Merchant and Barges

Might this be the 1906 Buffalo-built tugboat Merchant? If so, it was registered in Philadelphia, with dimensions 78′ x 20′. Might this be the turn in Medina NY? The superstructure lower right says State . . . as in State of New York DOT? I wonder when the last string of five barges made its…

will van dorp

June 30, 2025

1–2 minutes

Canal Society of New York, M. T. & T 42, Merchant

Might this be the 1906 Buffalo-built tugboat Merchant? If so, it was registered in Philadelphia, with dimensions 78′ x 20′.

Might this be the turn in Medina NY? The superstructure lower right says State . . . as in State of New York DOT?

I wonder when the last string of five barges made its way through the canal.

The gentleman to the right seems comfortable.

Farther up on the string, more crew seem to be reinforcing the lines.

An engineer taking a break below?

I’d love to hear your thought on these images.

3 responses to “Merchant and Barges”

Lee Rust

June 30, 2025 at 12:53 pm

It looks like the guy on the first barge is operating a bilge pump, judging from the gush of water nearby.

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tugster

June 30, 2025 at 1:19 pm

You made me go back and look more closely. Now I see two crew. I’m also thinking it’s an early diesel tug, so might that gush be cooling water?

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Lee Rust

June 30, 2025 at 8:19 pm

The Merchant may well be a diesel. Further back, that guy with the dark clothes is leaning over something on deck and water is spurting over the side… a gas-powered bilge pump? The location definitely looks to be Medina.

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