One of the great stories of the Columbia River is the longtime rivalry between Shaver Transportation and Tidewater Barge Lines. In the mid-nineties, OPB produced a great documentary that included historic footage of towboat* captains navigating the powerful currents of the pre-dam Columbia.
This picture was taken from atop Crown Point in the mid-nineties. This is a typical tow, with sea-going containers on the two lead barges, wheat in the near rear barges, and uncovered wood chips on the far rear barge.
*Even though they look like tugboats and they are pushing the barges, that is what they are called locally. The group of barges is called "the tow".
Ash Creek Images
Photographs of the West by Doug Gorsline
Barges, Tugboat and Fog On a Placid Columbia River near Crown Point
All materials on this site are copyright 1992-2007 by Doug Gorsline / ashcreekimages.com.
