Six Lakers Laid-Up, 1961

 

The Marine History Society of Detroit shared this photo of Canada Steamship Lines canallers rafted together, laid-up on the west side of their Kingston grain elevator: "Canada Steamship Line's canal-size vessels Fernie, Selkirk, Winnipeg, Elgin, Teakbay and Battleford await their fate at the Kingston Elevator Company's grain elevator in Kingston, Ontario in 1961. Five of the six vessels had been sold for scrap by the end of 1964." (Peter Vander Linden collection/MHSD) The Battleford was laid-up in Kingston from 1961-66.

Interestingly, at the bottom of the post, there's a link to a post I published about Kingston's grain elevator on my main Canadian railway blog, Trackside Treasure in 2018. For more on Kingston's various lay-up fleets and locations, see this earlier post on this blog. Additional information on the six vessels published above accompanied the MHSD post:

Fernie - Launched in 1929, the freighter Fernie was built in Midland, Ont. by the Midland Shipbuilding Co. for Canada Steamship Lines of Montreal, Que. The 259-foot vessel was designed for the fast package freight trade between Montreal and Fort William, Ont. It was sold for scrap in 1963.

Selkirk - Launched in 1926, the freighter Selkirk was built in Lauzon, Que. by the Davie Shipbuilding & Repair Co. for Canada Steamship Lines (CSL). The 261-foot vessel was designed for the fast package freight trade between Montreal and Fort William, Ont. It was sold for scrap in 1964, towed from Kingston to a Hamilton scrapyard

Winnipeg - Launched in 1926, the freighter Winnipeg was built in Lauzon, Que. by the Davie Shipbuilding & Repair Co. for CSL. The 261-foot vessel was designed for the fast package freight trade between Montreal and Fort William, Ont. It was sold for scrap in 1964.

Elgin - Launched in 1923, the freighter Elgin (ex-Glengeldie) was built in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England by the shipyard of Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. The 261-foot vessel was acquired by CSL in 1926. It was sold for scrap in 1963.

Teakbay - Launched in 1929, the freighter Teakbay was built in South Bank-on-Tees, England by the Smith Dock Co. for the Birchbay Steamship Co. of Montreal, Que. The 259-foot vessel was acquired by CSL 1946. It was sold for scrap in 1964, towed from Kingston to a Hamilton scrapyard.

Battleford - Launched in 1925, the freighter Battleford (ex-Glenross) was built in Newcastle, England by the shipyard of Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson for the Glen Steamship Co. The 261-foot vessel (LOA) was acquired by CSL in 1926. After being lengthened by 95 feet, the ship was laid up for most of the 1930s when it was found to be under-powered for its new length. In 1939, the vessel was returned to its original length and converted into a package freighter. It was sold to British interests for off-lakes service in 1966. The freighter was sold for scrap in 1975.