SS Princess Helene

SS Princess Helene

SS Princess Helene was launched in Scotland in 1930, custom designed for the Bay of Fundy connection between the CPR's eastern mainline terminus at Saint John and the Dominion Atlantic's wharf at Digby. She replaced the older steamer SS Empress. Princess Helene could carry 500 psengers and 50 automobiles. As a connection in the CPR's world spanning network of trains and ocean liners, the Princess Helene was outfitted in the style of a large ocean liner with a luxurious and beautiful interior which exceeded the usual standards of regional ferries. Each time she passed the DAR's Digby Pines Hotel, bellboys would dip the hotel's flag in salute. While never a rail ferry, she used a special system of railcar pallets to speed train to ship loading as freight preloaded on pallets designed to fit in CPR and DAR express cars. Special elevators at Saint John and Digby coped with the huge rise and fall of the Bay of Fundy tides. Digby trains backed down the wharf to await her arrival at the large wharf which was rebuilt for her arrival in 1930.

Princess Helene was replaced April 27, 1963 by the Princess of Acadia, formerly the wet coast Princess of Nanaimo, a more modern and higher capacit vessel for automobile and truck traffic but one that lacked her predecessor's grand ocean liner charm. Princess Helene was sold to to Greek buyers and renamed Carina.

External Links

[Category:Vessels]