This is a great shot. The scene hasn't changed much today . . . minus the train, of course. One coal-fired steam ship still sails from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wis. It's a beautiful voyage at sunset in the summer months. These days the cargo hold is loaded with cars and trucks, not railroad cars; however, the rails in the floor of the S. S. Badger (the last ship left operating) are still in place.
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I was there in 1980, and at the time, 2 steam generator cars were parked there, WM-150 and C&O SG-1. I was told an NRHS chapter was caring for them, anyone know if they still exist, or were scrapped?
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Thanks for posting this, I love this photo it brings me back to Muskegon when we used to load boats on the Trunk.
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| Posted by on February 18, 2011 | |
What a scene! Thanks for sharing this
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That's one of those things you'd drive by every day and never bother to take a photo because it will always be there.
I'm just glad you stopped to take the picture - as you knew better.
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In support of what Aaron has posted, crossing the lake aboard the SS Badger is STILL a great trip. The ship has lost much of its C&O / Budd ambiance and despite becoming somewhat "touristy" still manages to convey a real feel for "how it was." The ship still has here rails in place but they have been "paved-in" with asphalt. I was astounded at how HOT the deck over the boilers becomes as our car was a virtual oven when it was offloaded from the eastbound voyage. An interesting operation which we got to view while waiting to load, is how the ships coal bunkers are filled by tractor trailer dump trucks which dump the coal through large hatches on the car deck.
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This was the one car ferry that I did take a trip across Lake Michigan on, but that was back in the late 80's when I was only 2 or 3 years old. I don't remember watching the Green Bay & Western load the car ferry up in Kewaunee, WI prior to the trip to Ludington, MI but I sure do wish I did with the whole tilt aspect of the train cars being loaded on. Thanks for sharing the great shot of what once was for western Michigan and eastern Wisconsin back in the 80's when service like this was turning on the rocks. Great Shot!
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Great shot!, We would go to Ludington every year on vacation and would always look forward to seeing those ships take off. 47+ years later a lot has change the condos have reshaped the landscape and the tracks are gone, but at least the SS Badger still runs, which BTW is the only coal-fired steamship in operation in North America...for now, Thanks for sharing this one
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