Historic steam ships in the area?
 

Not sure if this the right forum for this but....

Is anyone aware of early 20th century passenger ships that may be still afloat in our area? I know about the S.S Keewatin in Georgian Bay. I'm wondering if there is anything closer to home.

Thanks for any help!

The Segwun still caters to tourists on Lake Muskoka. Still coal-fed too.

Thanks! I know about the Segwun.

There were likely a plethora of steamships on Lake Ontario back in the day, moving the Toronto monied set to their summer homes in Niagara on the Lake. Can't think of any that are still in service.

Would be a great tourist attraction though.

Would you settle for an OPERATING side wheeler steam ferry, in almost original condition?

You won't even have to leave the Golden Horseshoe to see it.

The Trillium Ferry still operates in Toronto Harbour, for events but not regular ferry service. I had the chance to sail on it at it's 100-year anniversary several years ago. The amazing thing is that the ship actually sails under steam power, using side paddle wheels for propulsion, just as it did back in its day.

It is a jaw-dropping thing to experience in this age of diesel and propeller driven mock ups of the past and digital recreations.

The hissing and gasping sounds of the huge steam pistons pushing the massive flywheels combined with the swish of the paddles pushing the ship through the water is an unforgettable experience, a flashback to a past time right here in the present.

If you ever get a chance to see this ferry in operation, do it!

An interesting part of the Trillium's history: this is the boat that sank the *original, wooden-hulled Captain John's floating restaurant, located at the foot of Yonge Street, back in about the early 1980s.