The Ann Arbor Railroad began providing rail service between Frankfort, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, in 1878. The company became the first to provide transportation of railcars via ferry across Lake Michigan in 1892, when "Ann Arbor No. 1" made her maiden voyage. "Ann Arbor No. 7" was built in 1924 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in 1964 she was reconfigured for a barge.