Great Western and Lansdowne images

[Alistair Deayton]

I belive the LANSDOWNE is still in existence as a floating restaurant at
Erie, PA.

Alistair Deayton

[Randal R Largent]

Thank you!
I have seen both of these photos in books but yours are the clearest so
far.
The librarian at Dossins told me the Lansdowne IS in Erie but didn't say
it was still a restaurant (it was one in the 1980s in Detroit) and did
say it was not in good shape although I would think the hull would still
be close to original. Wish a bunch of pics of it taken then would show
up.

To PJ.
The one of the Great Western is obviously the same as on Ebay so I won't
be needing to send that.
Randy Largent

[Paulrjordan]

Here you are Randy..specially for you...a set of 8 pictures of "Great
Western" (1867) and "Lansdowne". These are reproduced by kind
permission of Al Hart, a respected Great Lakes Ship historian.

Notice how much of the superstructure has been removed on "GW" (1867)
during her service with Grand Trunk. "Lansdowne" also appears to lose
one of her wheelhouses by the time she's in Canadian National railway
Service.

> The librarian at Dossins told me the Lansdowne IS in Erie but didn't
> say it was still a restaurant (it was one in the 1980s in Detroit)
> and did say it was not in good shape although I would think the hull
> would still be close to original. Wish a bunch of pics of it
> taken then would show up.

I have located someone who has plans of "Lansdowne" as a restaurant
and including hull. Are you interested in these, coz he thinks he's
going to have to do a lot of digging to find them in his library.

Enjoy the pics and let us know what you've decided for your modeling
project? Files can be found at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files
> "PADDLERS of the GREAT LAKES"
> RAILWAY FERRIES of the DETROIT RIVER

PJ

[Randal R Largent]

Thank You Al Hart! And thank you too Paul!
The clarity is well appreciated. I find that each time I re look at
these and other photos I find a new detail I missed the last time.
Sometimes I find myself asking myself "now why did they do that?" and
usually come up with a plausible answer that at least satisfies me. But
then there seems to always be another "now HOW did they do that?"

>It appears that as these boats were used that a number of changes were
made over the years which actually would help as far as making an
"accurate" model is concerned as long as one doesn't go totally off the
wall but sticks to the main parameters. In Mr. Hilton's book he states
that the reason for removing the cover over the car deck of GW was
because it was like a wind tunnel and blew the boat all over the water.
I would imagine that to be a likely reason that the side structures at
the sterns were also removed on later boats.

>I would be in seeing the plans you have located of Lansdowne BUT I have
pretty much settled on the boat MCRR Transfer. Mr. Al Blevins (these Al
guys are alright) has sent me a 3 sheet set of plans for her which were
drawn 1959-1960 by some modelers. I have taken these and had them
enlarged to HO scale and have started the process of verifying the
measurements/details for model building. I have found a few
discrepancies and a couple of things which were missed when compared to
the few photos I have located but the plans are an excellent set as a
basis for those details that cannot be seen in tiny photos. I also went
to a train shop and bought 2 HO cars, a cattle car and an open coal
hopper so I guess I am committed.
Maybe Lansdowne can be a second boat???

I sure appreciate the assistance I have found here. I am sure I would
have given up by now without it.
Randy