Does this steamer still exist, in any form?

BATH IRON WORKS HULL #61 -RANGELEY
"Coastal Passenger Steamer for the Maine Central Railroad.
185'-2"long, 35'-6"beam, 14'-6"depth,10'-6"draft, displacement 710 light ship, 1 triple expansion steam engine, 1,200 horsepower, single screw. Launched March 12,1913, delivered March 22,1913. Struck an uncharted ledge on trials, minor damage. Used in the Maine coastal passenger trade out of Portland. Sold in 1925 to the Hudson River Line, renamed CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW, and used as a Hudson River Day Liner. Sold to the United States Navy for World War II as a transport for men and supplies between New York City and Sandy Hook, New Jersey. After the war was sold to Benjamin B. Willis of Washington, D.C. and used as an excursion and transfer boat in Bermuda. Returned to the United States in 1970 and sold to private interests. Lost on the breakwater in Chesapeake Bay. Three years later was raised and rebuilt as a restuarant which was still operating in New Jersey in 1986."

In 1987, the Allegheny Foundation donated $110,000. for the restoration of the SS Rangeley. Where is it now?



SJHussar@aol.com

I believe the Rangely was scrapped in NJ about 1991.

tomcough@comcast.net

She sank at her dock around 1990 or 91, and was brought up in pieces and hauled away for scrap. I don't recall off the top of my head what the circumstances were that caused her to sink.

rjenkins@northeasternmaritime.org

I seem to remember that it was one of the same winter Nor'easters that got the Alexander Hamilton, that did in the Chauncy. Those Day Line ships were unlucky that way. The Peter Styvasent was killed by a winter storm in Boston where she was in use as a "floating" restaurant. She was knocked off a steel cradle and capsized.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

Thanks for all your responses, and what a shame. The linked page below has some excellent historic photos, including an in-service image of the Rangeley.

Anyone know if she was restored, before she sank?


http://www.imagesofthepastgallery.com/collections/Maine/c-maine.htm
SJHussar@aol.com

> Anyone know if she was restored, before she
> sank?

She was in use as a floating restaurant before she sank, and if I remember correctly ownership had just been transferred, or was about to be transferred, to the Rangely Foundation for preservation.


richard@northeasternmaritime.org

> Thanks for all your responses, and what a
> shame. The linked page below has some
> excellent historic photos, including an
> in-service image of the Rangeley.

> Anyone know if she was restored, before she
> sank?
Two of the other steamers shown on this link, the Norumbega and Moosehead, were also Maine Central boats.

Friends of Bedford Depot Park
tomcough@comcast.net