Live from Marquette, MI. I just happened to see a ship approaching the LS&I ore dock tonight (July 5) so went and got some photos. Here's the ship approaching.
I realized it was going to dock on the West (other) side, so drove over and parked next to the LS&I equipment on display. First, more views of the ship.
Wouldn't one of these be a great O-gauge model?
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Nearby is a plaque explaining the dock's history and operating statistics. also, a nice set of LS&I equipment.
All photos taken with what I had, my cell phone. I may go back tomorrow in daylight with a real camera and see if ship is still there.
Photos then about 9 PM, but dusk lasts a long time in summer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Interesting pictures thank you for sharing. I believe the U25C, less prime mover, is the only one left.
Interesting. You got me wondering, what is the current extent of iron ore mining and shipping around the Great Lakes. Found this info but it's at least 20 years old:
http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogm...n_ore__taconite.html
And some interesting information about Lake Freighters, which have unique characteristics as compared to "Salties".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_freighter
Then I got diverted into the whole story and analysis of the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster in 1975 ...
Ace et al,
Here's some recent footage from "Delayed In Block" whose offerings are uniformly worthwhile - this is terrific:
I live here right near Marquette. Yes the ore docks are cool. The kids and wife and I have lunch at Presque Isle park and watch them once in a while. Watching the trains drop their loads from the top is interesting too.
The iron mine's life is iffy. Not only due to depleting deposits, but also very threatened by imported steel. Of the 2 big mines in the area, 1 will be closing this fall. 400 people gone. It's sister mine is expected to stay running for another 20 years, perhaps longer. There are many more deposits yet though and always talk of new mines. My brother is a mechanic there and my father retired from there as well.
Bill, if your here for awhile yet, go to Houghton and up to Copper Harbor. Lots of mining and railroad history up there and excellent scenery. Several mine tours that are cool. Also the strawberry festival this weekend. We went up there yesterday and picked 24 quarts.
Matt
Thanks, Matt. No time for Copper Country this trip. My family of origin, both sides, is here: Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming. We've been coming here since my earliest days (over 70 years,) initially on the Peninsula "400."
Ship is still there this morning, easy morning walk along the shore.
You all have me humming Edmund Fitzgerald .....
'with a load of Iron Ore - 26,000 tons more, than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty' . . . .
Bill and/or Matt,
You being Yoopers, I may have asked before, and might again, but do either of you have a version of a Con Culhane story? I'm trying hard to piece it together better.This Michigan legendary RR logger's story is dying off too fast. He moved his whole logging and RR operation from Culhane Lake (East of the Marquette penn. along Superiors shore), and did it in the WINTER, over the frozen cedar swamp to Shelldrake, near Paradise and Taq. Falls..All by lifting the rails behind him and re-setting them up front. You had to fight him to be hired on. If you would fight for a job, you'd likely work for it too 
My present goal is to find out what Mfg. and type of engine the "Ellen K" was, but any story would be fine. His wife (Ellen) bought the engine when the C&H mine canceled a loco order with the loco en route.(1894-1896?) A "planned scenario", they had trouble getting a dock to let them unload (politics/unions) and so did the unload on a beach (Whitehouse Landing, or the sand bar/shallow cove, north of Culhane Lake(?). He died 1903 falling under his own train....and I have to quit writing and update the laptop, can hardly type it's so bad.....
I'd appreciate any info. Ask the oldest local RR fan you know...please 
.
EDIT: White landing is White House landing.
Very cool photos! My maternal grandmother was born and raised in Hancock, and her father (my great-grandfather) worked for the Quincy Mining Company. The mine tours and railroad history up there are fascinating. I am a proud Yooper descendant.
I always enjoy seeing the ore docs and LS&I display at Marquette, and its always fun to watch the lakeboats.
Hey Charlie (MichRR714) check this thread out! Just up your alley, Dave G.
Very much up my alley. I love Marquette and the ore docks. I am slowly adding LS&I equipment to my O Gauge roster. I try to get there at least once a year!
This video was published on You Tube, June 27, 2016 With more videos to follow. You will see the Ore Docks and the LS&I in action. This makes for an excellent model train project.
Visited Marquette in 1980, and stopped by the Soo Line's lower yard in town. It was loaded with wooden freight cars in MOW service and the real find, a couple of iron buckets being used to store retrieved scrap metal. These were the kind used in coal sheds, for fueling steam locomotives. I assume, every bit of that, including the lower yard, is gone.
Nice to see there is still some ore boat traffic remaining.
I made one trip up through the UP, specifically chasing old mines and railroads....did not find as many as I wished, but am sure it was a case of having to know where they were. It was a beautiful fall trip with good weather and great leaves a couple of years ago. Definitely beautiful and full of history. I had a guidebook on the old ghost towns, but..much is gone. Good for a week circumventing the peninsula....research it and do it!
trainroomgary posted:You will see the Ore Docks and the LS&I in action. This makes for an excellent model train project.
It would have to be a very small version, or a forced perspective version in the distance. A scale ore dock would probably be something around 20 feet+ long, and an ore boat maybe at least 15 feet long or so.
breezinup posted:It would have to be a very small version, or a forced perspective version in the distance. A scale ore dock would probably be something around 20 feet+ long, and an ore boat maybe at least 15 feet long or so.
Hi Bill & "breesingup" / Bill have a safe trip, and hope you get to drive over the Mackinac Bridge.
Here is the rest of the story. My son is a graduate of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan. He is now a powertrain engineer for a major automotive manufacture. He lived in the U.P. for, 4 years and took a lot of photos of the ore docks.
The ore docks are still on my bucket list and the bucket list at the DMRRC, yes this would be a major project.
My son married a “Yooper” and this makes my two grandchildren / 50% “Yoopers”. They are both over right now. We just got back from the beach, because the rain is moving in. Got the sand off the two boys, gave them lunch and we are in the train room. One is nabbing and the other is running a steam locomotive. Ages two & one.
This started out as a Mining & RR College, in the U.P.
Gary
I was born in Ishpeming and grew up near Manistique and Iron Mountain. I spent my childhood watching Soo Line and Wisconsin Central trains crisscross the UP. I love Marquette. I was there two years ago and got to see a seiche roll into the harbor and slowly cover the timber footings of the original ore dock. It was a real treat as a seiche doesn't happen all that often. My dream would be to have the space to recreate the Marquette ore dock in O, that'd be awesome.
... Wouldn't one of these be a great O-gauge model?
I recall seeing an ore dock like this featured as part of a model railroad in one of the Kalmbach "Great Model Railroads 20XX" magazines (usually published annually around the holiday-season). I'll double-check, and let you know details if I can locate the article. It might not have been O-Gauge, but I was pretty impressed by it nonetheless.
David
Published on Jan 19, 2016
Ore dock installed and track added, model railroad layout.
Wow, great to see a lot of Yoopers here! My layout (under construction) is based on Upper Peninsula railroading. I have LS&I, M&LS, DSS&A, SOO, E&LS, M&HM, Copper Range, Milwaukee Rd, and C&NW equipment - all of which operated in the Upper Peninsula. I'm a former and hopefully a returning resident, used to fire a 2-8-0 on the Marquette & Huron Mt RR in the 70's. Lived in da Soo, Marquette, & Negaunee.
Any of you still in the Marquette area, I will be bringing in my ship (I'm the captain) into the lower harbor on the 16th, staying through the 18th. It's the largest research vessel on the Great Lakes - the R/V Lake Guardian. Maybe I'll see ya!
trainroomgary posted:breezinup posted:It would have to be a very small version, or a forced perspective version in the distance. A scale ore dock would probably be something around 20 feet+ long, and an ore boat maybe at least 15 feet long or so.
Hi Bill & "breesingup" / Bill have a safe trip, and hope you get to drive over the Mackinac Bridge.
Here is the rest of the story. My son is a graduate of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan. He is now a powertrain engineer for a major automotive manufacture. He lived in the U.P. for, 4 years and took a lot of photos of the ore docks.
The ore docks are still on my bucket list and the bucket list at the DMRRC, yes this would be a major project.
My son married a “Yooper” and this makes my two grandchildren / 50% “Yoopers”. They are both over right now. We just got back from the beach, because the rain is moving in. Got the sand off the two boys, gave them lunch and we are in the train room. One is nabbing and the other is running a steam locomotive. Ages two & one.
This started out as a Mining & RR College, in the U.P.
Gary
BTW, they have a great railroad related curriculum now, for engineering students.
No personal photo's here. But I found a real old postcard of ore boats at the locks while looking 
."Someone else" must have those older shots, I thought I did.
Have a good rest John 
(The box is still here unless I buy another General ).
colorado hirailer posted:I made one trip up through the UP, specifically chasing old mines and railroads....did not find as many as I wished, but am sure it was a case of having to know where they were. It was a beautiful fall trip with good weather and great leaves a couple of years ago. Definitely beautiful and full of history. I had a guidebook on the old ghost towns, but..much is gone. Good for a week circumventing the peninsula....research it and do it!
The UP reclaims the land from all but the best of our human efforts there, if left unattended. On the ground, those RR grades aren't very impressive. But with some reading and landmarks, you can see remains of old RR grades all over the UP from Google earth. When the (icy cold all summer) water is real clear, you can find pilings from industry docks, long forgotten about. When I was young some of those true "ghost towns" still had buildings standing. One unmarked business place I discovered, could have been a movie set. A fire hydrant I spotted deep in the woods made me curious. Well hidden by many tall trees, but suddenly about 4-5 small buildings & perfect "dead end" street pavement & curbs. Well preserved. I couldn't believe the "store's" big windows hadn't cracked from the weather, so I looked closer thinking "movie set". But I'd say nobody had touched a thing since the 50's. Last attempt I couldn't find it again and trees are too dense to spot it GoogleEarth. Likely it had a" country" road leading there once, the trees are younger there where gravel road would have been too. Old dirt road grades can be spotted while hiking too ..On RRs names UP there, McNearny's (spelling?) were my families neighbors.
You could spend weeks reading historical plaques across the UP, but just seeing the whole area is more fun. To live there "before fences"?Oh man "I like the woods".
More copper ore wealth came out of the UP than from the Gold Rush, and there's still other mineral resource exports, and timber! The ore played a large role in the fast growth of our southern Michigan industry too.
.....and the moose are cool
..From the car, or kitchen window. Berries! 
My berries!
Wow, bull moose don't eat many, but do pee right over the berry bushes 
I washed those much better after that. Added a sniff test before that too 
....
Adriatic posted:Bill and/or Matt,
You being Yoopers, I may have asked before, and might again, but do either of you have a version of a Con Culhane story? I'm trying hard to piece it together better.This Michigan legendary RR logger's story is dying off too fast. He moved his whole logging and RR operation from Culhane Lake (East of the Marquette penn. along Superiors shore), and did it in the WINTER, over the frozen cedar swamp to Shelldrake, near Paradise and Taq. Falls..All by lifting the rails behind him and re-setting them up front. You had to fight him to be hired on. If you would fight for a job, you'd likely work for it too
My present goal is to find out what Mfg. and type of engine the "Ellen K" was, but any story would be fine. His wife (Ellen) bought the engine when the C&H mine canceled a loco order with the loco en route.(1894-1896?) A "planned scenario", they had trouble getting a dock to let them unload (politics/unions) and so did the unload on a beach (Whitehouse Landing, or the sand bar/shallow cove, north of Culhane Lake(?). He died 1903 falling under his own train....and I have to quit writing and update the laptop, can hardly type it's so bad.....
I'd appreciate any info. Ask the oldest local RR fan you know...please
EDIT: White landing is White House landing.
I will find out the story. That one is new to me.
I have moved several houses in the winter, including our camp and sauna. A lot can be done when the ground freezes. You wouldn't believe the spots we make roads in- in the winter. We build logging roads as our occupation. Coaxing Caterpillars alive in -35 sucks, it used to be fun. Sometimes we let them run. We have a couple bulldozers and 3 dump trucks running right now in Michigamme on the old Fence Grade.
As for moose. We see them quite often. My mechanic hit one a month ago. We pulled the radiator away from the fan and jumped on the hood and tied it down and drove off.
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge scares the crap out of me. I just lose it. Can't help it. But I still do it.
In Munising you can still see the rails disappear into the water in the old harbor. There is also a glass bottom boat tour there. Goes over some cool old sunken ships. The water is very clear and you can see to the bottom no problem.
As far as ingenuity and hard labor. Nothing beats what the men of old did building these old tressels and mines. It is mind boggling when you are standing there looking at it first hand. The history is everywhere, especially in the Keweenaw.
I have some pics of the Calumet and Hecla RR units. A big old snowplow unit too. I'll get more this weekend.
It is a beautiful area but getting increasingly hard to make a living. Lots of bums here working the system too.
John, any chance of getting a tour of your ship with the kids when you come to town?
Matt
Thanks, everyone, for all the comments! I looked and found this photo I took in the lower harbor area back in the 1970's or early 80's. You can see the approach to the DSS&A ore dock was still intact. Here's also a photo of the remains of that dock today.
Hi BanBob,
Must have missed you by one day... Stopped by to take my nephew out for dinner with the family.
I was able to take a few shots then the fog rolled in... beautiful town. Staying in Munising tonight, did the sunken ship and pictured rocks tour and it was fantastic!
You have to wonder what is the destination of the iron ore?? Requires a blast furnace and BOF to make steel. Europe, Southern Europe, or are there still blast furnaces/BOF's in the US. China through the Panama Canal???
40 years, last fall, since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Note the Gordon Lightfoot song. The shallow lake waters and the witch of the north are part of the lake(s) history.
BANDOB posted:Thanks, everyone, for all the comments! I looked and found this photo I took in the lower harbor area back in the 1970's or early 80's. You can see the approach to the DSS&A ore dock was still intact. Here's also a photo of the remains of that dock today.
Listen to this Bill. It sounds as though the old loading dock structure is going to be converted to a building. Different shops etc. inside. I think it would be cool.
Nice morning today, rain tomorrow. I have one of my guys in Marquette right now picking up parts at the Caterpillar dealer. Always something broken.
Matt
BANDOB posted:J Daddy, sorry I missed you! Hope you took them to the Vierling....my cousin and her husband own it. They brew their own beer and the food is good.
Matt, I had heard something about that! that would be very neat to see.
Small world, we ate at the Los Azteca on the water front there... great food... did you happen to get to Iron Mountain? There was as fantastic Iron mine tour that I really enjoyed.
We looked at that restaurant, J. Daddy, and will check it out tomorrow. Can't eat at The Vierling all the time!
John, we'll be back home in Maryland by the time you get in. Hope you post some photos of your ship AND your layout!
I do have some C&NW, DSS&A, and LS&I equipment on my layout, and will post photos of them when I get back.
Really great to talk to other Yoopers here!
J Daddy posted:BANDOB posted:J Daddy, sorry I missed you! Hope you took them to the Vierling....my cousin and her husband own it. They brew their own beer and the food is good.
Matt, I had heard something about that! that would be very neat to see.
Small world, we ate at the Los Azteca on the water front there... great food... did you happen to get to Iron Mountain? There was as fantastic Iron mine tour that I really enjoyed.
Yeah, the Iron Mountain mine tour is neat also. Feels good going down there on a hot day. It was 91 degrees on Father's Day, so we went on the tour. Felt great. Till you come back out!
I was even able to take a small bag of iron ore for free!
The logging roads deep ruts were my vehicles playground. I loved skidding my truck axles over them at high speed, shearing them slightly. (the ones not being worked ) When the wheels "drop", Ford twin I-beam kept you centered on the 2 tracker's center peak in 2wd
I've been chasing that Cornelius Culhane story for nearly ten years. My own account comes from rail fan discussions between my Great Grandfather (Kusan) and my Grandfather (Lionel) both TCA in the 60's at least. I think the conversation began at "Worths" restaurant on Old Worth rd on the edge of the Hiawatha forest.(memorable for the food and the many dozens of stuffed animal heads hanging in the ceiling....many connected by rope and pulley to the bar. They could distract you from your table to talk, and lower a head to eye level to scare the crap out of you when you turned back for a bite of food. The "screaming monkey" was the best/worst 
)....Anyhow, Great Grandpa asking about my engine, a 2-6-4, turned into speculation over Cons being a Prairie with a 4 wheel trailing truck added later. An American Adriatic, even a modification, was a big deal and we sent a few weeks chasing other old timers "eye witness" stories for confirmation. A Forney and a Porter were remembered by others. The Porter was the Shelldrake dock engine, so a Forney and a Prairie were mentioned most often. Many couldn't remember anything except "it was a tall "old timer" "it definitely wasn't a Forney". The builder was a "German named builder" and east coast, with easy ship access., but NOT the usual supplier of loco's to C&H mines who Con supplied timber for (mine shaft support timber, buildings, etc). Vulcan or Schenectady kept coming up. I think shipping records might be an easier "catch" Were is a maritime/RR fan when you need one?....(floating, till port )
Remember I was only a kid and listening to stories from folks that lived it as kids. They were old now and speech was broken-Engilsh, German, French, Swede, and even some Ojibwe. I was "northern bi-lingual" enough to catch most, and it's sketchy, but aligns with much of what I've found reading.
I'd love a good dump right now ... I never have seen one. The ore docks with approach, is the only way I've seen them. That one looks nice though. Sad but nice. The only issue with the creation of a building is if not built "right" and kept up, the whole thing will get demolished sooner, hastening the loss of the kind of physical history that helps the UP, "be the UP". Lots has been lost already under "best intention" schemes of the past.
Guess I'm just an all around conservationist from the conservation state
Mike CT posted:You have to wonder what is the destination of the iron ore?? Requires a blast furnace and BOF to make steel. Europe, Southern Europe, or are there still blast furnaces/BOF's in the US. China through the Panama Canal???
We still have steel production in the USA. These plants produce steel from ore:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...in_the_United_States
In 2014, there were 11 operating integrated steel mills in the United States, down from 13 in 2000. Integrated mills produced 31% of the steel produced in the US.
In an integrated steel mill, iron ore is reduced to metallic iron. In the US, this is done in blast furnaces ...
Current integrated steel mills in the US
| Name | Location | Owner | Status and Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Works | Gary, Indiana | US Steel | Operating, February 2015[5] |
| Mon Valley Works - Irvin Plant, Edgar Thomson Steel Works | North Braddock, Pennsylvania | US Steel | |
| East Chicago Tin | East Chicago, Indiana | US Steel | |
| Midwest Plant | Portage, Indiana | US Steel | |
| Rouge Steel | Dearborn, Michigan | AK Steel Holding | |
| Fairfield Works | Fairfield, Alabama | US Steel | Plan to convert to electric arc furnace, February 2015.[5] |
| Granite City Works | Granite City, Illinois | US Steel | |
| Indiana Harbor Works | East Chicago, Indiana | ArcelorMittal | |
| Burns Harbor Works | Burns Harbor, Indiana | ArcelorMittal | |
| Cleveland Works | Cleveland, Ohio | ArcelorMittal |
The ore carrier boats on the Great Lakes are purpose-built and cannot all travel down the St Lawrence Seaway, and are not designed for ocean travel.
MattR posted:John, any chance of getting a tour of your ship with the kids when you come to town?
Matt
You bet Matt. We will have guided tours 10-2 on Sunday & Monday. If that doesn't work for you e-mail me (in my profile) and we'll work something out.
Capt John
There is a lot of railroad history packed into a relatively small area up there. I've been there once, probably 7 years ago now, and would love to go back some day. Unfortunately I only got a quick glimpse of the ore docks as we passed through town on our way further north. They were definitely neat to see though, and their size is something you can't appreciate unless you see them up close. My great-grandfather was born in Munising, so we do have some family history up there too. Of course I also have a deep fascination with the copper mining history in the Keewenaw peninsula mainly due to my longtime interest in the 1873 Mason 0-6-4T "Torch Lake" that operates in Dearborn, MI at Greenfield Village. It operated for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company from 1873 well into the 1900's before being stored and eventually donated to Greenfield Village in 1969 and is the last existing example of that type of locomotive.
I saw "Torch Lake" as a kid, and kinda often again as an adult, while running in Dearborn. You spot it on their grounds every once in a while when traveling in the area too. At one job, I could hear the whistle from work when on breaks
I have seen them un-dump ore loads here. Conveyors, bucket cranes etc and huge piles of everything after.
I know copper was done here, but not where.
Like the mines, Detroit's steel industry was more than one company too. It once ate up a large chunk of shore, many miles worth if combined, "Downriver" of Detroit. The area retains the Downriver nickname, and is also still struggling with the loss of the industry years ago. Most of the little industrial shops that sprung from it are basically gone too.
The single steel plant's production in River Rouge Mi., is a shadow of it's former self really. The area was a 24-7/365 day a year, thundering madhouse of heavy movements even in the 70's (strikes, lay-offs, loss of production contracts etc.) .Fairly quiet today... Now a RR "quiet zone" at night for the switcher loco's I believe. .
There was an old structure collapse (elevator/conveyor), that slowed the new furnace down I'm sure. It would be cool to see more cars in the parking lots, but that should let you know how bad the condition of some things are there too .
Ace posted:Mike CT posted:You have to wonder what is the destination of the iron ore?? Requires a blast furnace and BOF to make steel. Europe, Southern Europe, or are there still blast furnaces/BOF's in the US. China through the Panama Canal???
We still have steel production in the USA. These plants produce steel from ore:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...in_the_United_States
In 2014, there were 11 operating integrated steel mills in the United States, down from 13 in 2000. Integrated mills produced 31% of the steel produced in the US.
In an integrated steel mill, iron ore is reduced to metallic iron. In the US, this is done in blast furnaces ...
Current integrated steel mills in the US
Name Location Owner Status and Date Gary Works Gary, Indiana US Steel Operating, February 2015[5] Mon Valley Works - Irvin Plant, Edgar Thomson Steel Works North Braddock, Pennsylvania US Steel East Chicago Tin East Chicago, Indiana US Steel Midwest Plant Portage, Indiana US Steel Rouge Steel Dearborn, Michigan AK Steel Holding Fairfield Works Fairfield, Alabama US Steel Plan to convert to electric arc furnace, February 2015.[5] Granite City Works Granite City, Illinois US Steel Indiana Harbor Works East Chicago, Indiana ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor Works Burns Harbor, Indiana ArcelorMittal Cleveland Works Cleveland, Ohio ArcelorMittal
The ore carrier boats on the Great Lakes are purpose-built and cannot all travel down the St Lawrence Seaway, and are not designed for ocean travel.
A wonderful piece of information. A lot is still done with scrap metal and electric Arc furnaces. We at one time did a large Blast furnace/coke ovens/BOF in Aliquippa, PA, J&L Steel. Another prominent steel production facility was Colt Industries, Crucible Steel, Midland, PA. Both those facilities are gone. Babcock and Wilcox, (McDermott ??) still does some melting (Electric Arc), Koppel, PA. one of the few places that installed a continuous caster, early 1980's, may be the only reason it's still there. Arco Steel Butler, PA (AK Steel) a presence both in Butler and lower Beaver Valley.
One of the interesting notes that is still part of our community, is a bike trail/railroad that connects Freeport, PA to Butler. This railroad/now bike trail, was used by the steel industry to move iron ore to a sintering plant near Butler. Ores were processed/enriched, so to speak, before shipment to a blast furnace facility.
Forum member Alan Graziano has done a model of the Edmund Fitzgerald, ore carrier. Pictures from Alan's post several years ago.
Alan was also working on a Hulett ore loader/un-loader.
Thread on Alan's Hulett model. This three page thread is a must see. May be one of the all time best threads on the this forum. IMO.
Best wishes all, Great post/thread.
Thank you,
Mike CT
Speaking of lakeboats and the "Edmund Fitzgerald", there is another person/ group who displays models of the boats and loading facilities and ore docks at Trainfest and other venues in the Midwest. Unfortunately, I can't recall his/their name. Here is some of their work in HO scale:
John23 posted:MattR posted:John, any chance of getting a tour of your ship with the kids when you come to town?
Matt
You bet Matt. We will have guided tours 10-2 on Sunday & Monday. If that doesn't work for you e-mail me (in my profile) and we'll work something out.
Capt John
Sounds great, thanks alot. We'll be there.
Matt
To Breezinup's comment regarding the size of an O Scale dock and ore boat, one of the layouts open to viewing during the Chicago O Scale Meet, was that of a physician's, with a full size O Scale ore boat. The telling of how two fellows had to wrestle this 14 foot boat down a tight, winding staircase to the basement, was quite humorous !!
Thanks, Bill, for starting this thread. The Great Lakes ore docks are really impressive. I had only seen them in photos until a few years ago, and never realized what they would be like in person. Thanks for taking the photos now, as the future, well, we just don't know, do we?
And a U25B stuffed and mounted in the park. Now I have the perspective all the old steam men had when they saw a steam engine in the same position.
Further, thanks to all who added interesting, educational, and helpful information to this thread.
For those wanting a close look at Great lakes shipping you can book a night (two nights is better) at the South Pier Inn, right at the entrance to Duluth harbor. If you book a channel side room, ore boats and other huge ships will pass 200 feet from your patio. The front desk, if requested, will awaken you for arriving and departing ships during the night. We have stayed there three times and it has always been top notch. Duluth is a good vacation destination, too -- many good eateries and watering holes, Great Lakes Maritime Museum, a retired U S Steel ore boat museum, a little night life, great walks on the breakwater, half-day and whole-day fishing boats. Oh, and lest we forget, a great railroad museum, and - seasonally - tourist train rides behind a Soo Line steam engine or a Great Northern NW5. The museum contains rare stuff: an immaculate Soo Line F7 or FP7, a DM&IR Yellowstone 2-6-6-4, a DSS&A RS1, and - in my opinion, the crown jewel - a Milwaukee Road box cab electric locomotive.
Tom - Great recommendation ! There are some near-by points of interest, too. Amnicon Falls State Park, near Superior, WI has two watersheds diverging and which has created some spectacular water falls: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/amnicon/
Then there is Bayfield, WI, the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. A picturesque town that was the end of an Omaha Road branchline that meandered out of Ashland, WI. En route one encounters a strangely grandiose village, with large city hall, schools, banks, but seemingly no real economy to have supported such facilities. It is Washburn, WI, which Omaha Road investors built in the 19th century, with huge grain and coal trans-loading facilities. The intention was to build an alternative to the facilities in the Twin Ports (Duluth-Superior). Alas, much money invested, but an utter flop. Ashland WI, might still be worth a visit, although railroad activity has shrunken to almost nothing. The Soo Line depot has been saved and restored, and a Soo Line 2-10-0, built in 1900, is on display, covered and in good shape. At last report the Soo ore dock was being dismantled and is probably gone now.
Also swing by Two Harbors, MN. A nicely restored DM&N 2-6-0 and wooden ore car is on display, plus a DM&IR Yellowstone and a DM&IR steam tug boat. An active ore dock can be observed and CN/ex-DMIR empty ore trains, fighting their way up and out of the Lake Superior bowl.
Yes, great vacation area, with pristine Lake Superior as the omni-present back drop.. Be sure to see ore boat SS William A. Irvin on display in Duluth, too !
I think I have had more fun with this thread than any I have ever started. Here's today's contribution. I was on my way back to Marquette from Negaunee on the old road, Country Rd. 492, and passed the Eagle Mills LS&I yard. At the crossing there was an apparent grandfather-grandson combo waiting along the tracks. Thinking a train might be coming, I stopped. Sure enough, got this photo, but in the 20 minutes or so I waited it did not leave the yard.
Turned out the grandfather component of the pair was a former FBI agent, as was my Uncle. Both now retired. Sure enough, they knew each other.
J Daddy posted:Hi BanBob,
Must have missed you by one day... Stopped by to take my nephew out for dinner with the family.
I was able to take a few shots then the fog rolled in... beautiful town. Staying in Munising tonight, did the sunken ship and pictured rocks tour and it was fantastic!
Hey John, too bad you aren't go to be there when my ship docks in Marquette! Our timing is off!
Interesting to read all the comments. BTW, I am in Duluth right now with my vessel, tied up near Canal Park. I am a member of the museum in Duluth, even tho I only get here a few times a year. Great museum & railroad!
Re lake freighters, the Canadians do have a few that are ocean classed. None of the US ones go any further than Sept Iles, Quebec - which is at the mouth of the St Lawrence. The 1,000 foot ones can't go any further east than Lake Erie, due to the locks in the Welland Canal being too small. There are a few US ore boats that were converted from salt water tankers.
Re the Fitzgerald, I was living on Lake Superior that night, saw the storm that sank her. Got a call two days later telling me that one of my friends, Tom Bentsen, went down with her. So a personal connection there.
Couple more today. first, in case anyone doesn't quite comprehend how the ore docks work, here's a video I made of a working demonstration model at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee.
Second, my sister-in-law got this photo today down at the dock. I think that is the same train I saw in Eagle Mills, now pushing its loads onto the dock.
Correction: NOT same train.
Interesting thread and great models. The ship in the first post is actually the combined tug/barge unit shown here: http://www.americansteamship.c...-lakes-contender.php
All the ore from Lake Superior goes to steel mills in the lower lakes, e.g. Burns Harbor IN and other destinations. There are actually American flag ships "trapped" on the upper lakes due to their length and single-purpose of ore carrying on these dedicated routes. Other great places to see lakers and salties up close are Duluth (as mentioned) and Two Harbors MN. You will also be in the immediate vicinity of three 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on display.
Also, there is a modular O gauge club in the Green Bay area that has a selectively compressed model of an ore dock. It is still pretty big!
Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models. The ship in the first post is actually the combined tug/barge unit shown here: http://www.americansteamship.c...-lakes-contender.php
All the ore from Lake Superior goes to steel mills in the lower lakes, e.g. Burns Harbor IN and other destinations. There are actually American flag ships "trapped" on the upper lakes due to their length and single-purpose of ore carrying on these dedicated routes. Other great places to see lakers and salties up close are Duluth (as mentioned) and Two Harbors MN. You will also be in the immediate vicinity of three 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on display.
Also, Sault Sainte Marie, MI - at the Soo Locks. You are right up by the freighters as they lock through. If you take the locks tour boat you might lock through with one. The Soo is also home to the world's only railroad river crossing using all 3 types of movable spans on a single line: a lift bridge, a swing bridge, and a double(!) bascule bridge (and it is an international crossing). And it is the namesake for the Soo Line Railroad.
John23 posted:Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models. The ship in the first post is actually the combined tug/barge unit shown here: http://www.americansteamship.c...-lakes-contender.php
All the ore from Lake Superior goes to steel mills in the lower lakes, e.g. Burns Harbor IN and other destinations. There are actually American flag ships "trapped" on the upper lakes due to their length and single-purpose of ore carrying on these dedicated routes. Other great places to see lakers and salties up close are Duluth (as mentioned) and Two Harbors MN. You will also be in the immediate vicinity of three 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on display.
Also, Sault Sainte Marie, MI - at the Soo Locks. You are right up by the freighters as they lock through. If you take the locks tour boat you might lock through with one. The Soo is also home to the world's only railroad river crossing using all 3 types of movable spans on a single line: a lift bridge, a swing bridge, and a double(!) bascule bridge (and it is an international crossing). And it is the namesake for the Soo Line Railroad.
Also in Sault St. Marie is the floating museum "Valley Camp" . A cool old ore boat decommissioned I believe in the early 70's. Neat tour. The locks are neat too. You get right close to the huge vessels as they pass through. Go when it's warm though. Standing in that viewing shelter waiting for the ships in cold weather without moving around, will freeze your *** off.
John, are you cutting across the canal in Houghton when you come back this way? Or going "around the top"?
BANDOB posted:I did some exploring this morning and found information about Cap'n John's SHIP (not boat!) this morning.
Really fascinating. Read about it here.
John deserves respect; that's for sure.
Any "argument" here is strictly aimed at entertainment.
That isn't a birch canoe Johns Captain of, that's for sure
Though the vessels may have similar emissions
The older maritime argument on "boat or ship", wasn't size, or content
. It was about having enough sails or not . So excuse my "marina" mentality
, but I think I've heard this from the "real sailors", The rivet counters of the floating world, The recreational sailboat crowd . Seriously, in the slips around us "You have a boat, we have a ship." was heard.
Actually, I'd also heard it from my non-train Gramps, a sailing ship history buff, (that preferred a good motor) He would say to them, "if you don't need a crew, you have a boat too; a sailBOAT"
He had me piloting, and docking up to 45ft cabin cruisers starting at about 8 , after I had learned my channels, weather,and signal flags, etc.. of course, all so if he got hurt, I could handle it
I've been far enough out, to not see land, on all the big waters around Michigan.
4 days solid, no land, on a 36ft Carver is my record. All in good weather.
I've bounced off Erie's bottom in whats normally 30ft. deep over, and over and.BAIL! Bail the cabin!.(Thanks Pete
)
I don't really do big water and rain anymore.
I once got grabbed by rip currents, and almost drowned. How close? I was also youngest in the city ever certified for passing lifeguard training, and swam quarry lengths weekly, and I still took a gulp....A real close call,(Thanks Pete).
I've had a freighter's bow's swell, push my dead "boats" bow away vs collide too.It wasn't fully loaded and just the bow depth markings towered 10ft over me, the deck seemed a mile high from there, drifting along, dead in the Livingston Channels current.(Thanks Pete)
Later from land, I saw The Straights with 90phr winds, and saw Superior pale it an hour later. Thank God I gave up boating
And I think I've got a good grasp & I don't want any part of work like Johns.
Water is fun, but it's tough "shiiii.p" too, this guy does it daily, respect is sure due .
All good things come to an end, and today we leave the U.P. Before going, here's a photo I took back in September, 1979. For you, John 23. Was this the 2-8-0 you fired on the M&HM?
We may get a chance to stop at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay on the way back to Milwaukee. if so, I'll do another thread on it after we get home.
MattR posted:John23 posted:Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models.
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Standing in that viewing shelter waiting for the ships in cold weather without moving around, will freeze your *** off.
Yes, always interesting on the Lakes in chillier weather. I've been on the "ship" side and felt a little like a zoo inmate waiting for someone to throw me peanuts from those spectator bleachers. Then we would wave, say hi, and the people would see we were human after all and wave back.
The American Jones Act restricts freight between US ports to American-owned, crewed and built ships, which results in some very old ladies surviving nicely in fresh water for years. There are two or three WW2 veterans still about, and a couple that proudly have their battle ribbons displayed on the bridge. Try this for your next layout animation - this is the Middletown, a much-modified former WW2 fleet tanker (USS Neshanic) strutting her stuff in Lake Erie ice.
MattR posted:John23 posted:Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models. The ship in the first post is actually the combined tug/barge unit shown here: http://www.americansteamship.c...-lakes-contender.php
All the ore from Lake Superior goes to steel mills in the lower lakes, e.g. Burns Harbor IN and other destinations. There are actually American flag ships "trapped" on the upper lakes due to their length and single-purpose of ore carrying on these dedicated routes. Other great places to see lakers and salties up close are Duluth (as mentioned) and Two Harbors MN. You will also be in the immediate vicinity of three 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on display.
Also, Sault Sainte Marie, MI - at the Soo Locks. You are right up by the freighters as they lock through. If you take the locks tour boat you might lock through with one. The Soo is also home to the world's only railroad river crossing using all 3 types of movable spans on a single line: a lift bridge, a swing bridge, and a double(!) bascule bridge (and it is an international crossing). And it is the namesake for the Soo Line Railroad.
Also in Sault St. Marie is the floating museum "Valley Camp" . A cool old ore boat decommissioned I believe in the early 70's. Neat tour. The locks are neat too. You get right close to the huge vessels as they pass through. Go when it's warm though. Standing in that viewing shelter waiting for the ships in cold weather without moving around, will freeze your *** off.
John, are you cutting across the canal in Houghton when you come back this way? Or going "around the top"?
I'm going to be in Houghton for a few hours Monday morning. Are you there?
Re my transit, I will be going around the top of the Keweenaw.
BANDOB posted:All good things come to an end, and today we leave the U.P. Before going, here's a photo I took back in September, 1979. For you, John 23. Was this the 2-8-0 you fired on the M&HM?
We may get a chance to stop at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay on the way back to Milwaukee. if so, I'll do another thread on it after we get home.
It sure was!!! A really sweet engine. Hence comes the 23 in my moniker! That is one of the LS&I paint schemes, with the green boiler jacketing. When the engines were laid up during the winter their shops used to paint the engines up pretty fancy, just to keep guys working. Of course it was covered up with ore dust pretty quick once the shipping season started. When I find a suitable candidate I will paint it into this scheme. BTW this picture was taken 3 years after it was painted, so the green jacket and white walls are a little hard to see.
BTW, before the vessel I am on now, I worked on ore boats for a number of years. Before that, on the ocean, including several years in Alaska. I like what I do!
Firewood posted:
MattR posted:John23 posted:Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Standing in that viewing shelter waiting for the ships in cold weather without moving around, will freeze your *** off.
Yes, always interesting on the Lakes in chillier weather. I've been on the "ship" side and felt a little like a zoo inmate waiting for someone to throw me peanuts from those spectator bleachers.
The American Jones Act restricts freight between US ports to American-owned, crewed and built ships, which results in some very old ladies surviving nicely in fresh water for years. There are two or three WW2 veterans still about, and a couple that proudly have their battle ribbons displayed on the bridge. Try this for your next layout animation - this is the Middletown, a much-modified former WW2 fleet tanker (USS Neshanic) strutting her stuff in Lake Erie ice.
Unfortunately the Middletown has been laid up for a while, and probably be either scrapped or chopped into a barge.
J Daddy posted:John-
Sorry we missed you. Do you have any pictures of your ship?
Don't know how these posts and photos were mish-mashed! Anyway, there it is.
The biggest vessels I was even on was the auto ferry to Wisconsin , or one of the old "Bob-Lo boats" (where I could have sat and watched the giant exposed piston rods and crank journals, spinning all day ...if the bumper cars weren't tempting me at the island amusement park destination
Frozen water is for soda, or cutting a hole in to fish from
And folks said I was crazy busting orv vehicles in half jumping things
Hey, was there a little tourist trap train ride in one of the towns, right by the water in the early 60's. I have a vague memory of one
John23 posted:MattR posted:John23 posted:Firewood posted:Interesting thread and great models. The ship in the first post is actually the combined tug/barge unit shown here: http://www.americansteamship.c...-lakes-contender.php
All the ore from Lake Superior goes to steel mills in the lower lakes, e.g. Burns Harbor IN and other destinations. There are actually American flag ships "trapped" on the upper lakes due to their length and single-purpose of ore carrying on these dedicated routes. Other great places to see lakers and salties up close are Duluth (as mentioned) and Two Harbors MN. You will also be in the immediate vicinity of three 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones on display.
Also, Sault Sainte Marie, MI - at the Soo Locks. You are right up by the freighters as they lock through. If you take the locks tour boat you might lock through with one. The Soo is also home to the world's only railroad river crossing using all 3 types of movable spans on a single line: a lift bridge, a swing bridge, and a double(!) bascule bridge (and it is an international crossing). And it is the namesake for the Soo Line Railroad.
Also in Sault St. Marie is the floating museum "Valley Camp" . A cool old ore boat decommissioned I believe in the early 70's. Neat tour. The locks are neat too. You get right close to the huge vessels as they pass through. Go when it's warm though. Standing in that viewing shelter waiting for the ships in cold weather without moving around, will freeze your *** off.
John, are you cutting across the canal in Houghton when you come back this way? Or going "around the top"?
I'm going to be in Houghton for a few hours Monday morning. Are you there?
Re my transit, I will be going around the top of the Keweenaw.
We are between Houghton and Marquette, just south of L'Anse . The kid's are excited for next weekend in Marquette.
Thanks again,
Matt
Interesting thread and great models.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately the Middletown has been laid up for a while, and probably be either scrapped or chopped into a barge.
--------------------------
Yes, she is the American Victory now, am I right?. Looking a little worse for wear, but battle ribbons still visible.
Lake Guardian looks great!
I'm on the other side of Superior from all the Yoopers. Hope we get to catch up some day.
Adriatic posted:The biggest vessels I was even on was the auto ferry to Wisconsin , or one of the old "Bob-Lo boats" (where I could have sat and watched the giant exposed piston rods and crank journals, spinning all day ...if the bumper cars weren't tempting me at the island amusement park destination
Frozen water is for soda, or cutting a hole in to fish from
And folks said I was crazy busting orv vehicles in half jumping things
Hey, was there a little tourist trap train ride in one of the towns, right by the water in the early 60's. I have a vague memory of one
You may be recollecting the train down west of St. Ignace on US 2, at lwast that's the only one I can think of that was along the lines of "tourist trap" like.
Basil posted:Adriatic posted:The biggest vessels I was even on was the auto ferry to Wisconsin , or one of the old "Bob-Lo boats" (where I could have sat and watched the giant exposed piston rods and crank journals, spinning all day ...if the bumper cars weren't tempting me at the island amusement park destination
Frozen water is for soda, or cutting a hole in to fish from
And folks said I was crazy busting orv vehicles in half jumping things
Hey, was there a little tourist trap train ride in one of the towns, right by the water in the early 60's. I have a vague memory of one
You may be recollecting the train down west of St. Ignace on US 2, at lwast that's the only one I can think of that was along the lines of "tourist trap" like.
Yeah, maybe he's thinking of the one near Newberry. The Tequemenon Falls tour.
No, I know those two; Silver "something" Express (Silver lake/Silver Beach/Silver Streak?) on US-2 east of the dunes, west of Brevort rd, near the old couples bright red Alpine roofed restaurant (that lady could cook!) The "Toonerville" is at the Falls tours (nice little trip with the boat too). Before that even, with horse and buggy rides still popular in the towns, and gone by 1967-68, or I'd have seen it again. I barely remember a Fourth of July Parade, and watching long ships from the shady seat of an open rail car after it, eating ice cream and being glad I was behind an "iron horse", versus a stinky, live one, on such a hot muggy day. I passed out from exhaustion on a blanket by the water before the fireworks that year 
Could be any port from Green Bay to Traverse then north really, but memory tells me it was in the Keweenaw.
We are between Houghton and Marquette, just south of L'Anse . The kid's are excited for next weekend in Marquette.
Thanks again,
Matt
Hey Matt,
shoot me an e-mail (in profile) and I'll give you my phone number, so we can work out a time if you want to meet up. I have family & friends coming so will be away from the ship most of the time on Sunday & Monday.
John23 posted:We are between Houghton and Marquette, just south of L'Anse . The kid's are excited for next weekend in Marquette.
Thanks again,
Matt
Hey Matt,
shoot me an e-mail (in profile) and I'll give you my phone number, so we can work out a time if you want to meet up. I have family & friends coming so will be away from the ship most of the time on Sunday & Monday.
Hope you're not out in this weather John. Tornado winds here. Lots of damage. Must be spooky out there.
Matt
Ya, we were sailing offshore of the Porcupine Mts when it came through. Pretty messy, lots of damage in the Western UP and Northern Wisconsin.
@Adriatic posted:No, I know those two; Silver "something" Express (Silver lake/Silver Beach/Silver Streak?) on US-2 east of the dunes, west of Brevort rd, near the old couples bright red Alpine roofed restaurant (that lady could cook!) The "Toonerville" is at the Falls tours (nice little trip with the boat too). Before that even, with horse and buggy rides still popular in the towns, and gone by 1967-68, or I'd have seen it again. I barely remember a Fourth of July Parade, and watching long ships from the shady seat of an open rail car after it, eating ice cream and being glad I was behind an "iron horse", versus a stinky, live one, on such a hot muggy day. I passed out from exhaustion on a blanket by the water before the fireworks that year
The only tourist train in the Keweenaw was Clint Jones's Keweenaw Central. I wouldn't consider it as a tourist trap though, he ran an ex-Copper Range 2-8-0 and had a nice operation. It closed in 1972 when the host railroad (Copper Range) abandoned. Clint now runs the Mineral Range, serving the nickel mine concentrator near Ishpeming.
The iron ore layout in "Great Model Railroads" and "Model Railroad Planning" that was referred to is most likely Jeff Otto's HO layout, which mixes Great Northern and DM&IR iron ore operations.
BTW "ships" go on the ocean, "boats" go on lakes. Size (at least in this context) doesn't matter.
For Trainroom Gary
what is a youpper.
Trainroom Gary isn't a Yooper but I am related to a few...
Yooper-a native or inhabitant of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
@tstark posted:For Trainroom Gary
what is a youpper.
I have on my desk a “YOOPER BAR”. A Yooper is also a person who lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan.
My son lived there for 4 years and graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is not a train engineer but a automotive engineer. We did a lot of fishing, hunting and rail-fanning in Yooper Land.
He was just there last week with my old boat.
Hope this helps: Gary
@MichRR714 posted:Yooper-a native or inhabitant of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Hint: Upper Peninsula = U.P., especially to those of us who live in the L.P.
"Yoop" comes from U.P.
Mike
Great thread with great pics and great stories! Thanks all for posting
I’ve been sailing on the lakes for 35 years and I think one of the best places to see both trains and boats is Duluth/Superior. The twin ports. There ore docks , grain dock and coal . If you want to see more info on the boats go to boatnerds.com. Over the years I remember seeing a lot of roadnames , Soo Line,Cp,DMIR,BN,BNSF,CN and WC. Richey
I believe the divider in Michigan is the Mackinac bridge. If you live 'above' (north) of the bridge, you're a Yooper cause you live in 'da yooper peninsula'. If you live down south in the 'mitten', you live below the bridge, so you're a Troll.
At least, that's the explanation I got from the band "The Yoopers" CDs.
@wjstix posted:I believe the divider in Michigan is the Mackinac bridge. If you live 'above' (north) of the bridge, you're a Yooper cause you live in 'da yooper peninsula'. If you live down south in the 'mitten', you live below the bridge, so you're a Troll.
At least, that's the explanation I got from the band "The Yoopers" CDs.
And that's the truth!
@BANDOB posted:Live from Marquette, MI. I just happened to see a ship approaching the LS&I ore dock tonight (July 5) so went and got some photos. Here's the ship approaching.
I realized it was going to dock on the West (other) side, so drove over and parked next to the LS&I equipment on display. First, more views of the ship.
Wouldn't one of these be a great O-gauge model?
You mean like this? I made this boat over 4 months time, hand carved bow and stern, nearly 100 % scratch built except for the windows and doors on the cabins. She is 8 feet long over the spars, 10 inches wide and about 20 inches tall.
Too big to see the details in a single picture.
Bill T, great job!
Dan Weinhold
Thank you!
I don't have any room for an ore dock on my layout unless I add another 30-50 feet of main line. I purchased a set of plans for a hulett from Mike Rabbit many years ago and some day I will build one in an abbreviated size, just large enough to fit over the 3 ore tracks and the ore pile.
@third rail posted:Thank you!
I don't have any room for an ore dock on my layout unless I add another 30-50 feet of main line. I purchased a set of plans for a hulett from Mike Rabbit many years ago and some day I will build one in an abbreviated size, just large enough to fit over the 3 ore tracks and the ore pile.
A model Hulett to play with would be the dream. I can't imagine even seeing the real life version operate in person.
Don't know if I have the ability to mechanize it. Probably just a static model.
@third rail posted:You mean like this? I made this boat over 4 months time, hand carved bow and stern, nearly 100 % scratch built except for the windows and doors on the cabins. She is 8 feet long over the spars, 10 inches wide and about 20 inches tall.
Too big to see the details in a single picture.
Amazing work! That looks awesome. That's what I am hoping to do someday. I'm planning to build an ore dock which should be a fun and interesting project. I know it has been done before.
Nate
@third rail posted:Don't know if I have the ability to mechanize it. Probably just a static model.
The scale of it is impressive as heck. You know something is enormous when it looks huge at 1:48 scale haha
@John23 posted:It sure was!!! A really sweet engine. Hence comes the 23 in my moniker! That is one of the LS&I paint schemes, with the green boiler jacketing. When the engines were laid up during the winter their shops used to paint the engines up pretty fancy, just to keep guys working. Of course it was covered up with ore dust pretty quick once the shipping season started. When I find a suitable candidate I will paint it into this scheme. BTW this picture was taken 3 years after it was painted, so the green jacket and white walls are a little hard to see.
BTW, before the vessel I am on now, I worked on ore boats for a number of years. Before that, on the ocean, including several years in Alaska. I like what I do!
We also have an LS&I engine, #22, I'll attach picture(s). Also, all the talk about the ore docks, what about DULUTH?? As in MN.
Today at BN5 Superior ,Wis.
@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:We also have an LS&I engine, #22, I'll attach picture(s). Also, all the talk about the ore docks, what about DULUTH?? As in MN.
A great restoration! I need to match the green color for my 2-8-0. #22 will look great coupled to coach 64 (and 63 if you have it)! You could add the wood boxcar and re-create a mixed train to Munising or Big Bay.
@tractard posted:Today at BN5 Superior ,Wis.
Wow, great stuff. What boat are you on? I'll be heading to the Twin Ports in about a week for a few days of vacation. CAn't wait. Pretty cool to see some shots from the BN docks, as I don't see much from the Entry. Thanks for sharing this.
@John23 posted:A great restoration! I need to match the green color for my 2-8-0. #22 will look great coupled to coach 64 (and 63 if you have it)! You could add the wood boxcar and re-create a mixed train to Munising or Big Bay.
John: So what boat are you on? Pretty neat. As for our LS&I coach #64. It is in the car shop and restoration continues. We only have the 64. But we do have two LS&I boxcars. Let me know if you visit us at Mid-Continent Ry. Museum, perhaps I can show you around sometime. We also have two coaches and a locomotive from the Copper Range RR. Thanks for your reply.
@Nate_SOO10 posted:Amazing work! That looks awesome. That's what I am hoping to do someday. I'm planning to build an ore dock which should be a fun and interesting project. I know it has been done before.
Nate
The boat is actually around scale length. I have a book chronicling Great Lakes boats and many of the Lakers built at the turn of the 20th century were in the 350-450 foot range. They hauled ore from the mines in Labrador and Quebec to the mills on the lower Lakes before the Welland canal was dug. Many had 50-70 year life spans before being scrapped.
@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:Wow, great stuff. What boat are you on? I'll be heading to the Twin Ports in about a week for a few days of vacation. CAn't wait. Pretty cool to see some shots from the BN docks, as I don't see much from the Entry. Thanks for sharing this.
M/V. American Spirit
@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:John: So what boat are you on? Pretty neat. As for our LS&I coach #64. It is in the car shop and restoration continues. We only have the 64. But we do have two LS&I boxcars. Let me know if you visit us at Mid-Continent Ry. Museum, perhaps I can show you around sometime. We also have two coaches and a locomotive from the Copper Range RR. Thanks for your reply.
No more ore boats. I'm captain of the R/V Lake Guardian, largest research vessel on the Lakes. Great job, been here 11 years now.
I am definitely planning to visit Mid-Continent, hopefully soon. Are you open in October? A friend of mine has one of the stained glass upper windows from 64. I could get a photo of it if you guys need the design and colors. I sure would like to get a sample or specs of the green color for #22. BTW, Pat's Trains is doing an O gauge model of Copper Range Baldwin #200. He's taking orders now. I think just 30 to be made by MTH. Also, there's a Lake Superior O gauge trains page on FB.
John:
Thanks for the information. As for the Museum being open, I am a block away, and can give you a tour of the Museum any day of the week, so you don't have to worry about if we are open. Just need to know when to be sure I am around. Interesting to know you have a friend who has a stain glass piece out of the #64. As far as the color of the #22's jacket I should be able to locate that too. I think it best to have you contact me by e-mail.
I did not know about the Copper Range from Pat's Trains! Actually, I recently ordered the LS&I engine.
Lets communicate.
Jeff
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