Tracks Leading to Mississippi River, 1960

Car float in picture. Unit No. 609. Shows the ferry operation between Trotters Point, Mississippi, and Helena, Arkansas. This is a picture taken on the Trotters Point side of the Mississippi River. This photograph shows a locomotive backing a car on a long incline toward the ferry which is shown just pulling up toward the shore. This operation is extremely hazardous and requires great alertness on the part of both the fireman and the engineer. As you can see from the picture it is obviously essential for the locomotive to push the car being loaded on the ferry. From eight to twelve cards are loaded on the ferry, the exact number depending upon the type of car being loaded. The engine is placed on the boat when transferring cards from the Mississippi side to the Arkansas side and on the return trip. On account of two tracks on the boat the engine has to shove the cars on the boat in order to put cars on both tracks. This operation actually cuts off the view of the engineer because his view is restricted not only by the locomotive but also by the cars which he is pushing. Moreover, there is the problem that loading the cars on the ferry has to be done very carefully and very precisely, because there is always a certain amount of movement of the ferry due to current on the river while the cars are being loaded. Naturally the same considerations apply where the cars are being pulled off the ferry.