following congressional approval in 1996 for transfer to the northeast wisconsin railroad transportation commission, she was handed over on 29 december 1997 to the ontonagon county economic development corporation on behalf of the escanaba and lake superior railroad, along with five other obsolete sister tugs. they were intended for a new trans-lake superior freightcar barge service between ontonagon and thunder bay, ontario, though it has been suggested that the company sought the tug's four general motors engines (24 in all) to use in their locomotives. the project was abandoned in october 1999, shortly before title would have passed to the railroad company. "moctobi" remained in lay-up between 1997 and 1999.