Last of a kind....Coal Power

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BigBarney
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Post by BigBarney » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 8:39 pm

This is the last one of the coal powered ships still in use today...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Badger

Badger is the last large coal-burning steamship in the United States and is the last vessel in service on the Great Lakes to be powered by Skinner Unaflow engines (manufactured by the Skinner Company of Erie, Pennsylvania).[a]

https://www.ssbadger.com/


https://www.asme.org/about-asme/engineering-histo ... r-carferry

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-mac ... ly-148777/

The final commercial evolution of the uniflow engine occurred in the United States during the late 1930s and 1940s by the Skinner Engine Company with the development of the Compound Unaflow Marine Steam Engine.[1] This engine operates in a steeple compound configuration and provides efficiencies approaching contemporary diesels. Many car ferries on the Great Lakes were so equipped, one of which is still operating, SS Badger of 1952. The Casablanca-class escort carrier, the most prolific aircraft carrier design in history, used two 5-cylinder Skinner Unaflow engines, but these were not steeple compounds. A non-compound Skinner Uniflow remained in service until 2013 in the Great Lakes cement carrier SS St. Marys Challenger, installed when the vessel was re-powered in 1950.

In small sizes (less than about 1,000 hp (750 kW)), reciprocating steam engines are much more efficient than steam turbines. White Cliffs Solar Power Station used a three-cylinder uniflow engine with "Bash"-type admission valves to generate about 25 kW electrical output.

We hope the ferry will operate this summer so we can ride this historical landmark, part of route 10..

BigBarney

 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 8:56 pm

I wasn't aware of that BB, we are camping in Ludington MI this summer and were thinking about heading into Wisconsin on the Badger but the $566.00 fair for a 4 hr oneway trip was a bit steep. :o but maybe we should.

 
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BigBarney
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Post by BigBarney » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 9:45 pm

Fares:

https://www.ssbadger.com/trip-planner/schedule-fares.html

Engine details:

http://www.carferries.com/skinner

Travel round trip without a vehicle returning within 48 hours and pay just $89 per adult. Children, ages 5-15 are just $29 each. Children under 5 are free. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.


We were going one way and going to Green Bay for vacation then drive down around

lower Lake Michigan then back home.

They also have day sails but the page is not updated yet probably due to covid 19.


BigBarney
Last edited by BigBarney on Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 9:48 pm

Ive been on the Badger twice. Once it was getting dark, warm clear August night, real calm and there were some sailboats camping for the night out on the lake. i wonder if they knew the wind was going to die and did it on purpose but it was neat to see. The other time was the redeye at night. That was less enjoyable than seeing a sunset on the lake but still neat, other than the busload of kids singing on the deck, lol.

I wouldnt waste the extra money for a room. you can sleep in the theater, I dont care what the signs say. Harder to sleep on the deck as noisy. I was by myself so the cost made sense. more than 2 people and I doubt it. Seems like it was around $40 at the time, but I cant remember if that was for my car and me, or for each one.

At that time, both in the 1990s, some people crossed over for jobs and stayed for the week. I dont know if they still do.

 
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Post by fig » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 11:37 pm

I wonder if it’s self steering 🧐

 
lincolnmania
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Post by lincolnmania » Fri. Jan. 15, 2021 11:51 pm



 
hank2
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Post by hank2 » Tue. Jan. 19, 2021 3:53 am

Great stuff! What a crew to run that, especially boilermates, oilers and electricians. I had planned to take the Badger a few years ago on a western motorcycle trip that never happened.

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Tue. Jan. 19, 2021 5:24 am

Being a Michigander I have been on the Badger. I used to go to the Oshkosh fly in every year and meet my family at Silver Lake sand dunes just 30 minutes South of Ludington. Family don't care to much for aviation but we have had a cottage at Silver Lake since 1980. Oshkosh is not far from Manitowoc so was a time saver. A little expensive but was nice to relax for 4 hours.

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