The John Hamilton Gray was launched in May 1965 in Sorel, Quebec and delivered to CN in October 1968. She was built to haul rail cars, road vehicles and passengers and usually ran across the Northumberland Strait between Cape Tormentine, NB and Borden, PEI.
Starting in 1972, the Gray was employed during the summer on the Cabot Strait between North Sydney, NS and Port aux Basques and Argentia, NL. This ended after the 1988 season.
During this time, her partner boat Abegweit handled the rail car traffic.
The Gray could carry 16 railway cars, or up to 18 tractor trailers, up to 165 cars, and 516 passengers.
John Hamilton Gray had the sad duty of hauling the last rail cars off Prince Edward Island on December 31, 1989.
These slides were taken in September 1980.
According to Wikipedia, John Hamilton Gray was sold in July 1997 after the opening of the Confederation Bridge. The Gray was purchased by a casino cruise company and was renamed to Contessa I. It operated in the Gulf of Mexico from 1998 to 2002. It was scrapped in India in 2004.
The photograph below was taken at Borden aboard the MV Vacationland, a passenger only ferry.
I can’t read the name of the ferry in the photograph below, but it must be MV Holiday Island if the photographer was aboard the Vacationland.
Here’s my own own photo of MV Holiday Island, below, from 2003.
Hi Steve –
Rode on all three going to and from NB to PEI or NS to NFLD – Winter crossings were usually longer especially through the ice – however always a friendly crew and good times enjpyed ! – The Confederation Bridge is nice to PEI now however it will never replace the ferries even if its quicker as you miss the scenery and the fun of a different way to travel !
Best regards –
Hi Richard, I guess you can still take the ferry to Pictou… we took it quite a few years ago, took the bridge onto the island and the ferry off. It is a different way to travel!