Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Duluth Guest wrote: November 18, 2024, 1:08 pm That was her nickname. The crew felt it appropriate given her stumpy/fattened stack installed during the Nordberg Diesel conversion.

Hers an the Lamont's stack were definitely upgrades. The Nordberg purred like a cat, it wasn't a loud thumper like others. But it was cranky. We lost power twice when I was on her, once after clearing the piers inbound to the Twin Ports. We glided along and 2 G-tugs took us over to DM&IR. Other time at the dock at Central Furnace in the Cleveland. Her engine was eventually her demise along with the downturn of the industry.

William Lafferty wrote: November 18, 2024, 2:50 pm I'm going out on a sizable limb here, but I propose the "Blough, Jr." monicker arose after L. P. Koivisto was named chief engineer of the new Blough in 1971, previously chief engineer of the Eugene P. Thomas. I have no idea if that be true, but I surely like the elegance of the explanation's presumption!

I sailed deck in '70 on the Thomas with Leo as Chief. That guy was a character! The Blough Jr. must've been in '71 (I'd moved over to the Hulst). Maybe '72 when the Blough came out after the fire. Shared the docks with the Thomas here and there and was really surprised to see this pic as I don't recall it. But then again, I'm reelin' in the years!!

I'm going out on a sizable limb here, but I propose the "Blough, Jr." monicker arose after L. P. Koivisto was named chief engineer of the new Blough in 1971, previously chief engineer of the Eugene P. Thomas. I have no idea if that be true, but I surely like the elegance of the explanation's presumption!

That was her nickname. The crew felt it appropriate given her stumpy/fattened stack installed during the Nordberg Diesel conversion.

Anyone have any insight why the Eugene P. Thomas had Blough Jr. painted on her aft accommodation block? You can clearly see it on the pic featured on Today in Great Lakes History page (November 17th).