When I planned my pseudo-imaginary town of Coal Spring, I wanted to try my first attempt at water. I also wanted it firmly centered on coal mining. So, even though no mine in the Appalachians that I know of used barges for local transport, I planned barges to move coal from a mine tipple to a siding for loading on rail cars. Since the little lake would never support a tug large enough to move the barges, my plan was a cable system to move the barges. But, for two years I had not been able to find a suitable "winch" to complete the scene. I stumbled over a "mule" for log skidding a couple of weeks ago which works perfectly for what the mine engineers had in mind!
