Just Sharing: Illinois River Barge Tug

[Tom Robbins]

Hello,

Wildflower season is still a couple weeks away. Illinois River barges serve as subjects in the meantime.

Senator Stennis up bound toward Chicago shortly after dawn.

Same tug, rounding the bend.

Thanks for looking,

Tom

 

[Asher Kelman]

I like these shot, Tom.

Does the tug come in to play when the barge motor breaks down or are these barges neutered from the start?

Can you take adjacent overlapping shots and get a really wide view from something like the second image panning to the right. There seems a lot of possibilities for layering of zones of foreground, boats and hills then sky. Is this near you? If so, then this is a rich place to go back frequently. Soon those trees will be greened up and there'll be waterfowl too.

Thanks for sharing.

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Thanks Asher,

Barges are just big steel floating containers filled with product. The barges in this case were filled with chemicals of some sort, but any bulk commodity such as ore, grain, scrap iron, and so on can be considered commerce for the midwest river barges.

Barge bumper, located just upriver from Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois river in early November.

You are on the money with regard to the potential for wider views at this spot. One of the chief difficulties, however, is limited access. While this particular vantage point provides a great view of the opposite bank of the river, the morning sun provides back lighting during most of the year. There may be a small window around the summer solstice where this will not be the case. I'll keep the possibility in mind.

Tom

 

[Minde Grantham]

hi Tom, I'm new to this forum whereabouts in Illinois do you live? I live in Iowa also on the mississippi.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Thanks Asher,

Barges are just big steel floating containers filled with product. The barges in this case were filled with chemicals of some sort, but any bulk commodity such as ore, grain, scrap iron, and so on can be considered commerce for the midwest river barges.

Barge bumper, located just upriver from Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois river in early November.

You are on the money with regard to the potential for wider views at this spot. One of the chief difficulties, however, is limited access. While this particular vantage point provides a great view of the opposite bank of the river, the morning sun provides back lighting during most of the year. There may be a small window around the summer solstice where this will not be the case. I'll keep the possibility in mind.

I missed this reply, Tom!

I have never seen an Island bumper! I wonder whether you can go out in a dingy to get some great views or is it illegal?

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Good question Asher, I don't know if tying a dingy up to one of these things is legal or not, but the area directly above and below major navigation dams can be dangerous due to the currents.

Hi Minde, these photos were taken at Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois River. The barges navigating this river are smaller in length than those you typically see along the Mississippi, and the tugs are a step down in size as well. Quite a few of them simply shuttle barges from one loading point on the river to another. An example of just such a tug -

This was the little tug, Pat White, locking up river, deadhead (without barges - similar to a semi tractor moving bobtail without a trailer). The guy standing with the rope in the front corner was all set to secure the vessel to a cleat, and then simply wait while the downstream gate closed and the lock filled with water.

Mississippi River barges, as you no doubt know, are quite a bit larger, as are the locks and dams. Here's the barge tug Raymond Grant Eckstein locking through Mississippi L&D #13 almost a year ago -

This tug was the size of a small building. The steel cables connecting the barge to the tug are called face wires.

I hope to get out to the Mississippi River again soon. I like the area between Fulton and Lost Mound on the Illinois side, and between Clinton and Bellevue on the Iowa side. Maybe we can meet up one of these days.

Tom

 

[Minde Grantham]

That would be fun. I would love to meet up with someone that has more experience than me. I live in LeClaire so not too far away from where you like to go. Cool pics by the way. Wish I had more scenic places down here.