Coal to Canada: A History of the Ontario Car Ferry Company

Ted Rafuse has artfully captured the history of rail car ferries. Ontario No. 1 and Ontario No.2 which operated out of Cobourg during the first half of the twentieth century. The story of this marine operation which ferried both coal and passengers -- is brought to life through the recollections of crew and passengers, dozens of photographs and company records. The Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway in the United States and the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada together created a marine operation to serve as a link between their two rail lines. Coal to Canada traces the story of carrying coal from western Pennsylvania mines to destinations throughout central Ontario. From the ferry slip at Genesee Dock, New York, rail cars of coal were loaded onto the company's two ferries and transported across lake Ontario to be unloaded at the ferry apron at Cobourg, Ontario. The demand for coal in the railway and commercial use kept the Ontario No.1 and Ontario NO.2 sailing daily throughout the yard. During the summer, passengers boarded the ships for memorable day time or romantic moonlight excursions upon lake Ontario.

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