Panama Canal Schedule

Nice picture, did you notice the mules on the right. Five of them are competing, which one has the honour to tow her. Also the detail of the bridge, which is just opening. The forth bridge of the canal, but mostly unknown. What donkey type mules??? :? :?

Nice picture, did you notice the mules on the right. Five of them are competing, which one has the honour to tow her. Also the detail of the bridge, which is just opening. The forth bridge of the canal, but mostly unknown. What donkey type mules??? :? :? The little trains that run alongside and help pull the ship are called Mules.

AAAAHHH! Thank you; oh wise one!! :lol: :lol:

" I NOT PULLING ANY STINKING SHIP ! " P.S. Wolfie/Phil ...Panama History Buffs... Did real Mules/Donkeys pull the ships in the first years of the Canal...hence the nickname for the trains ?

No it´s only because of their boring colour! the same grey since 1914 ! :wink:

I had already gone to look in Wikipedia as penance for my ignorance! "From the outset, it was considered an important safety feature that ships were guided though the lock chambers by electric locomotives, known as mulas (mules, named after the animals traditionally used to pull barges), on the lock walls, rather than proceeding under their own power." Also "The most expensive toll for canal passage to date was charged on May 30, 2006 to the container ship Maersk Dellys, which paid $249,165.00 for passage. The least expensive toll was 36 cents to American adventurer Richard Halliburton who swam the canal in 1928.<17> The average toll is around $54,000."

I feel a kinship to the little engines. The state I was born in ...Missouri ( pronounced Missoura by us southern natives ) is known for it's mules and "show me attitude ". "Stubborn as a mule "...yeah, I can identify with that expression ! :lol: Now a Jackass is a horse/mule of another color !

I work with quite a few "mules".. :lol:

Dani- 11-22-2006

Deep in the Tennessee hills, a farmer's mule kicked his mother-in-law to death. An enormous crowd of men turned out for the funeral. The minister, examining the crowd outside the church, commented to a farmer friend, "This old lady must have been mighty popular. Just look how many people left their work to come to her funeral." "They're not here for the funeral," snickered the friend. "They're here to buy the mule."

Liz- 11-22-2006

Wonder how much the rowboat had to pay :?: :D

Dani- 11-22-2006

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to the rescue with a big strong mule named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy still didn't respond. Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the mule easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his mule by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind. If he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

c-to-sea- 11-22-2006

While I would never dare to contradict WB, I always thought the original 'mules' were black. However, I could be persuaded that they were indeed a very dark grey. I have also wondered how long it took to redisign them with machinery at both ends and a single operator's cab in the middle. The early picture is, I beleive, of the first commercial ship to transit the canal when it opened. Lots to watch for in our members' upcoming cruises through the canal.

wolfgang- 11-23-2006

Cliff , you are right, :oops: let´s say midnightgrey ! :D But your picture proves, they didn´t use donkeys or mules during the early days. BTW , they wouldn´t make much sense, at least nowadays.

Liz- 11-23-2006

:D :D :D , Wolfgang :D :D Great pictures, Cliff. Thanks :!: :!: :D

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