Throwback Thursday - I’d Like to Introduce You to Margaret Yorke

Manned by a total crew of four workers, this tug/barge combination is about to land at the Sarnia boat slip on April 23, 1994.

By Peter Mumby.

In the post “Idler Car” of February 29, 2024 there was a brief discussion of how CN ferried excess height cars across the river between Sarnia and Port Huron due to limited clearances in the old St Clair railway tunnel.  In today’s photos we are looking west towards the St Clair River as a barge loaded with auto racks arrives at the Sarnia slip.  Shoving on the rear is the 99 foot long twin screw tractor tow boat “Margaret Yorke.”  Built in 1970 by Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario, she was originally commissioned to work on the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit.  This assignment was soon superseded by the job out of Sarnia.  Following the opening of the new enlarged tunnel,  CN retired the vessel in 1995.  It was sold to Nigerian owners the next year.  

In this view the tugboat Margaret Yorke is completing her docking arrangements.

This photo provides a good broadside view of the vessel.