Western Railroad Discussion > How many carferry/carfloat operations remain US/Canada/Mexico????

Just wondering? I remember seeing the Great Lakes carferries in Milwaukee, Alberta, MI (Frankfort). What remains to Alaska and Canada?

brc600 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just wondering? I remember seeing the Great Lakes
> carferries in Milwaukee, Alberta, MI (Frankfort).
> What remains to Alaska and Canada?

Alaska to Seattle and Prince Rupert (?). CG Barge between Mobile (?) and Mexico, Some latter day incarnation of the NYCH....not sure what else.

brc600 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just wondering? I remember seeing the Great Lakes
> carferries in Milwaukee, Alberta, MI (Frankfort).
> What remains to Alaska and Canada?


Various barge services to pulp and paper mills on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast from the Vancouver area.
Also to SVI on Vancouver Island from Vancouver area.

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

Lynden Transport and Foss Tug seem to be the Google words for west coast car barges. SeaSpan seems to still be operating non- rail barges but there seems to be some past connection that I can't find.

Here's an interesting photo essay on the Seattle to Alaska car barge, make sure to check out page 2:

http://www.oil-electric.com/2009/10/boxcars-go-to-sea-6-alaska-railroad.html

SeaSpan has a bunch of non-RR barge operations, some videos of dumping log barges are very interesting, also check Youtube:

https://www.seaspan.com/seaspan-marine-barging

The mother of all car barge / lumber operations seems to have been the paper mills in Alaska, they have been dismantled but have a long history of major sized barges. Google Ketchikan Pulp Company or similar.

If you're putting together your own operation the two Milwaukee barges are said to still be in Vancouver BC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/17 22:26 by TCnR.

Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC

Posted from iPhone

I believe there is a carferry operation between the South (Mobile?) and a point on the southern coast of Puerto Rico.

BNSF6400 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe there is a carferry operation between
> the South (Mobile?) and a point on the southern
> coast of Puerto Rico.

That is defunct.

I wonder if or when a Miami to Havana rail car ferry will begin?

Posted from Android

Canadian National car ferry still runs a regular route between Matane, Quebec and the paper mill at Baie-Comeau across the St Lawrence.

EricSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BNSF6400 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I believe there is a carferry operation between
> > the South (Mobile?) and a point on the southern
> > coast of Puerto Rico.
>
> That is defunct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Puerto_Rico#Chemex_Railroad

Looks to be 5 tank cars stranded there.

RailNet802, out

There is one car float operation remaining in the Northeast.  New York New Jersey Rail (NYNJ), owned by the Port of New York and New Jersey, operates a carfloat between Brooklyn and Jersey City.
ALLEN
 

bbcc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC
>
Would you care to expand on this? I don't know of any rails that currently exist around Port Angeles, let alone a car ferry. (But I haven't spent a lot of time there.)

Sorry I temporarily forgot I was on a railfan website and was thinking of the ferry that takes cars/automobiles, not on rail, fromPort Angeles to Victoria Bc

Posted from iPhone

SS Badger, an ex-C&O ice breaking carferry, launched in 1952 and put into service March, 1953, operates seasonally from May to October between Ludington, MI and Manitowoc, WS. It no longer handles rail cars but handles oversize highway loads routinely such as 75-ton wind generator tower segments. It is the last large coal burning vessel in the US registry and the last vessel powered by Skinner uni-flow engines. Its sister, the SS Spartan, is a parts supply tied up at Ludington. I believe the Badger was the last steam powered vessel built for service in the US. The Badger is designated as part of US Hwy 10 and sports an oversized highway sign on its stern.
Alex Huff