Milwaukee Road observation cars

douglasm · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 3:18 pm

Does anyone know 1) the current status of the ex CN carferry Lansdowne that sank last year in Erie, PA (?) and the ex- Milwaukee Road observation cars that were on the deck?

pactrail · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 3:48 pm

Check out this link. If it doesn't work, do a search on Lansdowne in www.railroadforums.com.

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/sho ... =Lansdowne

douglasm · **Posted:** Sun May 27, 2007 5:41 pm

I probably should have checked that thread since I started it, but the most recent information there was late last year. Anybody got any more recent information? I'd think there'd be some interest somewhere in the Skytop obsdervations......

buzz_morris · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:32 pm **Posts:** 344

After a salvage crew raised the ferry it was towed to Buffalo NY by a long range tug, and tied to a pier in the Niagara River. I had seen some photos posted on a Great Lakes shipping forum but can’t locate them now.
If anyone has more info please post it as I was a little suspicious of the scrap steel operation near that site.

buzz_morris · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:32 pm **Posts:** 344

Just did some googleing and found some links, most from about a year ago when the Lansdowne was towed by the tug Ohio to the BIDCO shipyard in Buffalo July 18, 2006.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=177398

http://railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?=&p=369022

http://fixbuffalo.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

I looked on Google earth and did not see her there. She and the skytops should be visible from Ohio Street across the river. Anyone want to report on that?

Don C. · **Posted:** Mon May 28, 2007 9:32 am

Skytop "Cedar Rapids" will be on the move on June 2 and 3 behind Milwaukee Road 261 between Minneapolis and Duluth. She'll also be operating on a dinner train on the North Shore Scenic Railroad on Saturday night, June 2. At least "Cedar Rapids" will escape the apparent fate of the two "Creek" series cars on the Lansdowne.

Don C.

Heavenrich · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 630

The skytops were essentially ruined as "railroad" cars when they were placed on the Lansdowne years ago when it was in Detroit because large portions were taken out of their sides etc.

Bob H

buzz_morris · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:32 pm **Posts:** 344

I know they were gutted to be converted to a restaurant, and then what was left was pretty much destroyed by vandals. I still have a soft spot for what was left. I grew up near the Milwaukee shops, had friends and relatives that worked there.
The Lansdowne, in the late '60's, was also the oldest paddle wheel steamer operating on the Great Lakes. I’d still hate to see it all melted down for rebar.
Also wondered if the original Nystrom trucks were with the cars, they should be of interest to the other Skytop owners/operators