Attempts to save oldest freighter on Great Lakes fail

[Robert T]

Attempts to save oldest freighter on Great Lakes fail; E.M. Ford headed to scrapyard.

The engine the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary had its eye on was a 1,500-horsepower, quadruple-expansion steam engine, very similar to the engine used in the Titanic and White Star Line.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1226420125285740.xml&coll=4

[Mark D]

They might think it's very similar to those of the Titanic, but only in that they both have reciprocating steam engines. Titanic's recip engines are triple expansion, not quadruple, and back when they were operable could develop 15,000 horsepower each. The turbine developed another 12,000.
Still, sad to lose E.M. Ford. We can't save them all, but there isn't much left of the great Great Lakes fleet of the earlier days of the 20th century.
Mark D.