05-24-2010, 08:29 PM
I am reading a book called The Age of Steam which has a couple of chapters on inland waterways. The Erie Canal was completed in 1825: "a narrow ribbon of water 363 miles long, 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep." Remember that this was dug by hand. The locks were 90 by 15 feet and boats were built up to the size of the locks.
The C&O canal was supposed to run from the Potomac at Washington to the Ohio river and was started in July 1828. But it was opposed by the upstart Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which would bring prosperity to a different town. The two outfits would be using the same Potomac river basin for miles. The canal opened up the Cumberland coal fields but never reached the Ohio.
A horse and wagon could transport one ton; a horse and barge could pull 30 tons up a river and 50 tons on a canal.
Did you realize that the natural ocean port for Pittsburgh is New Orleans?
The C&O canal was supposed to run from the Potomac at Washington to the Ohio river and was started in July 1828. But it was opposed by the upstart Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which would bring prosperity to a different town. The two outfits would be using the same Potomac river basin for miles. The canal opened up the Cumberland coal fields but never reached the Ohio.
A horse and wagon could transport one ton; a horse and barge could pull 30 tons up a river and 50 tons on a canal.
Did you realize that the natural ocean port for Pittsburgh is New Orleans?
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.