Solvay 54

Solvay 54, registration NY 2784F was built in Villeneuve la Garenne.  All information on this page is taken from Vagus-Vagrant.fr unless otherwise stated.

It became a Panama barge in 1969. The small Solvay barges assigned to the Dombasle-Sarralbe service and the return trip carrying coal from the Saar to Dombasle were called the "Panamas". These boats didn't have a permanent crew. Their drivers were employees of the CGTVN (Compagnie Générale de Transports du Nord), the electric loco barge towing company, and later of Bargest. They would swap boats mid-journey when they met another one coming from the opposite direction, as did the locos. The control centre for this traffic had its office in Dombasle near the Pierre Escuras bridge. The first person in charge was Alfred Piant, whose sister ran the Spar grocery store at lock 22 in Dombasle. Two or three large Solvay barges ended their careers this way. Often, after years as Panama barges, they were scrapped in the dead end of the Dombasle port.

A postcard of Solvay 54 leaving the lock at Ligny-en-Barrois on the Marne-Rhine canal, together with some close ups. Note the electric towing loco which isn't required for this péniche as she's motorized:

Here is the front, at Anzin, on the Denain-Dunkerque canal in 1965. This picture is on the front cover of Sylviane Parent's book, "Une flotte nommée Solvay/A fleet named Solvay":

Solvay 54 passing through Rethel on the Ardennes canal:

A photo dated 1968:

With other Solvays at Dombasle - Solvay 54 is second from the left:

Solvay 54 and Solvay 79 in a sheet pile lock: