Engineer's Day at the Soo Locks

After the Cloverland Open House, we headed back to the Locks for Engineer's Day so that I could walk around the locks and see what I didn't see before.

 This picture was from earlier as the Blough was still in the Locks.  This is looking down the MacArthur Lock.  The lock itself was completed in 1943 and is named after General Douglas MacArthur.  It is 800 feet long by 80 feet wide.  It can accomodate most ships.  The first ship to pass through it was the Carl D. Bradley.

 Looking up at the tower of the Administration Building. 

 This is Bobber the safety dog.  He is wearing a life vest to show that you should wear a life vest while you are out in a boat or whatever.

 These are some flags that are just outside the Locks.  I never noticed them before.  The flag with the G on it is for Great Lakes Towing.  The middle flag is for Inland Lakes Management Inc.  The A flag is for the American Steamship Company.  I'm not sure why they have these particular flags though.

 This would be a view of the Administration Building that I wouldn't normally get.

 A view of the gates that I wouldn't normally get.  It is amazing how thick these things are.

 Another shot looking up at the tower.  I kind of wish the tour would have taken us here as well.  But I guess there are reasons for that.

 The inside of the Administration Building looks about as cool as the outside.

 Some of the details of the building.

 This building has a post office and other offices.  I should have taken a picture of the post office.  Some of the boxes are arranged by the ships.

 Looking down the Poe Lock.  The Poe Lock is the largest of the locks and is 1,200 feet long and 110 feet long.  It can handle the 1,000 footers and ships the MacArthur lock can't.  It originally was built in 1895 and was expanded in 1968.  The Philip R. Clarke was the first ship to pass through after the expansion.

 The exit for the MacArthur Lock.

 Another angle of the Administration Building that I wouldn't normally get.

 A huge American flag.

 This is the Davis Lock which was completed in 1914.  It is 1350 feet long and 80 feet wide.  It is rarely used and looks like it is has seen better days.  If the funds go through, this will be combined with the Sabin lock to make a lock similar to the Poe Lock.  But of course, politics are getting in the way.

 Another angle of the Administration Building.

 The Algoflag.

 Looking down at the row of flags.  Each of these flags represent the companies that own the ships that pass through the locks.

 Okay, I really like the looks of this building.

 The Great Lakes Fleet Flag.  Well it is actually the flag of the company that manages the ships.

 The gate that is supposed to stop a ship so it doesn't damage the main gate.

 Looking at the observation deck from an angle that I wouldn't normally get to see it.

 Another shot of the MacArthur Lock.

 Another shot of the gates.

 Looking up at the tower again.

 A straight on shot of the MacArthur Lock.

 I forget what this was called but he was pretty cool because he would actually answer some questions.

Sadly, it wasn't a busy shipping day at the locks.  There was the Blough and Flinterstar for Engineer's Day.  Everything else was after.