Propeller Car Ferry Transit (1872–1889)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Transit
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: Unregistered (Canada)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden propeller car Ferry (10-car capacity)
• Builder: Jenking Bros., Walkerville, Ontario
• Year Built & Launched: 1872
• Specifications:  Length: 168 ft (51.2 m)  Beam: 39 ft (11.9 m)  Depth: 15 ft (4.6 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,058 GT
• Net Tonnage: 719 NT 
• Date Lost: March 4, 1889
• Location of Loss: Windsor, Ontario, Detroit River
• Cause of Loss: Fire at layup dock
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (laid up at dock)

Vessel Description & Service History

The transit was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven car Ferry, built in 1872 by Jenking Bros. of Walkerville, Ontario, specifically designed to transport railroad cars across the Detroit River.  Owned by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), one of the largest railway operators in Canada at the time.  Capacity to carry 10 rail cars, serving as an essential link in the rail-to-rail transfer system across the river between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.  Like other early car ferries, the Transit played a critical role in freight logistics, helping move goods and railcars without unloading cargo, which saved significant time and labour.

However, with advancements in Ferry design and the construction of newer, more efficient vessels, the Ransit became obsolete by the mid-1880s.  Laid up at a Grand Trunk Railway dock in Windsor in 1884, she remained inactive for several years as the company attempted to sell her without success.

Incident & Loss (March 4, 1889)

On March 4, 1889, while still laid up at the Grand Trunk Railway dock in Windsor, the Ransit caught fire under unclear circumstances.  The fire spread rapidly through the vessel’s wooden superstructure, fueled by dry conditions after years of inactivity.  No crew was aboard, as the vessel had been out of service since 1884, and fortunately, no lives were lost.  Efforts to extinguish the blaze were unsuccessful, and the Ransit was completely destroyed, leaving only a charred Hull. The cause of the fire was never definitively determined, though theories ranged from accidental ignition to possible arson, as the vessel had become a financial burden for its owners.

Final Disposition & Salvage

After the fire, the hulk of the Transit was dismantled, with salvageable metal parts recovered. The wooden remains were likely scrapped locally or left to decay along the riverbank. No significant modern wreckage is believed to exist. No modern discovery of wreck remains. The vessel was likely completely dismantled shortly after the fire.

NOTMARs & Advisories

 The Detroit River was a bustling industrial waterway during this period, with numerous dockside fires common due to poor fire prevention measures and the prevalence of wooden ships and structures.  The loss of the Transit emphasized the need for better fire safety protocols, especially for laid-up vessels in busy ports.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): https://greatlakeships.org

Conclusion

The Transit represents the early evolution of car Ferry transportation on the Great Lakes, serving the Grand Trunk Railway’s growing freight network during the late 19th century. Her destruction by fire in 1889, while inactive, marks the end of an era for wooden car ferries as newer steel-hulled vessels took their place. The incident serves as a reminder of the hazards faced by laid-up vessels and the changing nature of maritime technology during this period of industrial growth.