Ex John I. Rankin - Steel diesel tug [C.188898] built at Owen Sound by Russel - Hipwell Engines Ltd. and launched as John I. Rankin 1957 - 1974; owned by St. Lawrence Corp. Ltd.; registered at Montreal but used on Lake Nipigon. Hull 1132. renamed b] Grand Marais 1974. RBF Notes: As Grand Marais, she was docked at the Selkirk, MB Slough 2004.
Ivan Brookes Scrapbook, Unsourced CIipping, June 4, 1957: Freight $400,000 Tug To Nipigon. Orient Bay (C.P) - A new $400,000 tug the John I. Rankin, was launched Wednesday on near-by Lake Nipigon. It was christened with champagne by Mrs. A. M. Jones, wife of St. Lawrence Corporation woodlands manager. The vessel is the third largest, but most powerful tug now on the lake. Built by Russel-Hipwell Engines Limited, at Owen Sound, Ont., it was purchased by the corporation for rafting pulpwood. The 96-foot vessel, weighing 380 gross tons, was dismantled and shipped by rail on eight flat cars to Orient Bay, where it was reassembled.
Top Row left to right: L. LeBlanc, D. R. Stevens, K. LaBerge, J. Fries, L.M. Lein, A.M. Jones, J.I. Rankin, F. Stevens (Abitibi), Piete Vooges, J. Allen (Captain), Norman Robertson (R-H), C. A. (Cecil) Rollings (R-H).
Front Row: left to right: ??, Mrs. D. R. Stevens, Mrs. A.M. Jones, Mrs. K. LaBerge, Mrs. L.M. Lein. Photo courtesy Sonny Dampier.
Feb. 8, 2013... Chris Colp, ex Project Manager for PWGSC notes from Selkirk Manitoba... "Tug Grand Marais was sold Oct. 1, 2012 for $17,650.00 to Gagne Construction of Thunder Bay. It is supposed to be moved to Thunder Bay in 2013."
Matthew Carlson comments (March 2018): "Robert W and Rosalee D towing both barges with a huge steel building across the harbour for Pierre Gagne, the barges are 80'x 40' each. They moved the building from the old Abitibi mill in the north end of Thunder Bay harbour to Pierre Gagne's property (former CN Iron Ore Dock) in intercity Thunder Bay area. Was quite the move. I think ths was 2015. Pierre's plan was to slide this building over the Grand Marias while they assemble it, but that plan fell through." Click to enlarge to 2000 pixels.
June 4, 2016. Matthew Carlson comments: "Pierre Gagne's tug Grand Marais. Typical Russel brothers style, wood work and stuff is nearly identical as in the Robert W. Mr. Gagne has great plans to turn her into a yacht. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Rob Farrow comments: Published on 25 Jun 2016.
An old Historic tugboat is now in Thunder Bay and we had the opportunity to tour the boat! It's in pieces right now but hopefully one day we will see this tugboat out and about in the harbour and on Lake Superior! Come along as we tour this old Logging Tugboat that was built in Owen Sound Ontario, cut apart and shipped to Orient Bay Lake Nipigon by rail, then cut apart again and shipped up to Lake Winnipeg Manitoba and now cut apart for the third time and shipped to Thunder Bay Ontario to begin a new life!
Oct. 1, 2018. Grand Marais still at Pierre Gagne's property (former CN Iron Ore Dock) in intercity Thunder Bay area. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
For more Russel exhibits visit Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum 1165 1st Ave West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8 (519) 371-3333 http://marinerail.com
http://marinerail.com
