Mc Nary Lock & Dam
On our first day of cruising east along the Columbia River we encountered the many ways in which goods, both raw materials and finished products, are transported along the river valley. Along each side of the Columbia River are highways on which trucks move goods at a great pace but in very small amounts as compared to the great mile long trains consisting of well over 100 boxcars. But even the mighty sight of a train can’t match the tug and barge for sheer volume. The tugs and the barges of the Columbia and Snake rivers are both unique and impressive. A full laden barge will hold the equivalent of about 125 box cars full of grain, and a tug can push up to 5 of these barges down the river towards the awaiting bulk cargo ships that we passed in Portland last night on our way east. The tug and barge are the slowest means of transportation, but also the most economical by far when compared to the railroads and the trucks.
We had the chance to see a tug and barge in action up close as we entered McNary lock and dam after passing one of these tows, a tow is a combination of tug and barge, on his way east as well. There was enough room in the lock chamber for us both to fit so there were fantastic opportunities for photography as the tug operator pushed his empty barges in the lock behind us leaving only a foot or so to spare on each side. Once the lock movement was complete we headed farther east and then made a nice walking stop on the Oregon side of the river at a place called Hat Rock, so named by Lewis and Clark as they moved through this area some 200 years ago.
On our first day of cruising east along the Columbia River we encountered the many ways in which goods, both raw materials and finished products, are transported along the river valley. Along each side of the Columbia River are highways on which trucks move goods at a great pace but in very small amounts as compared to the great mile long trains consisting of well over 100 boxcars. But even the mighty sight of a train can’t match the tug and barge for sheer volume. The tugs and the barges of the Columbia and Snake rivers are both unique and impressive. A full laden barge will hold the equivalent of about 125 box cars full of grain, and a tug can push up to 5 of these barges down the river towards the awaiting bulk cargo ships that we passed in Portland last night on our way east. The tug and barge are the slowest means of transportation, but also the most economical by far when compared to the railroads and the trucks.
We had the chance to see a tug and barge in action up close as we entered McNary lock and dam after passing one of these tows, a tow is a combination of tug and barge, on his way east as well. There was enough room in the lock chamber for us both to fit so there were fantastic opportunities for photography as the tug operator pushed his empty barges in the lock behind us leaving only a foot or so to spare on each side. Once the lock movement was complete we headed farther east and then made a nice walking stop on the Oregon side of the river at a place called Hat Rock, so named by Lewis and Clark as they moved through this area some 200 years ago.
