Oldest ship on Lake Michigan (101-year old steamer)

[swall]

One old Lake Michigan cement ship I have some familiarity with is the S.T. Crapo, built in 1927 and also powered by a triple expansion steam engine. She used to come into Waukegan harbor in the 1960's and when I went to college, the dad of one of the guys in the dorm was the 3rd mate on the ship. Unfortunately, she has been stored surplus since 1996.

 

[texastwister]

You can still take a trip on Lake Michigan by steam if you want, the car ferry Badger still makes 2 trips a day from Manitowoc Wi. to Ludington Mi.and return. Built in '52 for carrying railway freight cars on the same route, and converted for carrying cars, buses truck etc.Still operates from May-Oct, the trip takes about 6 hours.It hauls 180 cars and around 600 people, 410' long' coal powered, great fun. The last time I took the trip, the coal truck (18 wheeler) dumped his load of coal, and on the way out his tandem wheels accidentally slipped and fell off the ramps going up and into the load deck, needless to say, it was an extra 1/2 hour of fun watching the equipment trying to get the wheels back up on the ramp and getting the trailer out of the deck before we could leave the harbor, fun fun fun!!!