Steamers and Barges

When the Galts established their mining company at Coalbanks they faced the challenge of transporting their coal the 175 kilometres to the CPR mainline at Dunmore, near Medicine Hat. Therefore, they decided to transport the coal by river steamer down the Oldman and South Saskatchewan Rivers to Dunmore.

P19940018000-GA Model of the Galt Mines Steamship, the Baroness, which was unsuccessfully used to haul coal to Medicine Hat.

In the summer of 1883, they built a 53 metre stern wheeler river steamer, the Baroness, and a small fleet of barges. Unfortunately, due to poor navigation conditions and low water levels, only one trip could be made that season, and only 180 tonnes of coal were delivered to Medicine Hat. Still, the Galts wanted to demonstrate the value of their coal, so they built the 37 metre steamer, the Alberta. In addition, a much smaller tugboat, the Minnow, was shipped in from Winnipeg to help with transportation. Once again, however, river conditions hindered transportation and only 2729 tonnes of coal could be delivered in 1884.