BACKGROUND:
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and
canal transport of heavy goods. Most barges are not self-propelled
and need to be moved by tugboats towing or towboats pushing them.
Barges on canals (towed by draft animals on an adjacent towpath)
contended with the railway in the early industrial revolution but
were outcompeted in the carriage of high value items due to the
higher speed, falling costs, and route flexibility of rail
transport. Barges are still used today for low value bulk items, as
the cost of hauling goods by barge is very low. Barges are also
used for very heavy or bulky items; a typical barge measures 195
feet by 35 feet, and can carry up to 1500 tons of cargo.
Self propelled barges may be used as such when traveling
downstream or upstream in placid waters and operated as an
unpowered barge with the assistance of a tugboat when traveling
upstream in faster waters.
![]()
THE CACHE:
You'll be looking for a magentic keyholder stuck to the largest
metal object in sight. Bring your own pen to sign the log.
Ahoy!