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600-footers

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The 600-footers were a class of lake freighters all built to the design of the J. Pierpont Morgan.[1][2] The J. Pierpont Morgan was launched in April, 1906, and was, at the time, the longest vessel on the Great Lakes.

Her sister ships were not all identical. Minor modifications were made. Mark L. Thompson, author of Queen of the Lakes, wrote that between 56 and 76 vessels were built to this design.[2]

The 600-footers could use harbours that larger 730 feet (220 m) seawaymax vessels can't use. Until 1961 no vessel longer than 600 feet was able to access Cleveland's harbour.[2]

The vessels' draught was 19 feet (5.8 m).[3] Their beam was 58 feet (18 m). They were powered by triple expansion steam engines, providing 1,800 shaft horsepower (1,300 kW), and could carry 11,000 tons of cargo. They cost $440,000 to construct, in 1906 dollars.

selected 600-footers
image initial
name
launched retired notes
J. Pierpont Morgan 1906-04-18 1979
Henry H. Rogers 1906-06-16
  • Was approximately one foot longer than the J. Pierpont Morgan, making her, briefly, Queen of the Lakes.[2]
Norman R. Beam 1906-08-18 1990
  • ended her life as a permanently moored barge.[3]
Peter A.B. Widener 1906-10-20
Edward Y. Townsend 1906 1968
Daniel J. Morrell 1906 1966
  • Broke up in a storm on Lake Huron on 29 November 1966, 28 out of 29 crew lost.
Henry Phipps 1907 1976
Col. James M. Schoonmaker 1911-07-01
  • modified to be 617 feet (188 m), Queen of the Lakes.
D.G. Kerr 1916[4]
D.M. Clemson 1917
Eugene W. Pargny 1917-01-20 1984
Homer D. Williams 1917
August Zeising 1917
William H Warner 1923

References

[edit]
  1. ^ American Society of Marine Engineers (1953). The Log, Volume 48. Miller Freeman Publications. p. 49. Until the 1920s this class of vessel was considered just about the ultimate in size.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mark L. Thompson (1994). Queen of the Lakes. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 9780814343371.
  3. ^ a b Mark L. Thompson (1991). Steamboats & Sailors of the Great Lakes. Wayne State University Press. p. 48. ISBN 9780814323595.
  4. ^ "RPPC SHIP FREIGHTER SS DG KERR built 1916". Flickr. 12 November 2014. RPPC SHIP FREIGHTER SS DG KERR built 1916 600 footer SS DG KERR and Pittsburgh Steamship Company SS WILLIAM A. McGONAGLE launched Real Photo Antique Photo Postcard Photographer UNK3