The Duchess of York, originally built in 1895 as a sidewheel steamer, had a rich history of serving various roles and undergoing several name changes throughout its existence. Constructed in Hull (Montreal), Quebec, the vessel was made of steel and was initially owned by the Ottawa River Navigation Company.
Equipped with a vertical beam engine, known as a walking beam, the Duchess of York featured a 34″ x 45″ engine with 180 horsepower and a speed of 20 revolutions per minute. The engine was manufactured by George Brush, repurposed from the steamship Prince of Wales (1860-1894). The vessel also had a single firebox boiler measuring 10′ x 14’8″, producing 45 pounds of steam, and built by W.C. White Co. in 1887. The Duchess of York had radial paddlewheels for propulsion.
With dimensions of 156.8′ in length, 25.3′ in beam, and 9.4′ in depth, the Duchess of York commenced its service in 1895, operating along the Montreal, Quebec, Carillon, and Point Fortune routes. It provided transportation for passengers in the region.
Over time, the ownership of the Duchess of York changed hands. In 1909, it came under the ownership of the Central Railway of Canada and continued its operations out of Montreal and Ottawa. In 1921 and 1922, feathering wheels from the steamship Caspian, which had been broken up in Sorel, were installed on the Duchess of York.
In 1925, the vessel was renamed Sorel, reflecting its connection to the location where it received the feathering wheels. Two years later, in 1927, it was again renamed Pelerin and started offering weekly excursions between Hamilton, Ontario, and Montreal. The Duchess of York changed owners once more in 1930, becoming the property of Quebec & St. Lawrence Navigation Co. Ltd., based in Quebec City. Under its new ownership, the vessel was renamed Beloeil in 1935.
In 1938, the Duchess of York underwent a significant transformation. It was rebuilt as a barge and acquired by Sauvageau Brothers in Three Rivers, Quebec, to transport pulpwood. However, on February 12, 1945, the Duchess of York met its final fate when it sank, leading to its removal from the registry.
The history of the Duchess of York highlights its service as a passenger boat, its name changes, and its eventual conversion into a pulpwood barge before its unfortunate demise.
