Canadian List of Shipping 1956: Robert W. [C.190027] registered at Toronto; built at Owen Sound in 1948. 56' x 16' x 8'3; 49 g.t.; 30 n.t.; 350 hp. Owned by Long Lac Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., Toronto. GAO Notes: See clipping file for photo at Long Lac, Ontario by Capt. Maurice Spooner. Russel Brochure: pic. Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel tug Robert W [C.190027] registered at Toronto. Built at Owen Sound in 1948. 56'; 49 g.t. Canadian List of Shipping 1997: Steel tug Robert W. [C.190027] registered at Thunder Bay. Built at Owen Sound in 1948. 17m; 49 g.t.; 30 n.t. Owned by Thunder Bay Marine Services Ltd., Second Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5G5. Transport Canada List 2003: Owned by Thunder Bay Marine Services Ltd., Thunder Bay, Ontario.
From Russel company brochure: STEELCRAFT TOWING. Gerry Ouderkirk archive.
From Canadian Transportation, May 1949. Gerry Ouderkirk archive.
B&WCOL Loading of the hull of the tug Robert W. on a C.N.R. flatcar for rail movement from Owen Sound to destination. Required extreme care and thorough bracing as the above illustrations show.
Rail Handling of Longlac Tug
An illustrated description of the twin screw, diesel-engined tug Robert W, built by Russel Brothers, Ltd., Owen Sound, Ont., to the requirements of Longlac Pulp and Paper Co., Ltd., and the most powerful tug in that company's service, was given in Canadian Transportation for May, pg. 276.
The transportation of this tug, from the builder's plant at Owen Sound to destination at Longlac, Ont., was a remarkable feat, and both builder and customer give much credit to Canadian National Rys. for accepting and delivering the load, which weighed 60 tons, and which, as is evident from the accompanying illustration, presented quite a problem in handling.
The hull was loaded on one side, on one flat car, and the tug superstructure on another, and, with the hull particularly, thorough and strong bracing was required.
Robert W. in Longlake ON, 1951. Photo courtesy Don Loponen. Don notes (June 15, 2017): I found this photo at the Longlac Historical Society. They are starting to digitalize their photos.
Canadian Shipping Magazine 1959 advertisement. Features Robert W., Mel Thomson (Mado Ray) and Welland.
TWIN SCREW LOGGING TUG - Designed for towing rfts of 7-8000 cords in Northern Ontario, this 60' x 16' tug ROBERT W is powered by twin Cummins diesels furnishing 350 horsepower to 50-inch propellers.
Robert W. probably 1960's. Don Loponen photos.
Maurice Spooner comments (April 2018): "The cages on the Robert W. I took these in 1983 when I was captain on her. Shore engineer Ed Wough."
c. late 80's. Photo courtesy Robert Cox.
Robert W. was bought by Thunder Bay Marine Services Ltd., Second Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5G5 in 1990, and has been working there ever since. The purchase price was under $20k. She paid herself off the first month.
RBF notes: Robert W - (Thunder Bay, ON May 3, 2001)
ROBERT W. taken on December 19, 2010 by beverlyks. Sunday Work. A tug leaves the grain elevator slip...while in the background a USA Coast Guard ship makes sure the harbour is ice free. https://www.flickr.com/photos/beverlys/5276058122
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 Marais while they assemble it, but that plan fell through." Click to enlarge to 2000 pixels.
Matthew Carlson notes (Feb. 2017): The Robert W. was originally designed to have a manned engineroom, the engineer would stand in between the engines waiting for orders on the telegraph for throttle, shifting gears (old style gearboxes like the one in Albert C.) and operating the winch. In the early 1970's they repowered the Robert W. with new engines and new hydraulic gearboxes, so with the new gearboxes they are able to be operated from the wheelhouse using a cable system. This is the new throttle system. There would have been a telegraph on that pedestal that the throttle levers are now, one more beside, and also one on the other side of the helm where the chair is.
(March 17, 2019): "Transport Canada legally only allow a 10% difference from the registered horsepower and for the Robert W. it would be considered a extensive rebuild so the whole boat would have to be rebuilt to follow today�s standards. The engines used in the 1970's repowering of the Robert W. are 2 Cummins NT380 but they were detuned from factory to like 220hp each or something like that. We tuned them back up the 380-400 range but she�s only registered with the factory hp so that screwed us for repowering her. My boss was originally looking at a pair or ~600hp Cummins or ~600hp cats but once they started looking into the regulations it�s just too much work than it�s worth."
Matthew Carlson has supplied several blueprints for the Robert W....Click thumbnails to enlarge.
Telegraph Blueprint
Telegraph Parts List Engine Repeat and Warping Set Transmitter
Robert W. Deck Drawing showing location of dual telegraphs in the wheelhouse.
Engine Room Receiver Blueprint
Engine Room Receiver Blueprint Warping Set Assembly 4/18/46
Robert W. galley. July 2017. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. (with Glenada on left photo) July 17, 2017. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. helping dock the Alexander Henry in Thunder Bay, Nov. 23, 2017. The vessel was towed into the former Pool Six elevator site on the north waterfront this morning where it will remain permanently. The Lakehead Transportation Museum Society plans to convert the decommissioned icebreaker into a museum. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. Dec. 19, 2017, Thunder Bay. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. Jan. 30, 2018, Thunder Bay. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. late Dec., 2018, Thunder Bay. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. Thunder Bay, ON. Feb. 28, 2019. Photos by Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. in Thunder Bay, ON, Nov. 2019. Photos courtesy Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. at work in the river Kam, Thunder Bay, ON, Nov. 19, 2019. Photos and vid by Jimmy Singleton Jr.
Robert W. in Thunder Bay, ON, Jan. 4, 2020. The old girl is sleeping and waiting for her big lift. Photos courtesy Matthew Carlson.
Robert W. out for maintenance in Thunder Bay, ON, Jan. 8, 2020. Stainless steel props. Photos courtesy Matthew Carlson.
April 3, 2020. Stern half of the rubrail cut off the Robert W. to be replaced as TC requested. She will be like new. My boss is getting a quote on Monday to sandblast the entire hull and re epoxy it. Photos by MATTHEW CARLSON.
April 25, 2020. Photo 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
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