The SS Milwaukee was a train ferry built in 1902 by the American Ship Building Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Designed to shuttle railroad cars across Lake Michigan, the vessel was initially operated by the Manistique-Marquette & Northern Railroad Company under the name Manistique-Marquette & Northern No. 1. It measured approximately 220 feet in length and was equipped to carry freight, including lumber, perishable foods, bathtubs, and Nash automobiles, with a load of 27 railcars on its final voyage. The ship's early service was marked by financial instability, passing through ownership changes and route adjustments, including operations between Northport and Manistique, Michigan, before being sold in 1909 to the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company. Renamed Milwaukee, it served as a vital link between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Michigan, transporting railroad cars and freight to help shippers avoid congested Chicago yards. The ferry was home-ported in Milwaukee and was a familiar sight along the Lake Michigan shoreline, operating from docks on the Kinnickinnic River. On October 22, 1929, the Milwaukee embarked on a routine voyage into a storm with a cargo of 27 railcars. Despite challenging weather conditions, the vessel was considered capable of facing such storms. However, during the gale with winds reaching 37 mph, some of the railcars in the hold came loose, generating momentum that caused structural failure of the sea gate—a movable steel shield integral to the vessel’s freeboard. This failure led to water ingress, ultimately causing the ferry to sink without radio communication, as it lacked radio equipment. The ship was last sighted passing a lighthouse serving as a visual beacon. The sinking resulted in the loss of all 52 crew members aboard, with only 15 bodies recovered over subsequent days. Notable evidence, including messages and a lifeboat with four dead crew members, was recovered near the wreck site, located in 90-120 feet of water approximately seven miles northeast of Milwaukee. The wreck was discovered in 1972, and later investigations suggested that missing hatch covers may have contributed to the rapid flooding and sinking. The loss of the SS Milwaukee led to the commissioning of a replacement vessel, the SS City of Milwaukee, now preserved as a museum ship and National Historic Landmark.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.