See

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/inte ... -ss-badger

The 41 is the former Midland which was cut down to a barge a few years ago.

Bob H

This could be very good news. Interlake operates some of the largest bulk carriers on the Great Lakes, including the longest, MV Paul R. Tregurtha, at 1013 feet. They are headquarted not too far from me in the Cleveland suburb of Middleburg Heights.

Hello,

The Badger has potentially (2) of the most advanced recip steam engines in commercial operation, Skinner steeple compounds. The late Jim Crank, theorized that Skinner, Ajax building marine compounds and Abner Doble automotive (Ultimax) arrived at the same conclusion in design as they were very similar.

These were Skinner's last futile attempt to match or exceed steam turbines on the lakes as the Badger was launched in 1952. Literally a regular operating museum piece. I understand they have taken sophisticated steps to strip the cylinder oil from the condensate before re-injection into the boilers. Possibly diatomaceous earth filters are used......a little more room for cleaning the make up water versus the South African Railways Class 25's condenser tenders! ;-)

Regards,

Randy

The steeple compound Skinner Unaflow was developed during WWII from the simple inline Skinner Unaflow.

The prewar City of Midland 41 had two simple inline Unaflows, and was the prototype for the powerplants of USN's Ashland Class (LSD-1-8) Landing Ship Dock and the Casablanca Class (CVE-55-104) Escort Carriers. These also had two simple inline Unaflows and were powerful enough that USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) was able to tow captured German submarine U-505 while making enough speed to conduct flight operations.

Phil Mulligan