Name of vessel:

Ann Arbor No. 1

Nation:

US

Type:

Propeller - Wood  Hull 5" oak, sheathed 4' above and below water line with 3/16" steel, designed for 14 knots, loaded draft approximately 11' 4".

Number:

106974  first known triple screw ship in American registery, 1 foreward, two in stern
Engines: three horizontal compound, 1st stage 20", 2nd stage 40" x stroke 36", 1830 HP, 610 HP at 86 RPM, 120 pounds operating pressure, built by S. F. Hodge & Co., Detroit, Michigan.  Independent condensers could be operated at high pressure if needed.  Forward engine removed in 1896, when to Boat No. 3.

Dimensions:

260.4 x 53 x 14. 7 feet, four tracks, 24 cars

Tonnage:

1127 

Gross:

563

Net:

Date build:

1892 

Place build:

Toledo, Ohio

Builder:

Craig Shipbuilding Company, Keel: 6/10/1892 ,  Cost: $260,000

Date of launch:

September 29, 1892  Hull No. 55.  Delivered to railroad and left Toledo 11/10/1892, arrived Frankfort 11/16/1892.

Name change(s):   Date

(a) Ann Arbor No. 1
(b)

Owner(s): Name    Place Date

(1) Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan, Frankfort, MI 1892
(2) Ann Arbor Railroad Company, Frankfort, MI   1910 

Rebuilds:

Superstructure shorten to provide clearance overhead for freight cars, above 50 feet.
Hull strengthed in spring of 1907
Engine and boiler space in bow converted to grain hold.

Disposition:

Totally destroyed by fire at Manitowoc, Wis., on March 7, 1910 with total loss to the ship and her cargo, loss estimated at $1,000,000.  Towed from slip and allow to sink by south breakwall.  Coast Guard considered the hull a menace to navigation, and on 5/1911 ordered her removed.  The Smith Wrecking Company of Muskegon contracted to raise her for $8000.00, and on June 9, 1911, managed to float her.  The Hull reportly sold to Love Construction Company, Muskegon, Mich., and reduced to unregistered sand scow.

Engine Data

Type: 3 horizontal compound   Cylinder & Stroke: 20 - 40 x 36
Date of Build: 1892     Place of Build: Detroit, Mich.
Builder: S.F. Hodge Engine Works    Engine Number: 213, 214, 215
Indicator HP: 1,830
Remarks: bow engine was removed in 1896, and installed in Ann Arbor No. 3

Boiler Data

Type: fire box    Number: 3 (1 bow, 2 aft)
Size: three boilers (2) 15' x 10' 6"; (1) 15' x 6' 6', operating pressure 125 psi.  All three boilers could be connected to aft engines if desired.   Date of Build: 1892
Place of build: Buffalo, NY  
Builder: Lake Erie Boiler Works
Comment: Bow boiler 15' x 6' 6" boiler removed with forward engine 1896
Type: Scotch      Number: 2
Size: 12'7"x13'   Date of build: 1901
Place of build: Cleveland, Ohio
Builder: American Ship Building Co.
Reboiler in 1901 with two Scotch Marine 12' 7" x 131", built by American Ship Building Co., Cleveland, Ohio.

Vessel Remarks:

1. Vessel designed by Frank E. Kirby
2. Hull strengthed in spring of 1907
3. Boats No. 1 & No. 2 originally built with the overhead and ships extended aft on the car deck causing little clearenace for equipment causing damage to cargo and equipment.  Sides and overhead cut down for a distance of about 50 feet in mid 1890's.
4. Boats No. 1 & No. 2 fitted with grain hold after the forward engine was removed in the area it had occupied.
5. 1st load 4 car of coal 11/24/1892, ran aground, pulled clear by tug Favorite on 11/26/1892.
6. On Nov. 10, 1985, lost 7 box cars of freight due to heavy seas.