A Tale of Two Cities

Know the city?

Know this city?  The clue lies in WTGB number, 107 v. 105.  And in the nearer, smaller vessel below.

It’s New York and Detroit, two capitals of different enterprises.  Click here for more Detroit police boats.

Both cities have an Ambassador Bridge, although

the one in New York spends less than 24 hours in port whenever she appears.  Bunkering there thanks to Sassafras.

Here’s Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge, Canadian tug John Spence heading southbound in that direction.

But these days, Detroit has some New York doesn’t . .  snow.  After a slight dusting in October that was gone the next day, the sixth boro has sen no snow!  Of course, that could all change very quickly, and to say no snow does NOT mean warm, calm weather.   Snow was blowing so hard across the Detroit River this weekend that this ore carrier couldn’t be identified.  (It’s Lee A. Tregurtha, Baltimore-built.  Thanks Ken.)

Great Republic could.

This is the first year the 31-year-old vessel has operated under that name, ex-American Republic.

CSL Niagara is a fleetmate cousin of the frequent visitor to the sixth boro, Alice Oldendorff.  Note the self-unloading gear.  I’ve gotten over my affection for Alice.

Here are more American lakers, Adam E. Cornelius and

Roger Bough Blough.   Enjoy these additional fotos of Roger Blough, possibly now laid-up for the winter.

Here’s a Baltimore-built classic  Michipicoten.

Many thanks to Ken Bailey for these Detroit fotos;  Will Van Dorp took the sixth boro ones.

More news from Detroit, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge has been sent to jail.  Info here.

Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities has one of the most memorable opening lines in English literature.  Know it?