I am a retired Norfolk Southern ferry captain. I retired when the service was discontinued in April 1994. I began working as a deckhand on the Wabash boats in Jan.1955 and later as AB Wheelsman, Lookout. The fleet consisted of three steam ferries, Windsor, Manitowoc and Detroit and briefly in 1957 the chartered PM 14.

In October of 1969 the Norfolk and Western Ry. leased the Wabash Ry. and as a condition of its merger with the Southern Ry. purchased the Wabash and decided to convert the three steam ferries to barges(car floats) and purchased two tugs to handle the barges. R.G.Cassidy and F.A.Johnson. I was selected to train under supervision of two captains from the Mississippi river to explain how the Flanking Rudders were used in handling the barges. I obtained my license from the U.S Coast Guard inspection office in Toledo and began my career 1970.

I have always been interested in lake shipping and living in Riverside Ontario I was down at the river in my teen years. I would write the names of the boats as they passed by my location at what is now Reaume Park in Windsor. I began taking photos in 1949. I was lucky enough to get the Wilfred Sykes on her maiden voyage in

1949 in the Amherstburg channel . I was fortunate to be able have a camera with me in the pilothouse while I was working and continue using it today.

I enjoy viewing all of the many excellent entries on Flickr.