I’m still in the SE Iowa area along the Mississippi.  See the “welcome to Illinois” sign just ahead of those BNSF engines?

Guess the numbers on Ronald E. Wagenblast heading upriver here through the Route 61 bridge?

She’s got curves.  She’s pushing 5 rows 3 wide, which translates to 1000′ long x 105′ wide, too.   

The Fort Madison Toll Bridge, aka the Santa Fe Swing Span Bridge–a double decker with automobile traffic level above a rail level–has been operating since 1927! Anyone know the width of the channel with the span open?

Soon after Wagenblast was precision-guided through the opening, 

Lindsay Ann Erickson came through.

She was also pushing 15 barges, making the payload 1000′ x 105′ as well.  

Note that the towboat lacks the curves of Wagenblast.  Take that into account as you guess her numbers, which you’ll find below.

HFL Mariner appears here for the second time now. 

Keokuk IA is about 20 miles to the south of fort Madison, my adopted base for a few days. At Lock and Dam No. 19, there’s a remarkable powerhouse, which I failed to get a good photo of, but you can see one along with lots of other info about the infrastructure here.  If you just want to see an aerial shot, click here.  The lock chamber is 1200′ x 110′ and provides a lift of 38′.

While I was there, yet another Marquette Transportation Company (MTC) tow exited.

 

Recognize those birds in the foreground?  I got lots of photos, which I’ll post one of these days also. 

The bridge links Keokuk with Hamilton IL.

 

All photos, WVD, who has a few days in this area before taking segment 8 of 10 of my train journey.

Ronald E. Wagenblast.  1965.   164′ x 40′.  5000 hp

Lindsay Ann Erickson.  1982.    168′ x 40′  6400 hp

Jason W. Nyberg.  1980. 145′ x 48′. 6140 hp