Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel tug Rapide des Coeurs [C.188897] registered at Montreal. Built at Owen Sound in 1944. 34'; 10 g.t. Canadian List of Ships 1997: Owned by Compagnie Du Flottage Du St. Maurice Ltee., Trois Rivieres, Qu�bec. Transport Canada List 2003: Renamed OC 34 Owned by Le Groupe Ocean Inc., Qu�bec City.
Here is a 4.5 minute silent video of the St. Maurice River jammed with timber in Qu�bec, Canada. At 1:50, we see Russel boats ploughing through, and shoving timber over the dam at Rapide Blanc. There is a thrilling bow point of view as the tugs near the top of the chute! 4:23, wmv.
WMV source: British Pathe PLC https://www.britishpathe.com/video/st-maurice-river-jammed-with-timber-aka-log-jam youtube clip
Yves Cloutier notes: The Henry Sorgius and the Rapide-Blanc operated on the La Trenche Reservoir.
The Amisk, the La Trenche, The Flamand, The Coucoucache and The Rapide-des-Coeurs were on
the Rapide-Blanc reservoir. There is only 14 mile road between Rapide-Blanc and La Trenche.
The Life of the Rapide des Coeurs on the St-Maurice River Notes by Yves Cloutier, photos from Rejean Boisvert
The Rapide des Coeurs with it's first cabin in 1948. The Coucoucache is behind, both tugs were converted and remotorised at the same time in 1952 and in the late 70's.
CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS:
From the Archives of the CN...
1952, after a new cabin, engine (4 cylinder Cummins) and transmission were installed by my father Roger Cloutier.
Last picture, the Rapide des Coeurs with new windows, and a noisy but compact Cummins V8. Seen here cleaning the River at Shawinigan. When the V8 was installed, the boat got the nickname "Le ravageur du St-Maurice". The V8 Sound was very different from the 6 of all the other boats in service on the Rapide-Blanc Reservoir. Rapide des Coeurs was a bit shorter and less stable than the other boats based at Rapide-Blanc. She spent 44 years on the reservoir. After being remotorised the boat was often moved where it's services were needed and was used at Grande Piles and Shawinigan.
Rapide des Coeurs last moment on the St-Maurice on Oct 21, 1998 after 64 years of service on the River. I think the STMRD had it's money's worth with this one and the Coucoucache. Still pulling itself on the flatbed truck . Destination Qu�bec the new and current owner, Le Groupe Oc�an. Notice the hull...no more logs to keep it clean!
The boat shown in the stills and video here looks very similar to the Rapide Des Coeurs before the cabin change in 1952. It appears at 5:08 to 5:42 in the video, with about 12 guys on deck. Note the three windows and the low cabin. However, John Pomeroy points out that the side windows seem to be larger on the Rapides Des Coeurs compared with our video mystery ship. The RDC was a St. Maurice boat (originally delivered to the Compagnie Du Flottage Du St. Maurice Ltee., Trois Rivieres, in 1944) and this documentary is supposed to be on Ottawa river logging c. 1965.
Rapide-des-Coeurs and Rapide Blanc, still working together 55 years after the arrival of Rapide-Blanc along with Henry Sorgius and La Trenche sister ships at Rapide-Blanc in 1951. Now working on repair works on the St-Laurence River. Shot in Montr�al 16 July 2006 at le Pont de l'ile Charon.
YC notes: "The OC 34 (Rapide des Coeurs) freshly painted, very well maintained by Le Groupe Ocean." Qu�bec City, Aug.10, 2007. Photo courtesy Yves Cloutier.
YC notes: "The famous Rapide-des-Coeurs, where a dam is being built, the picture was taken on the Hydro Qu�bec site. The Rapid is located a couple of miles from Windigo (top right of the picture) and will be history by next year!"
From Mac Mackay's excellent Tugfax blog about Halifax boats WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011 source: http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2011/07/russel-tugs-do-they-last-forever.html Russel tugs - do they last forever? OC 34 ex Rapide des Coeurs was originally built in 1934, but extensively rebuilt in 2002. It is shown at Groupe Oc�an's maintenance yard in Quebec City.
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