Boatnerd Discussion Forum

if you google photos of britt they had a coal dock with 2 cranes for unloading coal. didnt see any tankers but im sure they came after steam locomtives were replaced by diesels. i remember see large oil tanks there in the 70s you could see them from hwy 69.

I was only in this place once when I first started sailing on the Great Lakes. It was on the Shell tanker "Arctic Trader"(I thought I had been in a time warp being on her) I was surprised anyone who had any sense would take a boat into this place. ( I was a deep-sea guy ) The captain managed and from what I recall we had to turn around in there. Did not last long in Shell and was glad.

Captain B LOL l know exactly what you mean l was wheelsman on the Lakeshell 2 we went there many times the first time l could hardly believe a ship could get in there was also wheelsman on the Easternshell 2 a bigger tanker than the Lakeshell 2 but l believe when we went to Britt we never carried a full load !!

I was captain on the Enerchem trader going in there ; single screw no bow thruster . One crewmember on the bow told me on the walkie talkie « Capt. the water is so clear , we see the rocks everywhere « The hell if I wanted to know.

I was on the M.V. Gemini when she made several trips in there with diesel fuel. It was a beautiful transit in and out.

north of britt the canadian national railway use to have a coal receiving dock at key harbour, long since abdoned. a spur line from the main line east of hwy 69 went to key harbour. the tracks have all been lifted many years ago and if there was a road it is all overgrown. if anything remains it would be best visited by a motorboat from the mouth of the french river.. who knows prehaps someone has a photo of the area when it was in use?

i also made trips to britt on the collingwood in the 74/75 i have fond memories of the jolly jug

made quite a few trips into britt in the fifty,s and was on the imperial Windsor with the first boat load into cutler.

you must mean cp because there aren't any cn tracks any where near britt

The Gemini of Cleveland Tankers, made several trips into Britt with diesel fuel for CN.

In the old, old days, the Canadian railroads used to have coaling stations for their locomotives along the north shores of the lakes.
Britt, Thessalon & Jackfish were among the stations/ ports. In the early 80s, after dad's retirement, we did a circle route around Lake Superior. We tried to find Jackfish, but couldn't get through a much worn out trail. The small Cliff boats used to carry coal to this points.
Ah, the good old days! Mike

Made many trips into Britt with Imperial Oil back in sixties and seventies.we where on a road trip a few years ago and checked it out no tanks anymore. We also went into Cutler in the north channel in the day and pulled a hose out of the water to and discharged to tanks ashore. All tanks are gone today.

no

does the Canadian pacific railway still receive diesel fuel oil for its railroad locomotives at this port? railroads aren't stupid they know that shipping by water where practicle is economical