The S.S. Shasta

S.S. Shasta: Ghost of the Portland Riverfront

S.S. SHASTA
Official Number: 222598 Radio call letters: WH6754 Built: San Francisco, CA, 1922. Length: 216' 7" Beam: 63' 8"" Draft: 12' Auto Deck Clearance: 11' 5" Speed: 13 knots Horsepower: 1200 Propulsion: Steam Autos: 55 Passengers: 468 Gross Tonnage: 919
Name Translation: Shasta is taken from the mountain of the same name in northern California.
Drawings courtesy of Johan Iversen.

The Shasta departs Seattle in the 1940's, leaving her trademark trail of black smoke. Photo Courtesy of Tom Sansilo.

    The Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard was in the middle of building the steam-powered ferries Shasta, Yosemite and San Mateo for the Six Minute Ferry Company in 1922 when the ferry line abruptly went bankrupt. Southern Pacific Railway purchased the ferries and put them to work for their well-established ferry service across San Francisco Bay. The ferries worked until 1939 when the bridges killed the business.
     Coming up to Puget Sound for PSN in 1941 were the sisters Shasta and San Mateo The Yosemite had been purchased by a South American company and taken to Argentina.
     The Shasta went to work on various routes on the Sound: 1945 had her on the Seattle-Manchester route, then the Winslow-Seattle run alongside the Kehloken starting in 1946 and through 1947. Summer of 1950 she was the spare boat on the Bremerton run.
     After the State took over ferry operations, she again saw limited service, working alongside her sister on the Vashon run between 1952-54. She went into lay-up from September of 1954 until May of 1957. In 1957 she was called into service for the summer season, working the Kingston route with the Nisqually.
     Unfortunately for the Shasta, she had a rather bad habit of leaving a long trail of jet black smoke behind her. Even in 1958 this wasn't environmentally acceptable, and she was retired after the 1958 summer season. With the new Klahowya and Tillikum in service, the Shasta was no longer needed.
      She was sold and breifly worked for a time running up and down the Columbia River as the Centennial Queen, celebrating the State of Oregon's 100th year as a statehood. Before long though, her new owner couldn't make any money and sold her. She changed owners was converted into a restaurant. She has enjoyed relative success as the River Queen was moored along the banks of the river in downtown Portland.for decades.
       However, she was left in a bit of disrepair and the restaurant closed in 1995. On the register for historical vessels/landmarks, the Shasta was moved to St. Helens Oregon. At last report she was for sale and looking for someone to redevelop her.
     Moored today in Goble Oregon, several efforts to generate interest in her have failed to attract any wide support. While in much better shape than her sister, it is likely the Shasta will be scrapped in the coming years as well.

A change of livery did not do much to qwell the cloud of smoke drifting from the Shasta's stack when Joe Williamson snapped this photo in the 1950's. Negative held by PSMHS/MOHAI, this print is from the author's collection. It bears the "Williamson Photo" stamp--'If it floats, we'll photograph it."

For a few years, the Shasta operated under he own power as the Cent ennia Queen. She is about to pass under the Burnisde Bridge in mid-Portland. Author's collection.

History showing through: as the paint on her smokestack peels off, the persistent WSF green starts to peek through. Author's photo.

The Shasta has spent Much of her career as the "River Queen" restaurant on the Portland waterfront. Author's collection. At right, T-B: A touch of elegance: the Shasta's stained glass clearstory windows. The maining passenger cabin/ dining room. Banquent hall on the former car deck. Courtesy of Robert Stevens.

Above, the Shasta as she appeared in Goble Oregon in 2009 Alterations to her included the closing in of the front end of the vessel and removal of the top part of her engines. Author's photo.

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RETIRED FERRIES

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So where is Goble, Oregon?

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The Historic Goble Tavern
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The empty interior of the ferry. These photos were taken during an authorized tour of the boat by the late Robert Stevens.