The 32-mile long Detroit River was and remains one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and for 130 years, cross-river rail ferry traffic played a major role in the socio-economic growth of the lower Great Lakes region, particularly between Detroit, Michigan and neighbor Windsor, Ontario. Because of their utilitarian appearance, the river rail ferry drew far less public attention than the big historic steam-driven boats that plied the water of Lake Michigan, i.e. S.S.Badger and S.S. Milwaukee Clipper. However, the importance of the river ferries was not diminished.

Great Western Railroad of Canada (fore-runner of the Canadian National) was the initial operator of Detroit River rail ferry service, and it was not by coincidence that the first rail ferry was named "Great Western." The 220-footer was built in Scotland, knocked-down and placed into kits with re-assembly taking place in Port Edward, Ontario in 1866. At the time, the vessel was lagest steel/iron-hulled boat on the Great Lakes. The side-wheeler ferry worked originally between Port Huron, MI and Sarnia, Ontario before being transferred to the Detroit-Windsor route. (Photo right depicts Canadian Natioanl's Lansdowne which was built in 1884.)

By 1900, Port Huron-Sarnia and Detroit-Windsor rail ferry service was being operated by several other railroads, including Canadian Pacific, Grand Trunk Western, Michigan Central and Pere Marquette.

With the opening of CN's Port Huron Tunnel in 1891 and Michigan Central's Detroit River Tunnel in 1906, the two railroads gradually sold their ferry interests to the GTW and the Wabash RR respectively. Although specific numbers are not readily available, it is generally accepted that rail ferries collectively transported an enormous volume of freight tonnage and millions of passengers between the east and west banks of the river. (Photo: Tom Rock was dockside on August 13, 1956 to watch the arrival and unloading of the Wabash railroad's 26-year-old Manitowoc.)

Fourteen different rail ferries had been operated by railroads from the mid 1800s until the 1990s;they included both side-wheeler and propellar-driven vessels. Those 14 ferries are briefly outlined in the table at the bottom of this webpage. Although many of the steel or wooden-hull boats had a rich history, the two most notable arguably were the Grand Trunks's International which was the first propeller-driven ferry on the river, along with GT's Huron which navigated the waters between Michigan and Ontario for 95 years.

Historically, January 15th had marked the official closing of the Great Lakes shipping season; and it would be re-opened typically ten weeks later on March 25th (or 24th if the winter had been mild). During the shutdown, the large lake freighters were repaired and readied for the long upcoming season; likewise the SOO Locks would undergo major repairs, along with any defered maintenance. But down on the Detroit River, area railroads continued to move passenger and freight traffic between Michigan and Ontario thanks to the durable, dependable rail ferries. (The adjacent photo comes from the collection of Tom Rock)