The season of 1886 found the City of Toronto under Capt. Donaldson and Chicora under Capt. Harbottle, still running together between Milloys wharf and Lewiston; the Chicora opening the season on 4th May.
The Rothesay opened her season with renewed vigor on the 24th May, 1880. Mr. Lunt announced:
"The Steamer Rothesay having been thoroughly refitted will on and after Monday the 24th leave Yonge street wharf at 7.15 a.m., and 2.30 p.m. for Niagara connecting with the Canada Southern Railway for Falls, New York and all points.
"Quick Time.—Five hours at Falls and return same day, arriving at Toronto 7.15 p.m.
"Picnic parties will be taken by train to Niagara Grove. Tickets on sale by W. A. Geddes, Custom House Wharf, and Charles Morgan, 64 Yonge street."
In addition to running to Niagara, Rothesay this year dropped over to Youngstown on the American side, from where connection was made to Lewiston by a small American steamer. She also worked up an excellent excursion business for the Youngstown and Fort Niagara Park.
The City and Chicora divided the route as previously with one trip and a half each, all trips being run the full length of the river to the foot of the rapids at Queenston and Lewiston.
During this season an opportunity offered for the purchase of a dock frontage alongside the Lewiston dock. The New York Central had not then been extended from its upper station to the edge of the river above the dock, and it was also under consideration whether the railway would make a new move to reach the bank of the river at Lewiston nearer to the steamers, or would replace the rails and again operate its seven miles extension branch to Youngstown. If they should resume this latter route to the mouth of the river, conditions at Lewiston would be changed. It was, therefore, considered best to await further developments before making any purchase.
The strain of the competition was beginning to tell. The Steamer City of Toronto was in August advertised for sale at Niagara, "thoroughly equipped, handsomely furnished and inspected ready for sea."
Rothesay ended her season on 15th of September, and Chicora on the 8th of October, having run the latter part alone and kept up the connections for the railways. The public had enjoyed the pleasures of lake travel to the utmost, but the steamers were none the better off, for the magnitude of steamboat business is not to be gauged by the crowds carried on the boats, but by the net results in the purser's accounts.