The Arrowhead dock was a busy
terminal. Sternwheelers carried
passengers and freight over the Upper
and Lower Arrow Lakes to points as
much as 120 miles (193 km) to the
south. Barges carried rolling stock,
sometimes even passenger cars, to connect with branch lines at Nakusp and
Robson. Cars were loaded carefully onto the barge using a "reacher" car so that
the weight of the locomotive did not cross onto the barge. Barges were not
towed behind because their lines would interfere with the paddle wheel.
Instead, barges were tied beside the boat. Sometimes two barges would be
lashed together and the sternwheeler places in between so that the barges
formed a "V" in front of the boat.
