P6987

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Details

ID Number

P6987

Item Name

Image

Title

Windsor Railcar Ferry / Navire transbordeur de Windsor

Title (Fre)

Navire transbordeur de Windsor

Description

Black and white photograph of the rail ferry Windsor on the Detroit River; the end of the ship is facing the camera; three railroad cars are secured onto the ship and five men are standing on the deck; there are lifeboats hanging on each side and two staircases leading up to a deck that spans the ship above the cars; "Windsor" is painted on the crossbar of the deck and there is a small white cabin on top.

History

This railcar ferry named "Windsor" is from the ealy 1900s. A previous "Windsor" was a 250 ton side-wheeled bulk steamer built by Dr. George B. Russell in 1856. Dr. Russell leased Windsor to the railways shortly after she entered service on the Detroit River for carrying passengers and freight. The Windsor played an important role in the development of the area when, on July 16, 1857, she laid the first submarine telegraph lines under the Detroit River. On April 26, 1866 Windsor was accidentally set afire at the Brush St. dock in Detroit when a man examined a leaking barrel of naphtha with a lighted lantern in hand. There was a violent explosion which scattered blazing naphtha in all directions. Fire engulfed the ferry, dock, freight and passenger trains. The lines holding the ship were ablaze and the steamer broke loose and started drifting down the river. The fire cut off all means of escape to the dock and the ferry passengers were forced to jump into the cold dark waters of the Detroit River. Twenty-eight lives were reported lost by fire or drowning. Following the fire Windsor was rebuilt as a barge and served for many more years on the river, but never again as a ferry.

Place made

Canada - Ontario - Windsor

Collection Name

Museum Windsor

Topic

Detroit River / Rivière Détroit

Subjects

Employees / Employés

Ferries / Traversiers

Great Western Railway / Chemin de fer Great Western

Men / Hommes

Railroad cars / Wagons

Railroad ferries / Traversier de chemin de fer

Rivers / Cours d'eau

Russell, Dr. George B.

Side wheelers / Bateaux à aubes

Windsor (Ont.)

Related Objects

P5005