 pounds pressure, developing 1,100 horsepower (820 kW) from the engine. The vessel's specifications required a sustained speed of 13 knots. Kulshan trials easily exceeded the contract speed, averaging 14.32 knots over a four-hour continuous steaming trial. [2] Much of the steel for the construction of the vessel was produced at the Irondale mill near Port Townsend, Washington.

Operations

From 1910 to 1929, Kulshan was assigned to the Seattle-Bellingham route, which also included calls at Everett and Anacortes from 1910 to 1929, replacing the old side-wheeler George E. Starr. Kulshan was initially under the command of Capt. John "Red Jack" Ellsmore (1859-1931), who had previously commanded the sternwheeler State of Washington for 13 years, and was to command Kulshan for another 16 years. Another well-known captain of Kulshan was Henry Carter (1858-1930).

Disposition

After 1929, increasing highway travel meant Kulshan could not be profitably worked, and was taken off the Seattle-Bellingham run. The steamship Sol Duc replaced Kulshan, but only as a night freighter. [3] Unlike some other steel inland steamships, Kulshan was not suitable for conversion into a ferry. [4] The popular and widely experienced Capt. Colin M. "Big Mac" McLennan (1894-1953) was in command of Kulshan on the vessel's last trip into lay up. Kulshan was laid up until 1938, when Puget Sound Navigation sold the steamship to Seattle Iron and Metals Corporation which later scrapped the vessel. [2]

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Mt. Baker Foothills Chain of Trails Concept Plan" (PDF). Mt. Baker Foothills Economic Development Association, Whatcom Council of Governments, Port of Bellingham, Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department. December 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-09.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 Newell, ed., McCurdy Marine History, at 172, 184, 406, 414, 466, and 593.
  3. ↑ Kline and Bayless, Ferryboats – A Legend on Puget Sound, at 60.
  4. ↑ http://www.evergreenfleet.com/steamerkulshan.html The Evergreen Fleet (Kulsan).

Related Research Articles

<i>Monticello</i> (steamboat)

The steamboat Monticello (2) operated in the early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. The vessel went through several reconstructions and remained in service until 1962, when she was lost in Alaska waters. Her later names were Penaco and Sea Venture. (This Puget Sound steamer should not be confused with the smaller Monticello, which also ran on Puget Sound, but was built in 1895 for Captain Z.J. Hatch of the Monticello Steamship Company.

<i>George E. Starr</i>

The steamboat George E. Starr operated in late 19th century as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet and also operated out of Victoria, B.C. Geo. E. Starr also served for a time in California and on the Columbia River.

<i>Rosalie</i> (steamship)

The steamboat Rosalie operated from 1893 to 1918 as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, also operating out of Victoria, B.C. In 1898, Rosalie went north with many other Puget Sound steamboats to join the Klondike Gold Rush.

<i>Flyer</i> (steamboat)

Flyer was an American steamboat that served from 1891 to 1929 on Puget Sound. From 1918 until the end of her service, she was officially known as the Washington. The Flyer ran for millions of miles at high speed, more than any inland vessel in the world. This 1891 steamer Flyer should not be confused with the steamboat Flyer built on Lake Coeur d'Alene in 1905, although the Coeur d'Alene vessel was inspired both in design and name by the success of the Puget Sound ship.

<i>Tacoma</i> (steamship)

Tacoma was a steamship that served from 1913 to 1938 on Puget Sound. Built of steel, Tacoma was known for being one of the fastest and best-designed vessels to operate on Puget Sound. Tacoma was particularly noted for high-speed service from 1913 to 1930 on the route between Tacoma and Seattle.

<i>Verona</i> (steamship)

The steamship Verona was a small steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet.

<i>Hyak</i> (1909 steamboat) Wooden-hulled steamship, operated on Puget Sound

Hyak was a wooden-hulled steamship that operated on Puget Sound from 1909 to 1941. This vessel should not be confused with the sternwheeler Hyak which ran on the extreme upper reach of the Columbia River at about the same time. The name means "swift" or "fast" in the Chinook Jargon.

<i>Lady of the Lake</i> (1897 steamboat)

Lady of the Lake was a wooden steamboat that operated on Puget Sound from 1897 to 1903. Following a fire in 1903, the vessel was rebuilt as the tug Ruth.

<i>Florence K</i> (steamboat) American steamboat built in 1903

Florence K was a steamboat that was operated on Puget Sound from 1903. This vessel was later renamed Gloria and was rebuilt as a steam ferry and renamed Beeline.

Inland Flyer

Inland Flyer was a passenger steamboat that ran on Puget Sound from 1898 to 1916. From 1910 to 1916 this vessel was known as the Mohawk. The vessel is notable as the first steamer on Puget Sound to use oil fuel. Inland Flyer was one of the most famous vessels of the time on Puget Sound.

<i>General Miles</i>

General Miles was a steamship constructed in 1882 which served in various coastal areas of the states of Oregon and Washington, as well as British Columbia and the territory of Alaska. It was apparently named after US General Nelson A. Miles.

<i>City of Mukilteo</i> (steam ferry)

City of Mukilteo was a steam ferry built in 1927 which served on Puget Sound until April 1932, when the ferry was destroyed by fire.

<i>City of Clinton</i> (steam ferry)

City of Clinton was a small steam ferry built in 1922 which served on Puget Sound until March 23, 1929, when the vessel caught fire and sank near the city of Mukilteo, Washington, USA.

<i>Sol Duc</i> (steamship)

Sol Duc was a steamship which was operated on northern Puget Sound from 1912 to 1935, chiefly on a route connecting ports on the Olympic Peninsula with Seattle. During the Second World War (1941–1945) Sol Duc served as a barracks ship.

<i>Sioux</i> (steamship)

Sioux was a steamship which was operated on Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from 1912 to 1941. From 1924 to 1941, following reconstruction, the vessel operated as an auto ferry under the name Olympic. During the Second World War (1941-1945) this vessel was taken under the control of the U.S. Army and renamed the Franklin R. Leisenburg. The Liesenburg served as a ferry in the Panama Canal area under Army control, and then was sold to a firm which ran the vessel on the Surinam river in South America.

<i>Camano</i> (steamboat)

Camano was a steamboat built in 1906 at Coupeville, Washington which operated on Puget Sound from 1906 to 1917. Camano was later known as Tolo. As Tolo the vessel was sunk in 1917 as a result of a collision at sea. Four people died as a result.

<i>Alverene</i>

Alverene was a gasoline launch built in 1912 which operated on northern Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands.

<i>Atlanta</i> (1908 steamboat)

Atlanta was a steamboat built in 1908 at Houghton, Washington which served on Lake Washington and Puget Sound until 1938, when it was converted into a diesel-powered houseboat.

<i>Speeder</i> (motor vessel) Motor launched which was formally named Bainbridge

Speeder was a motor launch built in 1908 which served on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. From 1908 to 1922 this vessel was named Bainbridge.

<i>Acme</i> (steamboat)

The steamboat Acme operated on Lake Washington and also on the Sammamish Slough to Bothell, Washington from 1899 to 1910, when it was destroyed by fire.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.