Coal To Canada Excerpts from Reviews:

Branchline, May 2000 (Bytown Railway Society)

The book is about the Halcyon days of the operation of the Ontario Car Ferry Company in all its glorious detail. Meticulously and intricately researched, and profusely illustrated with rare archival photographs, it is written in a compelling and readable style by Ted Rafuse.

Canadian Railway Modeller, T10T2 (North Kildonan Publications)

This is a well researched and nicely written book, full of stories of frightening winter storms, on board fires, moonlight dance cruises and kids diving off the docks for coins thrown into the water. It (Coal to Canada) is very readable and full of modelling and historic information.

Transfer, May-August 2000 (Rail-Marine Information Group)

Rafuse was correct that the operation deserved the more intensive treatment he has given it, and he should be commended for not having been discouraged by the existence of an earlier history. He has given us a work of merit by the standards of marine historians and modelers alike.

Trains, December 2000 (Kalmbach Publishing)

The rail facilities at both ends of the ferry line are both fully covered, including diagrams and several rare photographs. A chapter is devoted to the Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh's unique Boat Train, which operated a scheduled summer-only connection between Rochester and the ferry slip at Genesee Dock.

Trackside Canada, www.tracksidecanada.com

Author Rafuse brings the unique history of the Ontario Car Ferry Company to life through the recollections of crew and passengers, vivid photographs and artifacts.

Inland Seas, Volume 56, Winter 2000, Number 4 (Great Lakes Historical Society)

No details are spared in this highly readable book that is generously illustrated with many photographs, maps and illustrations gathered from a wide variety of sources. The author is a talented writer and researcher and although this is his first time in print, this work will undoubtedly be much sought after for a long time to come.

The Sentinel, Fourth Quarter, 2000, Volume 22, Number 4 (Baltimore & Ohio Railway Historical Society)

Not only is Rafuse's book more technical (than Lillian Roemer's), but much more intensive in scholarship. He researched local newspapers on the Canadian side, corporate records in Montreal and archival material in Ottawa.

National Railway Bulletin, Vol 65, No. 6, 2000 (National Railway & Historical Society)

Rafuse has organized the book into 12 topical chapters, on such items as the ships, the officers and crews, the boat train, excursions, battling the elements, anecdotes and the final years. All parts of the operation are covered, including the rail connections on both sides of the lake, occasional mishaps, personal recollections and economic aspects. Coal to Canada is a pleasure to read and a definite contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this now-gone aspect of railroad history. I recommend it.

Ferries, March 2001, Deutscher Fahrschiffarhrtsverein (Translation)

Described in detail besides the Ontario Car Ferry Company are the two ferries, loading of trains with coal and passenger transportation. Coal to Canada is a well researched book with most interesting facts and pictures, depicting in every detail the history of this ferry service. Absolutely worth seeing and reading.

Railroad History, No. 185, Autumn 2001 (Railway & Locomotive Historical Society)

Unlike most coffee-table books, this one is documented in scholarly fashion, showing painstaking research among numerous resources. It will gratify anyone interested in railroads, ships or cross-border contacts between Canada and the U.S.

Steamboat Bill, Spring 2002, The Steamship Historical Society of America

When finished, the reader not only has learned just about all there is to know about this service, but has enjoyed a highly human and sometimes amusing narrative. An accompanying bibliography testifies to the amount of research involved in writing the text.

S Gaugian, July/August 2002

This marine operation - which ferried both coal and passengers - is brought to life through the recollections of crew and passengers and company records. The softbound book recounts the interesting history of the Ontario Car Ferry Company.