What are the little houses at the end of the barges shown in the photo on page 55 in the June MR?
I'm guessing its an entry point to go below deck, maybe a bad weather shelter for deck hands to use when docking?
Anyone know?
Jim
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If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
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Barges have no power or steering mechanisms. All of that is handled by the tugboat.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
From the looks of the stacks and vents, it could be for a generator to operate bilge pumps and running lights. Maybe a compressor to run air brakes on the cars. Just guessing.
Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad. We know where you are going, before you do!
hardcoalcaseWhat are the little houses at the end of the barges shown in the photo on page 55 in the June MR? I'm guessing its an entry point to go below deck, maybe a bad weather shelter for deck hands to use when docking? Anyone know? Jim
Its where they keep the Casino and the dancing girls.
Its where they keep the casino and dancing girls.
WOOHOO! I WAS RAIGHT!!!!
While not applicable to the barge in question, some barges did have steering engines, even though towed by tugs. The Captain Edwin Richardson and the C&O #2 which were used as car float barges on the Chesapeake Bay between Cape Charles, VA and Little Creek VA, had coal fired boilers and steam steering engines as late as the 1970s under PRR and PC operation. I personally sailed across the Chesapeake on the Tug Philadelphia, towing the C&O 2 back when the C&D Canal Lift bridge was out in the early 1970s.
On the car floats pictured on p55 of the June MR, they have chimneys and turban fans, which indicate a shelter for the deck hand(s).
As you can tell by my profile pic, I work on tugs and barges for a living. The picture you are referring too show two small houses. These types of barges would not have access below decks here as these barges only draw a few feet and the clearance would not be sufficient for a man to stand up below decks. That access would be through manhole covers (usually flush) directly in the decks to access the different frames for inspection and possible pump outs. These two barges are not of a manned type so there would be no reason for any facilities such as sewage or cooking. I see an air intake on the ends and judging by the type of chimney, I would think there is some kind of oil fired heater inside. These houses are probably just a place to get out of the rain and cold and maybe a storage locker for the lines since in the winter, you really don't want them to get wet. If its like everything else, there might be a small shelf used for writing and filling out paperwork. Somebody is keeping track of what goes on and off the barge and when and where. FYI, the two tugs in the pic are steam powered, so that dates them to to no later than the 40's and probably a lot earlier. You can tell by the extra tall stack. That tug would have had a crew of 10-12 people on it. I am not 100% sure as I can't make out the name, but her markings are consistent with Moran Towing, which is still in business and one of the largest outfits on the east coast. Now we are lucky to get 5 and can run with only 3. A tug that size would have had 800-1200 hp and was a beast for her day.. An average tug now is over 4000hp.