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Caption: While my interest in Rail photography only spans about the last 13 years, my interest in Great Lakes Shipping began way back in 1982. This photo of auto racks being loaded onto the CN Ferry PHYLLIS YORKE combines the two interests. on this particular day my buddy Duncan White called and asked if I would like to take a ride on the CN ferry to Port Huron and back as the lake freight McKEE SONS was being towed up the St. Clair River that day but had docked in Port Huron due to weather and this would be our best chance to see it. Dunc's good friend Captain Bob Campbell was working on the PHYLLIS YORKE that day and welcomed us aboard. Anyone familiar with the Sarnia are may know that there is only one way traffic under the Bluewater Bridges but not many know why. Here's a brief synopsis why as it involves Captain Campbell. In the early morning hours of June 5, 1972, the down bound Steamer PARKER EVANS collided with the up bounder SYDNEY E. SMITH Jr., just south of the Bluewater Bridge. That night Captain Campbell and deckhand Bill Chadwick were working on the Pilot Boat SALLY M and were stationed at the nearby Purdy Fisheries dock. Upon hearing the collision and the resulting whistle blasts from the now heavily listing and sinking SMITH, Captain Campbell immediately departed the dock, maneuvering the SALLY M alongside the SMITH rescued evacuating crew members from the SMITH. All 31 crew members were safely evacuated including the Master of the SMITH, Captain Arn Kristensen(last man off). For their heroic efforts Captain Campbell and deckhand Chadwick received commendations from the United States Coast Guard. Since this accident there is now only one way traffic between the Black River entrance and buoys 1 & 2 in the Lake Huron Cut. There is a Commemorative plaque south of the bridges on the Canadian side recognizing this event.
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Remarkable story and one heck of an interesting photo as well. Thanks for posting !!
Nice photo Marc and what a great time that must have been ridding the ferry, this ferry service has always interested me and I appreciate seeing photos of it, unique vantage points such as this are pure gold.
Amazing photo and wonderful story full of history! Thanks Marc!!
Thanks fellas, I wish I had started rail photos back when I started the boats. Saw a lot of trains over the years but never photographed them.
So many tracks….
Was the point edward from this point double tracked to “East Summit” ?
Thanks for sharing your story too – I wasn’t aware that the “river” was “single tracked”
Steve, there was a passing siding between Confederation street and Vidal Street, track E2 in my 1985 diagram labeled as Vidal Street runaround, the ferry tracks and the yard were all part of zone “E” the tracks at imperial oil were in zone “X” probably why the present day job is called IOX “imperial oil x”
I’m not sure the IOX job even runs anymore – when I shoot it it’s the Bunkhouse job doing the work.
Nice one, Marc. Though you missed a lot of railroading, you certainly covered the boat scene with excellence.
Thanks Earl.