We were heading towards Vancouver when I took a couple of shots of it and it was heading the same direction as our ship so I would assume it was also heading there as well but that is just an assumption.
I don't see a tug anywhere. Is that a self-contained barge with its own power? I've never seen one like it.....
I've seen these on Puget Sound many, many times. Until the late 1950's, the Milwaukee Road had a barge run that went up to Bellingham. During the same time, before they completed their line into North Vancouver, the Pacific Great Eastern had a barge operation at Squamish. There is also a barge operation from Vancouver Island, at Wellcox (Nanaimo), BC, across to Vancouver. I don't recall if a rail barge facility in Vancouver receives stuff coming up from the US. Wouldn't seem necessary. But cars are still barged to Alaska, from Seattle. And I'd say this is what you are looking at. No. It's not self propelled. There's a tow line off the bow. And up ahead is a tug. Boxcab E50
Actualy now that you mention it you can see the wake of the Tug. It is easier to see in the first pic. Helped me when I put it in a graphics program and use the "Negative" feature.
In the first image you can see (barely) the tow line looping down into the water. These were heading South Bound...
