Carferry Lansdowne with Milwaukee Road observation cars

[Anonymous]

Was wondering if people here were aware of the sinking of this? Haven't seen any mentions I believe in the news section, or the forums.

Some sad photos can be found here.

http://boatnerd.com/news/newsthumbs/newsthumbs_202.htm

Getting a lot of discussion at the Boatnerd site, but it's basically related to the historic carferry's sinking.

[Anonymous]

What´s that? Olympian Hiawatha Skytops in a lake? Now this is really a sad example of how a once proud observation car doing service on a top train can end up in the water......

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that's what they are.

It sunk in late December or early January (Forget the exact date). Had been sitting idle for years through some failed plans to make her a dining establishment.

A second attempt to reloat her will be taken soon. Don't have much hope for the Lansdowne, but I hope the observation cars find a home if it's not already too late to save them.

[Anonymous]

Sad news indeed. I thought most of these skytops were in private car service.
Exactly were was this location?

[underworld]

It was in Erie Pennsylvania....unless it was moved very recent. In the 80s and early 90s it was a restaurant and night club, docked near Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit. The last time I got to go to it was in 1992. It was a fun place.

underworld

aka The Violet

[daveklepper]

Rode one once in my life.

[passengerfan]

These were the Pullman Standard built Skytops built for the Olympian Hiawatha and later sold to the CN who repainted them in the black and white sheme and assigned them to the OCEAN, SCOTIAN and CHALEUR. I belive they were then assigned to the Jasper - Prince Rupert service until the Canada Transport decided that they were to dangerous to operate as they did not have emergency exits or a boarding vestibule. They were then sold off to private owners with those on the Lansdowne converted to a restaurant in Detroit. Sad to see them in the shape they are in now hope they can be salvaged.

[csmith9474]

That is enough to make one sick!!!!

[Anonymous]

I could just cry seeing those pictures! Somebody better save them!

[Anonymous]

Good news, the Lansdowne was refloated today after over a month of being on the bottom (Sunk on Christmas day).

And yes, it's located at Presque Isle Bay in Erie. But Erie has ordered it to be removed.

[PBenham]

That is a very sad ending, indeed. It was in Buffalo for a while when its owners tried to start somthing in Buffalo, which is about the WORST place in the world to try to start anything!

[RRCharlie]

Ferry was refloated in Erie, PA this past week. The Erie Times-Nes web site had photographs and story. The city wants the "barge" moved. This is the first step. Don't know where it will be taken. Needless to saw, the MILW cars were flooded. "Fresh" Lake Erie water though. Not salt water.

Mel Hazen
Jacksonville, FL