Both the Badger and Spartan were were built with reinforced hull for ice-breaking. It was originally used to carry railroad cars, passengers and cars between the two sides of the lake all year long. Today the ferry connects the segments of U.S. Highway 10 between the two cities from May to October.
Launched September 6, 1952, the SS Badger entered service March 21, 1953, for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.
The railroad car ferry service concept on Lake Michigan was facing serious economic problems in the 1980s and by November 1988 the Badger was the only vessel running. In 1990, the Badger was laid up
After sitting idle for a year, the Badger and two other ferries were purchased by Charles F. Conrad who undertook a major overhaul of the ship to refit itfor passenger and car service only.
The Badger is the last large coal-burning steamship in the United States and is the last vessel on the Great Lakes to be powered by Skinner Unaflow engines.
On average, the Badger completes a trip across Lake Michigan in four hours, covering 60 miles.
--RoadFerry
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