D.R.C.L. #2 (1955, Scow Barge)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: D.R.C.L. #2
• Type: Scow Barge
• Year Built: Unknown
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Not specified
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Approximately 38 km (24 miles) west of Leamington, Lake Erie
• Coordinates: Not specifically charted
• Original Owners: Dominion Railway & Contracting Ltd. (inferred from initials)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

D.R.C.L. #2 was a steel scow barge, almost certainly designed to haul construction materials or dredge spoil. Barges of this era often operated on Lake Erie under tow, moving aggregate, fill, or heavy equipment in support of large-scale marine construction and shoreline works.

Description

Little has been documented about this specific scow, but its naming convention suggests it was part of a Dominion Railway & Contracting Ltd. fleet, likely supporting pier, dredging, or harbour contracts across southwestern Ontario.

On November 20, 1955, D.R.C.L. #2 was caught in a late-season gale on Lake Erie while under tow. Weather conditions on Lake Erie that day were reported as severe, with winds exceeding 50 km/h and waves reaching over 3 metres (10 feet). At some point, the barge foundered and went down about 38 km west of Leamington. There is no record of casualties, suggesting it was unmanned at the time or the crew was safely evacuated.

History

The D.R.C.L. #2 sank in deep water west of Leamington, Lake Erie, and was presumed a total loss. There are no known salvage records.

Significant Incidents

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are published for this wreck, but local hydrographic charts advise caution for uncharted obstructions in that general area.

Final Disposition

There is no confirmed location for the wreck, and it is presumed undiscovered on the lakebed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck has not been documented or surveyed, and its condition is unknown. If located, it would likely be heavily silted or broken down given the construction style of 1950s steel scows and the exposure of Lake Erie’s dynamic shallows.

Resources & Links

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D.R.C.L. #2’s loss is an example of how even sturdy working barges were at risk on Lake Erie, especially in late fall gales. The site has never been located, and its status remains one of the many routine but important workboat losses on the Great Lakes, reflecting the hazards faced by marine contractors and their support fleets.