TRANSIT (1856, Steamer)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: TRANSIT
•Year of Build: 1856
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Toronto, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Steamer
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Builder Name: Myers
Power and Propulsion
•Propulsion: Sidewheel
Hull Dimensions
•Length: 115 feet
•Beam: 17 feet
•Depth: 5 feet
•Tonnage (Old Style): 109 tons
•Tonnage (Net): 69 tons
Vessel Type
The Transit was a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamer built in 1856 in Toronto, Ontario. Sidewheel steamers were widely used on the Great Lakes during this period, serving as both passenger and cargo vessels. The Transit was relatively small, at 109 tons, but it played a significant role in the regional transport network, connecting various ports along Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte.
History
The Transit had an eventful career, marked by several incidents and ownership changes:
•1860: The steamer sank at Toronto, Ontario, due to reasons not clearly documented.
•1868, May 10: The vessel was raised and returned to service.
•1869: Owned by a Mr. Hood from Toronto, the Transit was rebuilt and continued operating.
•1877: Ownership transferred to John Edgon of Hamilton, Ontario, who continued operating the vessel, likely using it for regional transport and shipping.
Final Disposition
On May 7, 1880, the Transit met its end when it caught fire and was destroyed in Belleville, Ontario, while operating in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. The details surrounding the fire are not well documented, but the steamer was a total loss. There are no records indicating if there were any casualties or whether the fire was accidental or related to operational issues.
Located By & Date
There are no known records of the wreck of the Transit being located or recovered after the fire. It is possible that little of the vessel remains due to the nature of its destruction.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational hazards are currently associated with the wreck of the Transit. The Bay of Quinte has historically seen many shipwrecks, but there are no specific warnings related to this vessel.
Resources & Links
For further exploration of the history and potential research into the Transit and similar vessels, consider these resources:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The Transit‘s history reflects the challenges faced by sidewheel steamers on the Great Lakes, where fires and other accidents were frequent, often leading to the vessel’s complete destruction.
