Did You Know? The history of the CN Ferry Levelling ramps

A piece of history that helped carry trains and cars now sits along the water’s edge as a relic of the past. 

There is very little known about the history of these leveling ramps themselves regarding their construction or final usage. 

According to local historians, these machines were used when the riverfront was a train yard. These cranes were used to load rail cars on the ferries to bring them to Detroit. They would also load passenger vehicles onto barges so they could continue their journey into the U.S.  

At one point, the ramps were connected to a set of tracks that ran underneath the old Peabody bridge into Michigan Central Station. It was reported that City Hall wanted to remove the ramps, however they were left alone due to high removal costs.  

The ramps are still standing to day, along the river front for passerby to see. They truly are one of Windsor’s greatest mysteries.