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Colossus: 1904

Ecorse, Michigan, 1904. "Steamer Detroit, Michigan Central Transfer, broadside view." Another view of this railcar ferry abuilding at Great Lakes Engineering Works. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Ecorse, Michigan, 1904. "Steamer Detroit, Michigan Central Transfer, broadside view." Another view of this railcar ferry abuilding at Great Lakes Engineering Works. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
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How many people work here?

About half of them.

Four Independent Wheels

The Railroad Gazette, Nov 18, 1904.

General News Section

The large car ferry, Detroit, built for the Michigan Central Railroad for use on the Detroit river, was recently launched at the Ecorse yard. The Detroit measures 308 ft. on deck, has 64 ft. beam and is 19½ ft. deep. There will be four independent wheels, two at each end, operated by compound engines, and two double-ended boilers 13 x 22 ft. and two single-ended boilers 13 x 11½ ft. The boat will carry 28 cars and is expected to be put in commission next winter.


More on the Detroit of Detroit at this previous post.

A Beautiful Piece of Work

Up until now I knew diddly about railcar ferries and had never seen a big "modern" one like this, especially out of the water. It is truly an impressive design, a thing of beauty. The props and rudders at both ends are the clincher, though this might have been a standard feature for all I know. I wondered in the bow-end photo about the odd profile of the propeller blades, but apparently they worked double duty as ice breakers. Wow! A rudder at both ends would have made this monster at least a little more maneuverable in tight spots, but it must have required a skillful pilot to captain this vessel! These "Detroit" steamer pictures go under the heading: When ships were ships and men were men!

Screwed at either end

Screws at both ends, that's something different, will making a decision much easier. And count the amount of workers on this project.

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