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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.

IMG_0536



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.

20210326_172003

Too big to see the details in a single picture.

20210126_210941

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@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.

@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.

20210326_172003

Too big to see the details in a single picture.

20210126_210941

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

@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.

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  • #22 east side
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Last edited by Jeff B. Haertlein
@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.

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

Great topic on UP history.  I lived in the Soo for two years while attending Lake Superior State University finishing up my BS in Mech Engineering.  Grew up in Wyandotte.  Part of the "downriver" area of metro Detroit.  Lots of steel mills, auto plants, and chemical plants in that part of the state.  Worked for both Ford Motor and General Motors during summer breaks.  Interviewed with Great Lakes Steel and was offered a job with the highest starting salary of several offers.  Maybe it was my instincts kicking in but I declined and accepted a job in California with an Aerospace and Defense contractor.  Retired in early 2020 after 45+ years.  All of the steel mills and many other plants are no longer in business.  I have a small 3' X 9' layout and I'm always on the lookout for Soo Line and Wyandotte Chemicals rolling stock. 

John

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

I just visited your museums site. Really nice and I'm glad to see the history preserved. I live in upper Michigan right in the copper range area. South of Houghton and Hancock

@John23 posted:

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.

Hi John:

I lost your e-mail, but hopefully sent one to you just now.  jeff

If you can't make it to the UP, head over to Cleveland.  The lake boat William G Mather is moored there and is open to visitors.  It's a relatively short walk from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.  Afterwards you can hop on the free trolley and go to the Flats at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River,  get a great meal and sip any beverage while watching the Lakers come in under the lift bridge.

P06-03-17_19.41

Had a great time there in June 2017.

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