Edmonds-Kingston Ferry
 Walla Walla approaching Edmonds ferry terminal | |
| Waterway | Puget Sound |
|---|---|
| Route | Edmonds – Kingston, Washington |
| Authority | Washington State Ferries (1951-present). |
| Travel time | 30 minutes (2011) |
| Connections at Edmonds | |
 |
 SR 104 SR 524 |
| Connections at Kingston | |
|
SR104 |
The Edmonds-Kingston ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between Edmonds and Kingston, Washington. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States. The last regularly operated steam ferry on the West Coast of the United States made its final run on this route in 1969.
Description
The route mostly takes place in the Puget Sound. In general, it takes 30 minutes to go from one terminal to another.
History
After 1951, the main ferry on the route was the Nisqually (capacity: 616 passengers; 59 automobiles), with the steam ferry Shasta operating as a reserve boat. Other ferries used on the route were the Klahanie, the steam ferry San Mateo, and the Evergreen-class motor ferry Evergreen State (capacity: 981 passengers, 87 autos).[1]
In 1968 the Evergreen-class ferry Tillikum (capacity: 1,200 passengers, 87 autos) was assigned as the regular boat on the route. On Labor Day 1969, the San Mateo became the last steam ferry on the West Coast of the United States to run a regular route.[1]
By the early 1970s, the relief vessels on the run included Illahee and Quinault. Another vessel sometimes used on extra summer runs in the early 1970s was the Kehloken.[1]
Terminals
This ferry route has terminals at Edmonds and at Kingston, Washington. Both terminals have overhead loading. The Edmonds terminal has one regular slip and the Kingston slip has two regular slips and a tie up slip, plus a passenger-only dock for the defunct soundrunner service to Seattle. In the early 1970s, the terminal at Kingston held an extra slip for a spare boat, which was used on extra runs or when the regular vessel was not operating on the route.[1]
Current status
The two regular vessels on the route are the Jumbo Mark II Puyallup and Jumbo class Spokane. However, when the Puyallup needs to undergo maintenance or go serve the Seattle-Bainbridge Island run while either the Tacoma or Wenatchee undergo maintenance, the Walla Walla will replace the Puyallup. The Walla Walla also replaces the Spokane when she goes into maintenance.
See also
- Washington State Ferries
- Ferries in Washington State
Notes
References
- Demoro, Harre, The Evergreen Fleet – A Pictoral History of Washington State Ferries, Golden West Books, San Marino CA (1971) ISBN 87095-037-1
- Kline, Mary S., and Bayless, G.A., Ferryboats -- A Legend on Puget Sound, Bayless Books, Seattle, WA (1983) ISBN 0-914515-00-4
- Newell, Gordon, R., ed., H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA (1966)