Monday, September 3, 2012

Barge

I have always been kind of fascinated with barges.  Luckily, while we were down at Clifty Falls we got to see one go through the locks near Markland, IN.  There are two locks there, one about 1000  feet long and the other about 500 feet long. The long lock had a bad gate a couple years ago so it was closed for some time.  This made if very difficult for a lot of the barges since they were much longer than the smaller lock.  When they go to this particular lock they had to take their barge apart and take it through the smaller lock in two pieces and then put it back together.  I never got to see that but I would imagine that took a long time.  From what I've researched barges travel from 4-6 miles per hour so it would take a long time to get places yet I have read that barges are the most efficient way of moving freight.




2 comments:

George said...

My parents used to live near a dam and lock on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville. We would take the kids to watch traffic going through the locks and they were fascinated. I must admit I found it very interesting as well.

Carletta said...

We have barges all up and down the Ohio river here. Many are carrying coal.
They may be slow but it seems when I want a photo that they move pretty quick!
Love your header! :)