W Dan Hulchanski has submitted many great photos for Dispatches. This set covers the return of Seneca Chief from Troy to its winter lay-up berth above lock E-3 in Waterford. Next year it’ll return to Buffalo, stopping at more places along the way, another journey we hope to document. I’ve not yet heard of a schedule for the westward journey.

I find this set particularly beautiful, beginning with the shot below of Troy.

In the splendor of fall, it’s the Troy Federal Dam,

a lookout juxtaposed with stunning curves and color,

a turn-around at Hurst Harbor in Waterford,

tug Grasso already in work mode locking through,

and Seneca Chief above lock E-3.

Many thanks to W Dan for these beautiful photos.

Dispatches welcomes correspondents all year round to send their photos of NYS Canal structures present as well as past, and in winter, with foliage away, some stunning photos of 200 years of Canal history are possible. And as snow starts to fall across the canal corridor, watch this space for information on the 2026 CSNY Winter Symposium, usually the first Saturday in March in the Rochester area.