Moving 60 Tons

Over 90 years ago the S.S. Canadiana went into service as a steamer to cruise passengers around Lake Ontario. The engine alone, built by Hyde Engineering in Toledo, Ohio in 1910, was 60 tons – 20 feet long, 20 feet wide and 10 feet high.

In 2004, the S.S. Canadiana Preservation Society of Buffalo, NY, arranged to have the engine and some other machinery pulled off what was left of the once proud steamer. This equipment is to be put on permanent display of marine heritage and history.

The challenge was to get the engine from Port Colborne on the Canadian side to Buffalo on the U.S. side. 60 tons is a huge load – EPT was up for the job.

Jim Baillie and Scott Paddock loaded the big engine on the trailer on Sunday, April 9, 2006. Jim moved it to the Peace Bridge on Monday and across the bridge to its final destination in Buffalo on Tuesday.

The Canadiana engine is the heaviest and widest single piece that EPT has ever moved. In fact, the load was so wide the Peace Bridge was shut down for Jim to cross. There were 2 OPP escorts for the Ontario part of the trip and two private escorts along with two Buffalo police escorts in the U.S.

Now that’s a load to remember!