The fame of the steam tug EDNA G. has spread far and wide across the Great Lakes. Indeed, this 82-year-old, 120-foot veteran of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, which operates out of Two Harbors, Minnesota, has become such a focal point for tug enthusiasts that it is often overlooked that she is not the last steam tug active on the lakes. In fact, it is amazing how many of the historians amongst us have forgotten a very important steam tug which is still very much in operation.

The other steam tug still with us in 1978 is the 95-foot DOLOMITE which is operated as a harbour tug at Rogers City, Michigan, by the United States Steel Corporation. She dates back to 1927 and her coal-fired machinery develops 800 h.p. She and LIMESTONE, a 1952-built diesel of similar dimensions, handle all vessel traffic at Rogers City and they are familiar to the crews of the numerous self-unloaders that load stone there.

DOLOMITE is a single-deck tug and, lacking the triple-chime whistle which EDNA G. blows, she is not nearly as impressive a boat as the elder survivor. Nevertheless, her existence should not be overlooked and it is hoped that she may have many more years of service ahead of her.

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Reproduced for the Web with the permission of the Toronto Marine Historical Society.