Big Bar Ferry
Encyclopedia
Big Bar Ferry is a cable ferry
across the Fraser River
in British Columbia
, Canada
. It is located about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) north of the town of Lillooet
and 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) west of Clinton
. 6 km upstream from the ferry is French Bar Canyon
(sometimes known as Big Bar Canyon), while downstream is High Bar Canyon (the ferry is located at one of the few places possible for a river crossing accessible by road from both sides in this area).
The ferry connects the dirt ranch road up the west side of the Fraser from Lillooet to Big Bar and Kostering, which connect via road to Jesmond and Big Bar Lake, and beyond to BC Highway 97.
Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry
, which is propelled by the current
of the water. An overhead cable
is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of the river, and a "traveller" is installed on the cable. The ferry is attached to the traveller by a bridle cable. To operate the ferry, rudders are used to ensure that the pontoons are angled into the current, causing the force of the current to move the ferry across the river.
The ferry operates under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
, is free of tolls, and runs on demand between 0700 and 1900. It carries a maximum of 2 cars and 12 passengers at a time. The crossing is about 150 metres (492.1 ft) in length, and takes 10 minutes. At times of low water, or ice in the river, the ferry is replaced by an aerial tramway
that carries passengers only.
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
across the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) north of the town of Lillooet
Lillooet, British Columbia
Lillooet is a community on the Fraser River in western Canada, about up the British Columbia Railway line from Vancouver. Situated at an intersection of deep gorges in the lee of the Coast Mountains, it has a dry climate- of precipitation is recorded annually at the town's weather station,...
and 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) west of Clinton
Clinton, British Columbia
Clinton is a village in British Columbia, Canada, located approximately 40 km northwest of Cache Creek and 30 km south of 70 Mile House.It is considered by some to straddle the southern edge of the Cariboo country of British Columbia, although others consider Ashcroft-Cache Creek, Lillooet, Savona,...
. 6 km upstream from the ferry is French Bar Canyon
French Bar Canyon
French Bar Canyon is a canyon on the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada, near Big Bar and Jesmond, about 60 km upstream from Lillooet.-References:*...
(sometimes known as Big Bar Canyon), while downstream is High Bar Canyon (the ferry is located at one of the few places possible for a river crossing accessible by road from both sides in this area).
The ferry connects the dirt ranch road up the west side of the Fraser from Lillooet to Big Bar and Kostering, which connect via road to Jesmond and Big Bar Lake, and beyond to BC Highway 97.
Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry
Reaction ferry
A reaction ferry is a cable ferry that uses the reaction of the current of a river against a fixed tether to propel the vessel across the river...
, which is propelled by the current
Current (stream)
A current, in a river or stream, is the flow of water influenced by gravity as the water moves downhill to reduce its potential energy. The current varies spatially as well as temporally within the stream, dependent upon the flow volume of water, stream gradient, and channel geometrics...
of the water. An overhead cable
Wire rope
thumb|Steel wire rope Wire rope is a type of rope which consists of several strands of metal wire laid into a helix. Initially wrought iron wires were used, but today steel is the main material used for wire ropes....
is suspended from towers anchored on either bank of the river, and a "traveller" is installed on the cable. The ferry is attached to the traveller by a bridle cable. To operate the ferry, rudders are used to ensure that the pontoons are angled into the current, causing the force of the current to move the ferry across the river.
The ferry operates under contract to the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the British Columbia government ministry responsible for transport infrastructure and law in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
, is free of tolls, and runs on demand between 0700 and 1900. It carries a maximum of 2 cars and 12 passengers at a time. The crossing is about 150 metres (492.1 ft) in length, and takes 10 minutes. At times of low water, or ice in the river, the ferry is replaced by an aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
that carries passengers only.