Here's one from the better late than never department. The San Francisco Maritime Park has owned the ocean going tug Hercules for many years.

But we have never had up to now the exact day that the tug was launched. Now that more and more historical records had been put on the Internet we have the date, June 22,1907, from the Philadelphia Inquirer that she first entered the water in Camden, New Jersey.

The HERCULES then proceeded to steam around to San Francisco via the Straight of Magellan towing her sister tug. The Goliah was the fuel tank that allowed this record breaking tow job!

So the moral of the story is never give up on a research promlem. The answer is out there somewhere!

Ted Miles

How is the Hercules return to steam progressing?

Wasn't the Hercules owned for a while by the Western Pacific?

Brian,

Yes, her career was in two parts; the ocean going period and the harbor period with the WP.

She towed barges of Western Pacific freight cars until 1960, when the WP vuilt a Diesel powered car float to do the work. She was names Los Plumas.

And the float still exists as a plain rail barge in British Columbia.

Ted Miles

Stephen,

The boiler has been tested and passed by the American
Bureau of Ships.

It is the need and desire to make her steam that is lacking here in the park.

Perhaps it will happen in time.

Ted Miles

Trinity Marine claims to have the pilothouse telegraph for Hercules for sale.

http://www.trinitymarine.co.uk/displayproduct.phtml?product_id=1633&category_id=81af9d888812df8340124a174d57a16e

What is this about?