Columbia Transportation Co. crane ships

[Les Weston]

I worked as an Electrician's Apprentis on some of the Columbia Crane Boats at Fairportm the winter of '54-'55 (can't remember which ones).

IIRC, the cranes were electric power at that time.

[Dave F]

I would like to find information about the O.S. McFarland, Harry T. Ewig, and G.G. Post when they were owned by Columbia. They were each equipped with two Model 685 Revolvers (cranes) built by American Hoist and Derrick here in St Paul (we once had a fair amount of heavy industry here with good paying jobs that produced useful items). Is there a Fleet History for Columbia that covers these boats? I believe these cranes were steam powered. Did they have their own boilers or did they use steam from the ship's boilers? Thanks!