The City of Midland was the first single ship (no sister ship) built by the Pere Marquette Railroad since the second P.M. 18. She was built at a cost of $2,000,000 with 60 staterooms and a capacity for 34 freight cars. Her keel was laid on March 20, 1940 at the Manitowoc Shipyard, launched September 18th, and made her maiden voyage on March 12, 1941. Her length is 406' and her beam is 58.2'. She is considered by many to be the finest carferry ever built. Because her boiler mounts were in need of major repair, she was retired in 1988.

• Hull Number: 311
• Keel Laid: March 21, 1940
• Launched: September 18, 1940
• Sea Trials: March 9, 1941
• Maiden Voyage: March 12, 1941

• Approximately 6,000,000 pounds of steel were employed in its construction. Paint used totaled 35 tons or 70,000 pounds.
• About 700,000 rivets were used to bind the ship together. Almost a year, or 352 days, elapsed from the time the keel was laid up to its trial run.
• The ship is 406 feet in length and has a carrying capacity of 34 freight cars, 50 automobiles and 376 passengers. She has 60 staterooms and 12 parors.
• The large dining room seats 60 persons at one time. Mandel Brothers, well-known Chicago department store, was in charge of all interior decoration.
• So complete and modern is the new ship that it provides eight steel dog kennels for those who take their pets with them.
• The ship has a guaranteed service speed of 18 mph and will normally make the Ludington-Manitowoc run in three and one-half hours.
• The new flagship is the only craft of its type to date with double bottom construction--two complete bottoms, each independent of the other, as a special safety protection.
• Two Skinner uniflow steam engines, largest of their type ever contructed, produce a normal 6,000 shaft horsepower.
• About 25 miles of electrical wire were needed to equip the ship and about two miles of pipe. She has 450 light fixtures.

Photographs Courtesy of The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society (except where indicated) and were provided by Dan Bissell.

• Construction, 1940. 53k
• Stern view. 33k
• On the ways, bow view. Dan Bissell (C&O Historical Society Photo)
• Launching, September 18, 1940. 37k
• Painting the superstructure. 04/17/97 18k
• The new flagship of the Pere Marquette Railroad!28 k
• First cargo: "Thirty Reefer-loads of evaporated milk clump onto the Pere Marquette's streamlined 'City of Midland' as she prepares to cast off for her maiden run between Manitowoc, Wis., and Ludington, Mich." From Railroad Magazine 8/41, thanks to Bob Vande Vusse.
• Coming in to Ludington on her maiden voyage, March 12, 1941. *
• At Ludington. M.J. Tokarz
• At Ludington, stern view. M.J. Tokarz
• At Ludington, docked. M.J. Tokarz
• Underway, from the air. Bob Vande Vusse,C&O Historical Society
• Loading by steam locomotive. *
• Pere Marquette Railway Autoferry logo.(Dan Bissell) 04/17/97

• At the dock, unloading (1950s). 18 k
• Entering the Ludington channel early 1950s, William Gokey.
• At Manitowoc 1956, with the City of Saginaw 31 entering the harbor and one of the "Annies" in the other slip. Courtesy of Roger Olson (photo by Les Borst).
• Again in Manitowoc, with the Ann Arbor # 7 in the other slip. Courtesy of Roger Olson (photo by Les Borst).
• Stern view. Bob Vande Vusse, C&O Historical Society
• The pilot house. Bob Vande Vusse, C&O Historical Society
• Backing into #3 slip, with the Spartan in the #2 slip, July 1979. Andy C. Buelow
• Entering Kewanee, November 1979. Andy C. Buelow
• At Manitowoc, late 70s. Bruce Groeneveld
• City of Midland 41 at Ludington. Dan Bissell
• Winter scene. Courtesy of Bob Vande Vusse, C&O Historical Society photo.
• Loading at Kewaunee, WI April 1982, with the Arthur K. Atkinson to the left. In ten days, the Ann Arbor carferry fleet, including the Atkinson would be shut down--permanently. Art Chavez
• Tieing up in Kewanee, June 1986. Tom Cubberly
• At Ludington, No 2 slip. M. Hanley

• Stuck in the ice outside Ludington. Photographer unknown. 30 k
• The "Mackinaw" works to free her from the ice (Feb, '77). Don Miller.
• The aftermath, broken props. Don Miller.
• During the 1980s, D. Bissell.22k
• At Ludington, port side. M. Hanley 20 k
• From the air. M. Hanley
• From William St., Ludington. M. Hanley 18 k
• Outbound, Ludington. M. Hanley 18 k
• From Pere Marquette Lake. M. Hanley
• Evening cruise into Ludington. W. Drablowski. 19 k
• Milwaukee bound, July 24, 1976. Bruce Groeneveld
• Placemat, early seventies. R. Christensen. 33 k
• View from Stearns Park, facing South.M. Hanley 27 k
• At Manitowoc June 27, 1981. Bruce Groeneveld.
• Cruising past the Manitowoc pier June 27, 1981. Bruce Groeneveld.
• Heading toward Ludington. June 27, 1981.Bruce Groeneveld.
• Early in the morning, heading west. M. Hanley
• As seen from Stearns Park in Ludington in 1982. Max Hanley
• Burt Wartell tending the feedwater check valves, circa 1980. Courtesy of Burt Wartell
• A view of the lounge (June 19, 1987). Tom Cubberly
• The "41" at the No. 2 slip in Ludington, by Harold "Lucky" LaFleur
• Underway, with the MWT hearald. D. Bissell
• Great night shot (at Ludington)! Robert Hyde
• At Ludington. M. Hanley
• Entering the icy channel. Dan Bissell
• Entering the Ludington channel, M. Hanley.
• With a big cloud of smoke as she leaves Ludington. Dan Bissell
• Docked at Ludington, evening. Dan Bissell
• Steaming across the Lake. Dan Bissell
• Engine room shot, showing port engine control & Chadburn. Bruce Groeneveld.
• Engine room Chadburns. Bruce Groeneveld.
• Engine room shot, showing the maker's plate. Bruce Groeneveld.
• Docking at Ludington, July 1983. Tom Cubberly
• The Silhouette of the CITY OF MIDLAND 41 (1984).  Tom Cubberly 
• A group of bikers and the 41. Tom Cubberly
• A shot on the stern of the 41 on June 19, 1987 while unloading in Kewaunee. The Arthur K. Atkinson in the distance, by Tom Cubberly
• On the deck of the 41 while approaching Kewaunee, by Tom Cubberly
• Arriving from Kewaunee July 87, by Tom Cubberly.
• The CITY OF MIDLAND 41 arriving Kewaunee, by Ken Ottman.
• The City of Midland 41 departing Ludington (from Buttersville) July 87, by Tom Cubberly.
• Kewaunee light as seen through the Midland's lifeboat rigging, by Tom Cubberly
• Sailing out of Ludington, July 1988. Roxy Wienand

• Her bow, taken from the pilot house.
• Her pilot house.
• The aft-pilot house.
• Auto deck, looking forward.
• Port engine.
• Starboard engine.
• The C&O logo on the lounge floor.
• Galley shot.
• Another galley shot.
• Her cardeck.

It was announced on Tuesday, September 23, 1997 by officials at Lake Michigan Carferry that the City of Midland 41 was to be converted into a barge. She is to be part of a new company, called P.M. Shipping Inc. Her bow will be "trimmed somewhat" and her hull will be cut down to her cardeck. She will be used to haul heavy cargo, such as stone, coal, timber and large machinery.

It was a sad day in Ludington, as the City of Midland 41 was towed out of Ludington today (10/1/97). She cleared the harbor at 3:38 PM, as onlookers in their cars honked their horns. She was towed out by the tugs "Mary Page Hannah" and " Bonnie G. Selvick. She will go to Muskegon, MI to where the conversion is to take place. Plans are to have her in service in her new capacity by next spring or early summer. She is to be renamed "PM 41".

• Pulling away.
• To the channel, bow view.
• Into the channel.
• Stern view.

• Conversion photos and the Pere Marquette 41
• Captain E.G. Barth, by Art Chavez and Ken Ottman
• Requiem for a Ferry Queen, by Mary Modderman
• What about the tug?

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