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VIDEO: Here's what the abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry looks like today

For some time now, the Queen of Sidney has called Mission home, floating in Silverdale's ship graveyard. Built in 1960, it was one of the two first BC Ferries vessels.
Lindsay William-Ross
Lindsay William-Ross

Ever wondered what happens to old BC Ferries vessels when they're taken out of service? Sadly, sometimes it's not pretty, as they're left to rot out on our waterways.

The Queen of Sidney was one of a duo of Sidney class ferries built in B.C. and launched in 1960, for BC Ferries' original fleet. The Queen of Sidney was actually made in Victoria, and was retired in November 2000.

Jim from Kitimat, BC, Canada - Queen of Sidney entering Westview Terminal - late Aug. 1993 via WikipediaJim from Kitimat, BC, Canada – Queen of Sidney entering Westview Terminal [Powell River] – late Aug. 1993 [JST photo ©] via Wikipedia

The vessel's sibling ship, the Queen of Tsawwassen, was built at the same time, though the Sidney was built in Victoria and the Tsawwassen at the Burrard Dry Dock. Both ferries held just under 1000 passengers, and had capacity for 138 cars. The Queen of Tsawwassen, however, remained in service until 2008, having served BC Ferries for an impressive 48 years until she finally was too run down to keep going anymore.

For some time now, the Queen of Sidney has called Mission home, floating in Silverdale's ship graveyard. Next to it is an even older water-going relic, the Steam Ferry San Mateo, built in 1922. Over the last few years, rising waters in the Fraser have elevated concerns that the Queen of Sidney and other "abandoned" ferries and ships could potentially break free of their moorings.

Rotting out on the river wasn't exactly what was expected of the Queen of Sidney. "BC Ferries sold it in 2001 to a buyer who said he’d use it as a floating logging camp. Instead, it sat on the Fraser, and was continually raided by thieves," notes the Overland Squad site, which toured the vessel in 2014, with the permission of the owner.

The Queen of Sidney has had a pretty illustrious second life as a set for film and TV, for productions where the plot veers towards the eerie or creepy, thanks to its pretty decrepit state. The spot has been used in the movies "Sea Beast" (2008), "Damage" (2009), "The Marine 3: Homefront" (2013), as well as in the TV shows "Canadian Pickers," "Mech-X4," "Supernatural," and "The X-Files."

This video shows what the Queen of Sidney looks like right now: