http://granitegeek.disqus.com/enMon, 17 Nov 2008 04:40:50 -0000http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/03/efficient-alternative-transportation-the-erie-canal/#comment-3855001most fuel-efficient way to ship goods between the East Coast and the upper Midwest. One gallon of diesel pulls one ton of cargo 59 miles by truck, 202 miles by train and 514 miles by canal barge. A single barge can carry 3,000 tons, enough to replace 100 trucksFind CruisesMon, 17 Nov 2008 04:40:50 -0000http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/03/efficient-alternative-transportation-the-erie-canal/#comment-3557558Plenty of people canoe or kayak there. It's not all that scenic, but it's convenient. Occasionally (rarely) you can ice skate along it, too.Andrew_WolfeWed, 05 Nov 2008 15:19:18 -0000http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/03/efficient-alternative-transportation-the-erie-canal/#comment-3461636Hey, you know: the only passenger railways we've got are "scenic railways" - trains that can't make money hauling goods or passengers on legitimate routes, but can make money entertaining tourists on short routes ... maybe we should set up a "scenic barge" run on Nashua's old canal! There must be old canals going around rapids in other cities.DaveBrooksMon, 03 Nov 2008 16:27:01 -0000http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/03/efficient-alternative-transportation-the-erie-canal/#comment-3461176The CSX Transportation Radio spots are claiming 400+miles/gallon of diesel. I also (vaguely) recall a Popular Science article (It was the cover story, with supporting art) from the late '70s proposing widening the canal to Mississippi-barge size, and moving Pennsylvania coal to NY for processing to diesel & gasoline. <br><br>The NYs Barge canal has been very popular with touring recreational boaters for decades; NHPTV ran a half-hour travelogue in 2004 (unsure of exact year) starring singer Johnathan Edwards in "Cruising America's Waterways". Three programs focused on touring the NYS barge (Erie) canal.<br><br>IIRC, The most recent "modernization" occured in the 1930s, and it has been in use since. The canal will shortly undergo its winter shutdown, when the Canal Authority raises (removes) the artifical dams on the Mohawk river.j walshMon, 03 Nov 2008 15:56:33 -0000