Those Beautiful Coastal Liners : The Canadian Pacific's Princesses

The Princesses were the finest coastal liners on the Pacific coast. They broke all the intercity speed records between Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle and established an enduring reputation for elegance and beauty that remained unmatched for over sixty years. Their names became legends along the coast and they were the best and often the only way to travel along the British Columbia Coast. The Princess Victoria, Princess Kathleen, and the lovely Princess Marguerite, the last of the coastal liners, are just a few of the beautiful steamships remembered in this all-new volume. This story spans the scenic Pacific coast from Seattle to Skagway. It passes remote coastal communities and logging camps along the famous Inside Passage known to thousands of cruise ship passengers today. Turner's meticulously researched text explores the history, special features and adventures of the Princesses. Recollections of passengers and crew members combined with new historical insights paint an intriguing and affectionate portrait of these beautiful vessels. Included are profiles of Captain James Troup, the renowned steamship designer and head of the service; details of the development of the Victoria terminals, including the work of legendary architect Francis W. Rattenbury; the beginning of the Alaska cruise service; the tragic loss of the Princess Sophia; the log of the Princess Maquinna; the CPR resort at Newcastle Island; the wartime adventures of the Princess Kathleen as a fast transport ship in the Mediterranean; and many other stories from the Canadian Pacific's premier service. This large-format book features a stunning gallery of vintage photographs, many previously unpublished. Rare and beautiful images from the 1940s and 1950s are carefully reproduced, capturing an era seldom seen in full colour. Vintage advertising, artwork, menus, schedules, maps, and other period reproductions bring to life travel in the golden age of the coastal steamships.