Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The Autumn 2014 issue of First & Fastest published by the Shore Line Interurban Historical Society has an outstanding article entitled The Chicago Jinx Ship by Lou Gerard. In 1966-1967 the Alex D. Chisholm was converted to a self-unloading bulk cement carrier and renamed Medusa Challenger. Medusa's Chicago Terminal was located on Goose Island which required the Challenger to navigate the main stem and North Branch of the Chicago River and she became known as a "jinx ship" because the lift bridges often became stuck in the raised position. Eventually, Medusa opened a new facility on Lake Calumet in 1981. The bridges on this new route were more reliable but they too sometimes got stuck for the Challenger. I never got to see the Challenger in Chicago but the article has several great photos of her traveling under the bridges on both the Chicago and Calumet Rivers and the men who worked aboard her. If you don't want to join the Society, this issue will eventually be available to order as a back issue. You can visit their web site to join or for ordering information at http://www.shore-line.org