Diver Discovers Railcar Tracks In Northport

Traverse City diver and underwater photographer Chris Roxburgh tells The Leelanau Ticker he recently “discovered” some underwater rail car tracks while exploring the shoreline near Northport. “Right now is usually my prime time to dive,” he says. “The water is so cold that algae hasn’t developed yet. The visibility is amazing — up to 100 feet.”

He says he was intending to check out Northport-area shipwrecks that can be accessed by shore with a new camera when he came upon the rail system. He has since discovered that the underwater rail was used by a shipbuilder at the Northport boat yard to launch schooners into the water via a railcar.

Photo: Chris Roxburgh