CN Tug 6 Restoration Progress

Tug Boat Number 6

CN Tug Freshly painted (2016)

CN Tug Freshly painted (2016)

Canadian National Tug Boat No. 6 is a diesel powered tug boat. It was operated by Canadian National Railways Company on Okanagan Lake. The tug was launched in 1948 and transferred railway barges between Penticton and Kelowna. Tug Boat No. 6 was the last tug boat to operate on Okanagan Lake, and its retirement in 1973, marked the end of an era in the valley. The Tug was moved to Penticton in 2007, to rest alongside the Stern Wheeler S.S. Sicamous, and the Tug Boat S.S. Naramata.

Canadian National No. 6 is now in the care of the SS Sicamous Society. Volunteers are out on the tug every week during the summer, working in the engine room. The generators are now repaired, and are able to provide electricity throughout the tug. The next project is repairing the main diesel engine.

Tug #6 Generator Running for the First Time March 2015

On Mar 17, 2015 Volunteers succeeded in running the generator on the old diesel powered tug boat! This video shows the generator running, with a glimpse of the workings of the engine room!

 

Progress on Tug Boat Number 6:

  • Repainting the Exterior of the Tug, to return it to its original colours. completed 2015

  • Construction of a floating dock to allow easy access for the Volunteer Crew. completed 2020

  • Winterizing and Re-Opening the tug each spring. ongoing

  • Cleaning the interior cabins. ongoing

  • Cataloguing the collections, and moving them the Stern Wheeler SS Sicamous for safekeeping. ongoing

  • Repairing the Engines so that electricity can be generated for the lights. ongoing

  • Working to Repair the Primary Engine. ongoing

CN Tug 6 Before Restoration:

  • Tug Boat number 6 prior to restoration. Windows are smashed and the tug is in a sorry state.

  • Volunteers start construction of a floating dock, to allow easy access to the Tug

    (Left to Right: Matt Verboeket, Jim Cooper and Adolf Steffen)

  • Floating Wharf is almost ready

  • Attaching the Wharf

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CN Tug # 6 - 2015 (51).JPG
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Volunteers De-Winterizing Tug 6 - March 2017 (5).JPG
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Tug 6 - Paul in engine room - volunteer SS Sicamous Society.JPG
Tug 6 - Dan looks on as plates are lifted - volunteer SS Sicamous Society Penticton - Nov 2015.JPG
Views from the Engine Room of CN Tug 6 - November 2015 (2).JPG
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Views from the Engine Room of CN Tug 6 - November 2015 (36).JPG

A visitor and the addition of a generator!

  • An Old Crew Member comes to visit.

  • Moving the repaired generator onto tug 6 by helicopter!

  • Moving the repaired generator onto tug 6 by helicopter!.

Before & After

Before the restoration started.

 
 

After the new paint job and restoration started.

The Tug 6 Volunteer Crew

  • Tom Dunn

  • Raymond Belanger

  • Doug Callahan

  • Alex Carolo

  • Dave Morgenstern

  • Paul O’Neill

  • Don Reid

  • Dan Reilly

  • Adolf Steffen

Previous

Opening the SS Naramata as a Public Museum
Next

Winterizing the Dredge Shed