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The Lackawanna Fleet by Rev. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. In the early Eighties, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway began package freight operations on the Great Lakes, using one or two chartered vessels. The corporate name of this operation originally was Lackawanna Transportation Company of Buffalo. In later years, this name was shortened to Lake Transit Co. Captain Marcus M. Drake and Messrs. John J. McWilliams, P. P. Miller and J. E. Ball, all well-known Buffalo marine men, are listed as managers at various times. In 1887 and 1888 the railroad began building its own ships. The colors of the Lackawanna vessels were: black hull, white cabins, and all black stack. There was a large plock-lettered logo "L.T.Co." in white on the hull near the bow. The fleet ceased operations in 1907 when the last two units were sold. The following ships are known to have been owned or chartered by the line: FLORIDA (US. 120753), wooden package freight propel lor built for the fleet at Buffalo, probably by Robert Mills & Co. in 1889 270' x 40' x 15'4"; 2,103 gross tons. Lost on Lake Huron, in collision with the wooden bulk freighter GEORGE WwW. ROBY, May 20, 1897. FLORIDA was a very near sister vessel of WYOMING, to be described later. Gale > GRAND TRAVERSE (ex MORLEY, US. 91129), wooden steam barge built by W. B. Morley at Marine City in 1879: 181' x 33' x 14'; 869 gross tons. Powered by an old steeple compound engine built by Murphy at Detroit back in 1857 which had come out of the W. H. PRINGLE. The MORLEY was rebuilt in 1896 at Port Huron by Dunford and Alverson and renamed at that time. The vessel was sunk in collision with the freighter LIVINGSTONE off Colchester Shoal on Lake Erie, October 20, 1896. It was owned by Lackawanna at the time of loss. LACKAWANNA (US. 140930), steel package freighter built for the fleet by Cleveland Shipbuilding Co. (Hull #1) in 1888: 260' x 39' x 21'6"; 2,015 gross tons. Powered by triple expansion engines built at the shipyard. Sold out of the fleet in 1907 and went to salt water in 1912. Abandoned due to age, at Boston, in 1929. (Note: Some directories and references indicate that LACKAWANNA and her sister freighter, SCRANTON, may have been iron-hulled instead of steel.) RUSSIA (US. 110063), iron propellor package freighter built in 1872 at Buffalo by Gibson and Craig for the Ensign Fleet of Buffalo: 232' x 37' x 14'; 1,501 gross tons. Propelled by twin steeple compound engines built by H. G. Trout's King Iron Works at Buffalo. RUSSIA sailed in the Lackawanna Fleet from about 1890 until 1902. After leaving the fleet, RUSSIA foundered in heavy weather on Lake Huron near Detour, Michigan, April 30, 1909. Last owner was R. Duncan of Port Huron. (Note: CUBA, JAVA and SCOTIA, all built by Craig at Buffalo, were sister ships of RUSSIA, but did not sail in the Lackwanna Fleet.) SAGINAW VALLEY (US. 115769) wooden package freighter built at Bay City by F. W. Wheeler & Co. (Hull #11) in 1881, for Saginaw Transit Co.: 161' x 31' x 10'; 720 gross tons. Lengthened in 1883 to 226' and 1,112 gross tons. In 1886 a steeple compound engine built by J. Wilson of Detroit replaced the used engine which had been put into the vessel when it was first built. In the Eighties this ship was owned by W. W. Tyler of Buffalo and chartered to the Lackawanna fleet until 1897. Later cut down to a lumber steam barge and renamed MERIDEN, then KONGO and finally OVERLAND (C. 134520). A third engine had been installed in 1905. OVERLAND was abandoned around 1925, though carried on the Canadian List until 1937. The last owner was Harbour Brick Company of Toronto. SCRANTON (US. 116285), steel (or iron) package freighter built for the fleet in 1888 by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Co. (Hull #2): 260' x 39' x 21'6"; 2,015 gross tons. Triple expansion engines were built by the shipbuilders. Served her original owners until 1907, and several subsequent owners until 1957, carrying the later names TEN, NINE and STARBUCK (C. 173515). Her end came when she was scrapped at Duluth. 69 years of reliable performance marks SCRANTON-TEN-NINE-STARBUCK as one of the outstanding ships of our Lakes. aS