Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Transit
- Type: Wooden propeller car ferry
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Jenking Bros., Walkerville, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 168 ft (51.2 m); Beam: 39 ft (11.9 m); Depth of hold: 15 ft (4.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,058 GT
- Location: Windsor, Ontario, Detroit River
- Official Number: Unregistered (Canada)
- Original Owners: Grand Trunk Railway (GTR)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Transit was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven car ferry designed to transport railroad cars across the Detroit River.
Description
The Transit was built in 1872 by Jenking Bros. of Walkerville, Ontario, with a capacity to carry 10 rail cars. It served as an essential link in the rail-to-rail transfer system between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, playing a critical role in freight logistics.
History
Owned by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), the Transit became obsolete by the mid-1880s and was laid up at a Grand Trunk Railway dock in Windsor in 1884. Despite attempts to sell her, she remained inactive for several years.
Significant Incidents
- March 4, 1889: The Transit caught fire while laid up at the Grand Trunk Railway dock in Windsor. The fire spread rapidly through the wooden superstructure, fueled by dry conditions after years of inactivity. No crew was aboard, and fortunately, no lives were lost.
Final Disposition
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.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Detroit River was a bustling industrial waterway during this period, with numerous dockside fires common due to poor fire prevention measures. The loss of the Transit emphasized the need for better fire safety protocols for laid-up vessels in busy ports.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”transit-1872″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Transit represents the early evolution of car ferry transportation on the Great Lakes, serving the Grand Trunk Railway’s freight network during the late 19th century. Her destruction by fire in 1889 marks the end of an era for wooden car ferries as newer steel-hulled vessels took their place.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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