Chief Wawatam
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- A look at the Great Lakes carferry Chief Wawatam and the railroads that served it from the 1911 until its demise in 1984. I uploaded this a few years ago but there were some issues and it was taken down. Those issues have since been resolved, so here it is again.
Well done. I'm former Michigan Northern Railway (1976-1977) guy who switched Mack City yard in waist deep snow on occasion and helped unload the Chief when the D&M couldn't on one occasion. After that event, the D&M slapped a derail just outside town on the GR&I (PRR, PC) route we operated into Mackinaw City with a huge "D&M Junction" sign so MN crews couldn't get to the boat without them knowing about it. I rode the Chief across the Straits in February 1977 breaking ice all the way in both directions. I had the run of the boat and while the pilot house was a great view (Captain Graham was in your video), I spent a lot of time in the engine room watching the stokers hand bomb the boilers. Seeing the engine room scenes in the movie "Titanic" took me right back to that time in the Chief's engine room. I have many 35mm slides of the trip which I could lend to an update of this video. The only thing remaining is the depot. While there several years ago, I saw the place where the way bill box was on the north side of the building. Waybills for cars in the bill box that we picked up from the Chief always came in Duluth South Shore and Atlantic envelopes, of which I still have several in my collection.
The Chief would be a great model to build on a model train layout! Hmm, that gives me an idea....
Well done on so many levels !! This is the standard for all ferry / rail videos . I so remember seeing this stuff as a kid in the early 60's . Great memories.
This is very well done and a subject dear to my heart: northern Michigan railroads. I’m a lifelong Michigander of an age to have just gotten a taste of all this. She’s a a beautiful boat and the images here are the first I’ve seen of the interior. The pride the crew and fitters have for the old girl shows through in how tidy the wheelhouse was. The Great Lakes car ferries were all fascinating but the Chief was unique. These images and evocative music triggered emotions and nostalgic longing for a time and place, unfortunately, that’s been erased by time. Again, an outstanding presentation.
I feel you brother , I grew up in the late 1950's ,outside Detroit ; my folks always spent summers vacation "up north " . We were on Benway Lake , between Central Lake and Ellsworth. Once we got to Clare, we considered ourselves "up north". And this was pre I -75 , mind you. I remember the ferry , pre Big Mac and going to St . Ignace by car . My Dads 1952 Ford Victoria with 3 on the tree. A coupe no less. NO seatbelts. I too and a Michigander , now living in TN. But watching stuff like this really gets the emotions flowing. I am a huge fan of Northern Michigan railroads . I have great memories of C&O trains 25 & 26 at the depot in Central Lake , and Bellaire ,MI. Big blue, maize and silver E 7, baggage car and a few rider coaches. Man I wish I had a camera then. Years later C&O GP 30's on freight and I had an Instamatic 104 ! We gotta spend some time sharing stories , yes ? Please drop a note !
Thanks to you for another great, historical railroad and maritime treasure.
So much footage I've never seen. Thanks for a great video!
I’m from Northeastern PA and I never thought I’d be caring this much about an obscure car ferry from Northern Michigan. Absolutely incredible video history.
Omigosh! One of the best railroad car ferry videos EVER! No aspect of the operation, on water or land, missed. Sharks in the Great Lakes even, in color, no less!?!
Fantastic! Got to see it as a child, in the early 70's, as we would go to the U.P. every summer vacationing.
I have a (slide) pic of the Chief underway taken from the bridge in the 80's . Had a good friend whose father went to Tech and told him of frantic trips up old 23 to get to the loading dock as not to miss her.
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing this!
Very nice! I did not expect to see Baldwins. Was that all at the same slip? How many slips did the Chief have? I liked the music, was that Vaughan Williams?
There were 2 "slips", one in Mackinac City and one in St. Ignace. The ferry went between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. The music is by Bear McCreary from the Battlestar Galactica soundtracks.
Wow, amazing video, we used to go to the UP with my Grandparents and see the Chief Wawatam, always amazed to us kids, so many memories!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this! Think I rode this in 1957 as a baby, if they took vehicles in those days before the bridge. family pictures sure look to match
Automobile passage on the Chief ended after 1923 when the State Ferries were established. The State Ferries ended in 1957 with the opening of the bridge, so your childhood trip was almost certainly on the State Ferry before it shut down.
I never knew the DSS&A served the Chief. The Center cabs & sharks were interesting I saw the Chief in operation about 1978. Thanks!
The DSS&A serviced the St. Ignace landing on a line that split from the Sault St Marie main at Soo Junction.
Good vidéo
+ 1 suscriber !
From France 😉
@fmnut: I wanted to give you an update on the TVA FM: it has been preserved at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. See my post on your TVA FM video for more info.
Yes, I was aware of that. Looking forward to seeing it operating again.
Fantastic. I love this video. You don't miss a thing.
Very nice video, LIKE.
Another excellent video Fmnut. I never seen footage and pictures like this. Interesting view of the Chief both interior and exterior shots are nice and the railways are well documented. Great to see both D&M and Michigan Northern. I really like the way that peninsula with the hydro poles and rail line looked when the Chief Wawatam was loading/unloading freight cars. Thank you Fmnut !
amazing video... combo of history ,RARE footage, editied flawlessly...one of those operations/regions never got to see in person, bout this is the next best thing!
Just awesome.
I can't remember but wasn't there an effort underway to try and save the ship but it ended up Catching Fire and sinking before that could happen ?
Yes, there was an effort to save it that failed for lack of financial backing. It was sold to Purvis Marine of Soo Ontario and had the superstructure cut off converting it into a barge for hauling scrap.
Awesome video, I really enjoyed that one. Thanks
Great video I really enjoyed watching 😀
Pretty much has it all. Only thing missing is a calliope.😉
So let me get this straight. Denmark to Rockwood was abandoned because no more service for that line?
Yes.
@@fmnut so Green Bay to New Londons line was abandoned because of no more rail service and business were shutting down?
@@Eric-un5ov After WC bought the GB&W, that portion of the line was no longer needed for through trains as other routes were available. In general, rather than on line industries shutting down, it's more likely they switch to trucks, especially after rail service deteriorates due to poor track and fewer service days per week.
Poor track conditions? So CN would have purchased GBWs line either way is what your saying
@@Eric-un5ov yes
Fantastic collection of stuff, must have taken you ages to put this together and a top job you've done.
Thanks, and yes, it did take ages. I would never have done it without Google.
Awesome job!
Enjoyed every bit of it!
Hopefully someday we'll see 1205 & 1216 restored
Do not hold your breath , as long as Larson owns them at least . They sit up in Wells, MI.on the E&LS. , not certain they are still inside , but sure hope so.
🚂👍👍👍👍🎥😊
wow awesome new video. love them all. certainly the ones in bc Kootenays
I can hardly believe they ran steam stern wheelers river boats on the Fraser. Wild country BC.
Great video
Anyone know the location at 14:45?
Along Mullett lake following MI 27 between Mullett Lake and Topinabee.
@@fmnut Thank you
Sure do, its at Mullet Lake , just north of Aloha, MI. Right off of HWY 33.
Superb !