Railworks America

Good Day! It has been announced, that SS Badger has had the rest of it's Sailing schedule cancelled due to damage to the ramp system. It was the Badger's 70th Season believe it or not, sailing between Michigan & Wisconsin, across Lake Michigan. The Badger is a "National Landmark" and the last coal fired ferry in operation on the Great Lakes. So in honor of the Badger, I thought I would post some photos, of her as a Youngster, & her sister ferries. Also the Railroad ferries that ran in the same Lake trade.

The Badger early in her career.



The Badger's sister ship, The "Spartan".



The Badger's older sister, the "City of Midland".



The Grand old Lady of the Chessie Fleet, the "City of Saginaw".



A Photo of the Badger & Spartan together at the end of their Chessie System days - Note: The B&O Geep, not a C&O Geep..



The Grand Trunk's ferry, the "City of Milwaukee".



Last but not least, the 2 Famous Ann Arbor ferries:

The "SS Arthur K Atkinson".



And of course the "Pride of the Straits of Mackinac" the "SS Cheif Wawatam"



I think they are glad now they did not surrender the Spartan to the cutting torch... Let's hope that she fixed over the winter, and gets back out for her "71st" Season. Mindenjohn - these are for you too.

Mindenjohn - these are for you too.

Great shots and yes, of great interest to me. On the other side of course were GBW at Kewaunee and CNW at Manitowoc. It's sad to see a great tradition and service drawing to a close, hopefully not yet the end.

mindenjohn wrote:Mindenjohn - these are for you too.

Great shots and yes, of great interest to me. On the other side of course were GBW at Kewaunee and CNW at Manitowoc. It's sad to see a great tradition and service drawing to a close, hopefully not yet the end.

If only someone would build a TSC route for GBW to Kewaunee...
(hint hint John)

Rail ferries and barges are almost forgotten appendages of the rail system. Here in Alaska there are several bring up supplies from ports in Washington and Oregon.
http://www.trainweb.org/ultradomes/features/bargeloading.html

My bride and I took this trip across to Michigan about twenty years ago on the Badger. Very interesting. We drove up around the top of the lake and back down the Wisconsin side back to Illinoistan after the ferry ride.