All,

I have been sent a picture of steam tug in New York Central colors at the museum in Manhatten in 1978. She looks just like she did in her glory days. Outside of the NYC logo on the funnel there are no other markings; the Brooklyn Bridge is visible in the background.

It is my understanding she is no longer there. What was she, and where did she go? I have seen pictures of Hay-De (ex-NYC Tugboat #13), and I don't think she had her funnel nor her green livery in quite some time. She is also definitely not #16, which was rescued from Witte's, cut off at the waterline, and placed on static display at Shaw's Restaurant, Buzzards Bay, MA.

Thanks in advance for any help rendered.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steamships
james1@pernet.net

James and all;

The Lighter New York Central 29 was given to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York in 1970.
She was a stick lighter first with wooden masts and later steel masts then no masts. Was used later as a water boat with the name AQUA.

She was in very poor condition especially around the waterline where you could see through it.
I worked on her at the time. The logo you saw was re-painted after we removed several layers of barn red paint.

She was placed ashore in Brooklyn to protect her from the ice in the East River. Later the land came up for re-use and she was broken up.

The only good part of this sad tale is that her single cylinder "Puffing Billy" steam engine was saved; it is still in the Seaport collection.

Now a non-railroad tug the Helen Mac Allister ex
Admiral Dewey (built 1900) has taken her place. Now she is no longer steam.
NYC 29 was the last up and down steam engine active in the Harbor.
Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov